Burlington Residents Demand City Take Responsibility for Neglected Roads

Unclear ownership of 89 city streets leaves residents frustrated over potholes and infrastructure issues.

Apr. 14, 2026 at 6:28am

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A serene, cinematic painting of a city street with potholes and cracks in the pavement, bathed in warm, golden light and deep shadows, conveying a sense of melancholy and urban decay.Neglected city streets expose the challenges of maintaining municipal infrastructure when ownership and responsibility are unclear.Burlington Today

Residents of Burlington, Vermont are voicing frustration over the city's failure to maintain dozens of streets where ownership is unclear. Many of these roads are in disrepair, with potholes and damaged infrastructure that residents say create safety hazards and vehicle damage. At a recent city council meeting, locals pleaded with officials to take responsibility for these neglected streets and allocate funding to fix them.

Why it matters

The dispute over road ownership highlights a broader issue of municipal infrastructure management. Without clear lines of responsibility, essential services like road maintenance and utility upkeep fall through the cracks, leaving residents to deal with the consequences. Resolving this problem is crucial for ensuring public safety and equitable access to basic city services.

The details

There are 89 streets in Burlington where it is unclear whether the city or another entity is responsible for maintenance. Many of these roads are in poor condition, with potholes that have gone unfixed for years. Residents say the disrepair makes it difficult and dangerous to drive or park on these streets. The issue also extends to utilities, with failed sewer lines and other infrastructure problems that no one is taking ownership of.

  • Residents have been dealing with the neglected roads for at least 3 years, according to one local.
  • The Burlington City Council discussed the road ownership issue at a meeting on April 13, 2026.

The players

Finn Hackett

A part-time student and worker who is a concerned Burlington resident dealing with the neglected roads.

Anne Rosenbluth

A Burlington resident living on North Cove Road who spoke at the city council meeting to demand action on the road issues.

Melo Grant

A Progressive city councilor who expressed support for residents and encouraged the Department of Public Works to take responsibility for the disputed streets.

Burlington Department of Public Works

The city agency tasked with reviewing and surveying the 89 streets with unclear ownership in order to assign responsibility and allocate a budget for maintenance.

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What they’re saying

“The potholes.... I've lived here three years, and the potholes have never been fixed. They're getting continually worse, and it's difficult... It's a headache when you get home from work or school.”

— Finn Hackett, Concerned Burlington Resident

“We are not a rich neighborhood, and all we are asking is a basic level of life so we can drive [on] our roads.”

— Anne Rosenbluth, Burlington Resident

“This is a big issue of fairness.”

— Melo Grant, Progressive City Councilor

What’s next

The Burlington City Council has encouraged the Department of Public Works to accept as many of the disputed streets as possible and allocate a budget to fix them. A quarter-million dollar project is underway to survey the roads and assign clear responsibility.

The takeaway

The confusion over road ownership in Burlington highlights the broader challenge of maintaining municipal infrastructure when lines of responsibility are unclear. Resolving this issue is crucial for ensuring public safety and equitable access to basic city services for all residents.