Grand Isle Drawbridge Part II

This is the letter the Islander paper couldn't print because it was "more than one letter on the same topic".

Dear Editor,

I’m very thankful to VTran’s Secretary Neale Lunderville and Senator Dick Mazza for answering the questions I posed. It was refreshing to see government officials take time to inform the Grand Isle County community about what is going on with their drawbridge. I sincerely hope this openness and dialogue continue into the future.

I was glad to hear “there are no plans at this time, so there is nothing as of yet to report.” This means with things in the early stages, there is plenty of opportunity to involve the islands community in the planning process. After all, who knows their bridge better than the residents of Grand Isle County? County residents see beyond the structure of the bridge, to all that it represents and could be.

I personally feel that if there is to be a reconstruction, some sort of handicapped fishing access would be a good addition. With the little access road on the north side this would not be a far stretch, and surely help some good folks out. I’m sure Island residents have other insightful ideas of what could be done to the drawbridge during reconstruction. That’s why VTrans needs to have their engineers and planners hear Islanders speak before planning begins. Then good ideas can be incorporated into the plans from the start, not worked out as revisions, or worse too late.

The next ten to twenty years leave plenty of time to involve the residents of Grand Isle County in the future of their bridge. Engaging communities is what democracy is all about. I implore all members of the Grand Isle County community to contact VTrans immediately, and ask them to sponsor meetings for public input prior to planning. Talk to your governor, neighbors, selectboard members, and state representatives. Contact Secretary Lunderville and Senator Mazza, and hold them to their pledge that “as engineers concept what might be next for this bridge, Islanders and their local government officials will certainly be involved.”

Best regards,

Jason M. Brisson
North Hero, VT