South Union Union sign the petition

South Union Bikeway

south union is due for repaving in 2027, which means this is the best (and cheapest) opportunity we have to make south union into a safe corridor for biking and walking.

the ask

neighbors along south union will be asking the city of burlington to use the repaving project to:

  • convert south union to one-way northbound for cars
  • add a protected two-way bike lane
  • keep street parking on the west side of the street

sign the petition

add your name to ask the city to use the 2027 repaving to make south union safe for biking and walking. it takes about a minute.

sign the petition

the proposal

make south union one-way for cars heading north. that's already the direction most of its traffic goes:

northbound 2,250
southbound 500
cars on south union [per day? and the source of the count]

then use the space that frees up for a protected two-way bike lane: wide enough to be plowed in the winter, and safe enough for kids to bike to edmunds.

it would run from shelburne street all the way to main street, or on to college street, which has less traffic and is closer to city market.

this connection would be a vital mid-hill corridor, linking the south end neighborhoods, downtown, city market, callahan park, and more, and making it so much safer for families and children especially to get to school.

Proposed layout seen from above: sidewalk, parking on the west side, one northbound car lane, a protective buffer, a two-way bike lane, and sidewalk on the east side. west east sidewalk parking northbound one lane for cars two-way bike lane protected by a barrier sidewalk
the proposed layout, seen from above (not to scale). [confirm the bike lane runs along the east side]

traffic calming

the city has already indicated it's interested in traffic calming as part of the repaving, which may include speed tables, curb extensions, and more.

the slip lane

one example is the slip lane: a highway-style ramp that lets traffic coming off the roundabout keep its speed and swing easily onto south union. neighbors have already raised it with dpw, who has indicated they're planning to address it with the repaving.

once it's closed, drivers turning onto south union will have to turn at the intersection of south union and st. paul street, which will help slow and reduce traffic on our neighborhood street.

south union today

where this comes from

this ask is exactly what the city itself planned in 2017 with the walk/bike master plan, which identified south union getting a protected bike lane by 2022.

  1. 2017 the walk/bike master plan calls for a protected bike lane on south union
  2. 2022 the plan's target date for that bike lane
  3. june 2026 neighbors start meeting about the street
  4. september 2026 the first south south union block party
  5. winter 2026–27 the city settles the repaving design
  6. summer 2027 south union is repaved

how to help

the design gets settled this winter, well before the paving starts, so now is when speaking up counts.