The City of Essex Junction, in partnership with consultant Framework Cultural Placemaking, has received the Notable Project Award at the 2026 Vermont Walk/Bike Summit for the Connect the Junction Transit-Oriented Development (TOD) Master Plan. The award was presented on May 8 in Bennington, where the summit's theme — Smart Growth Through a Transportation Lens: Creating Active, Inclusive Transportation Networks in Vermont's Town and Village Centers — closely mirrored the work Essex Junction has been doing in its City Center and Pearl Street Corridor.
Community Development Director Chris Yuen accepted the award on behalf of the city and its project team.
"This recognition belongs to the whole community — the residents, renters, business owners, and young people who showed up and told us what they needed," said Yuen. "And it reflects a strong partnership with our consulting team at Framework Cultural Placemaking, who helped us turn that community input into a plan that's actionable and grounded in best practices."
Adopted by the City Council on December 17, 2025, Connect the Junction charts a course for a more walkable, bikeable, and transit-friendly city center — one that can accommodate the housing growth Essex Junction needs while reducing car dependency. The plan focuses on the Pearl Street Corridor, served by Green Mountain Transit's Route 2 bus, which runs every 20 minutes throughout the day and carries some of the strongest ridership in GMT's network.
"Transit-oriented development works best when people can actually get to the bus stop — comfortably and safely," Yuen said. "That's why the bike and pedestrian improvements in this plan are so central. Better sidewalks, protected bike lanes, and safer crossings don't just help people who don't own cars. They make the whole transportation network more useful for everyone."
The plan calls for building height increases of up to nine stories along key corridors, with a bonus story available for affordable housing projects, providing the density needed to help meet the city's target of up to 4,352 new homes by 2050. Design standards and a forthcoming form-based code are intended to ensure new development fits within the historic character of the City Center while creating active, pedestrian-friendly streetscapes.
"Chittenden County has an exceptionally low rental vacancy rate. People are struggling to find homes they can afford," Yuen said. "The Pearl Street Corridor, with frequent all-day transit already in place, is exactly where it makes sense to build. This award is great recognition that good planning and walkable communities go hand in hand."
The city is now working with Framework to develop the form-based code and updated design standards needed to put the plan into action, with recommendations expected to be ready for public hearing later this year.
For more information about Connect the Junction, visit connectthejunction.org or contact Chris Yuen at cyuen@essexjunction.org.