We live on these streets and got a letter from the city yesterday explaining this was a test to reduce hazards on the streets related to line of sight coming in and out of driveways.

It would be great to know what the existing laws are regarding parking near curb cuts. It is of particular concern because landlords in some neighborhoods have extended their curb cuts by feet or even yards.

Indeed, this is very true and one of the ways in which informal parking area expansion becomes formal (when the city rebuilds curbs).

Issue acknowledged.

DPW provided the information contained in the flyer that went to each of the homes on the streets in the study:

The Department of Public Works has been developing a Pilot Study to address the issue of vehicles parking too close to residential driveways. Reasons for this are:
Vehicles parked too close to driveways challenge those wishing to enter or exit their driveway safely.
Driveway encroachment reduces sight-lines between vehicles exiting their driveway with vehicles in the roadway and also vehicles entering their driveway with pedestrians in the sidewalk.
An encroached driveway can also make turning into and out of the driveway a challenge especially on narrow streets.
The streets chosen for this pilot study represent an area of the city where this has been shown to be problematic. This pilot study will prohibit vehicles parking within two (2) feet from driveways as measured from the straight-line edge of the driveway and will be in effect April 15th through May 15th. Parking Enforcement will be monitoring these street during the pilot study. The fine for parking within two (2) feet of a driveway shall be $75 to be issued at the parking enforcement officer’s discretion. If your driveway is being encroached please call the police at (802) 540-2380. Temporary signs will be posted at the endpoints of these streets notifying residents and visitors of this pilot study. A survey will be conducted after May 15th to all effected residents to help identify the successes and challenges of this pilot study.

Thank you and feel free to contact me with any questions or comments.

Damian Roy, Engineering Technician
Burlington Public Works Department
645 Pine St. Burlington VT 05401
Desk: 802.865.5832
Email: droy@burlingtonvt.gov

Thanks for this informative reply.

I note that walking the middle blocks of Loomis this morning more than half a dozen cars were parked tight to or even overlapping driveway aprons. Also the sign on lower loomis has been uprooted and tossed onto a lawn. Sense this isn't working.

Is there as list of streets affected? I must may not live on the affected streets, but often try to find parking on some of them. The signs make no mention they come from DPW or the city of Burlington. Perhaps an announcement through the same email list that announces snow parking bans.

Damian Roy, Engineering Technician
Burlington Public Works Department
645 Pine St. Burlington VT 05401
Desk: 802.865.5832
Email: droy@burlingtonvt.gov

The Pilot Study is not yet in effect, enforcement will begin on April 15th and end on May 15th. The affected street are:

• North Williams Street from Pearl Street to Brookes Avenue
• Brookes Avenue from North Willard to North Prospect
• Loomis Street from North Willard to North Prospect St
• Henry Street from North Willard to North Prospect St
• Weston Street from Loomis St to Henry Street

Closed