september 2026
to the burlington city council and department of public works,
we are neighbors of south union street and beyond, writing to ask the city to work with us on a solution for slowing traffic and creating a safe biking connection along our street.
south union is due for repaving in 2027. that repaving is the best — and cheapest — chance the city will have for a long time to fix a street that today moves cars quickly through a neighborhood full of families, kids, and neighbors trying to walk and bike, and has long received complaints about traffic speeds and safety.
specifically, we're asking the city to use the repaving to:
- convert south union to one-way northbound for cars
- add a protected two-way bike lane
- keep street parking
we are not trying to be prescriptive in our designs. the layout below is just one idea, drawn up by neighbors to show that a safer street fits within south union's existing width. we trust the city's engineers to work out the specifics; what we're asking for is a commitment to solve this problem, together, as part of the repaving.
south union is likely the flattest north-south route on the hill, which makes it a major bike corridor for the city, not just this neighborhood. a safe connection here would transform how neighbors get around: kids biking to school or the park, commutes into downtown, visiting friends and family safely, college students exploring the city, and more.
it would also connect a lot of current and planned infrastructure, including the new lanes on Main St, future paths along Callahan, a road diet on Shelburne, and the bike lane on the rest of Union.
this would close a vital gap in the network and expanding safe mobility options to every neighbor who wants to use it.
we've already started testing this idea in person: at our september 2026 block party, neighbors laid out a version of the bike lane on the street itself with rubber curb stops, to see how it would feel. it worked.
sincerely,
the neighbors of south union street