VTrans to fund new, expanded bus routes

October 27, 2008

MONTPELIER – The Vermont Agency of Transportation will grant three public transit providers a total of $350,000 to provide new or expanded public transit routes, VTrans officials said today.

The funding will establish new bus routes along Vermont 103 and Interstate 91. Expansion of an existing bus route will occur along Interstate 89. Many of the routes include stops at Park and Rides for easier commuter access, according to VTrans.

New or expanded routes include:

– Expansion of the “I-89er” through Stagecoach Transportation Services. The increased service will reduce the wait for the bus from one hour to 30 minutes. In addition, the expansion will double the seating capacity on the route, which begins in Randolph Center and travels south along Interstate 89, with stops at park & rides in both Randolph and Sharon on its way to Bethel, White River Junction and finally into Lebanon, NH. The service will include stops at the VA Hospital in White River as well as both Dartmouth College and Dartmouth Hitchcock Medical Center in Lebanon.

– New service along Vermont 103 from Rutland through Ludlow to Bellows Falls and Springfield will serve Okemo Mountain Resort on weekends during ski season. Service will be provided by a joint effort from Marble Valley Regional Transit District and Connecticut River Transit.

– New service along I-91 from St. Johnsbury to White River Junction and then onto Lebanon, NH. will stop at designated park and rides along the way as well as Dartmouth Hitchcock Medical Center. Service will be provided by Rural Community Transportation.

When new service will begin, as well as exact bus schedules, are still being developed. Travelers should click HERE for links to each public transit service provider who can provide more detail.

Addison County Bennington County Caledonia County Chittenden County Essex County Franklin County Grand Isle County Lamoille County Orange County Orleans County Rutland County Washington County Windham County Windsor County

The Town’s of Williston and Colchester have tried similar approaches. What do you think about this approach?

A Holistic Approach To Planning For Traffic Impacts

Posted by: Christian Peralta

14 April 2008 - 8:00am

Instead of requiring developers to complete traffic studies for individual projects, one Northern California city has commissioned a comprehensive traffic study, and asked developers to help foot the bill.

“Foster City is taking a holistic approach when it comes to studying how traffic would be affected by various new development and redevelopment projects.

Rather than have individual developers do traffic studies for each project, the city has gotten them to work together on one study. That study should be completed by early August at a price tag of $127,000, city Planning Manager Leslie Carmichael said.”

“The city is managing the traffic study work and has hired the firm Fehr & Peers Transportation Consultants, but the developers are footing the bill, Carmichael said. The comprehensive traffic study will be incorporated into the environmental impact report for each project for the Planning Commission and City Council to review, she added.

Developers said Foster City’s approach makes sense.

“It is an excellent idea, in my opinion. Foster City is very smart about how they handle their planning process,” said John Igoe, senior vice president of the Sares Regis Group of Northern California.”

Ide: Rail use in state faces challenges

September 20, 2008

By Stephanie M. Peters Rutland Herald

Passenger service will never pay for rail in Vermont, according to the new manager of the Agency of Transportation’s Rail Division.

If the state hopes to support its rail infrastructure, he believes it needs to recognize the role shippers, receivers and through traffic play.

In his introduction this week to the Rutland Region Transportation Council, Robert Ide delivered this message as he outlined the challenges his division is facing, and an expansive list of goals.

“I have a hard job right now … we need to think differently about doing things than we ever have before,” Ide said. “We have an awful lot of work in front of us.”

The budget puts the greatest limits on what the department will be able to accomplish and when. The most immediate problem for Ide is Amtrak, he said.

While ridership in the state has increased by 30 percent in the past two years, the service is still considered slow in the state because of the age and condition of the rail beds, some of which are not at industry standards, Ide said.

It is well-known that making the nearly two-hour drive between Rutland and Rensselaer, N.Y., instead of taking the train, saves commuters an hour, as council members pointed out — and that is a problem hindering ridership numbers in Vermont.

However, there are several projects either proposed or in the works that would replace rail ties and allow Amtrak to increase its speed.

Among Ide’s other priorities are enforcing the state’s property rights and pursuing the sale of property, rebuilding a number of crossings and bridges, forming interstate partnerships to secure funding, and creating intermodal facilities.

“A lot of businesses in this country aren’t located on the railroad anymore,” he said. “We need to provide for them.”

Intermodal facilities would connect trains to seaports or roads and centers where railcars of supplies could be loaded and unloaded, goods could be temporarily stored and businesses would have easy access.

More intermodal facilities would mean fewer trucks on the road — which is something everyone talks about wanting, Ide said.

Ide comes to the Rail Division from the Department of Public Service, where he served as the director of energy efficiency, but prior to that and a lengthy Senate stint, Ide worked for a family-owned business — similar to ones he hopes the railroad can attract.

His family’s St. Johnsbury business was dependent on the railroad for shipping, he said, and he’s always expected to see an intermodal facility there by now.

Vermont could soon be competing with the other New England states for business generated by the proposed Halifax Seaport Farmers Market project, although “it feels like there’s going to be enough traffic for everybody,” Ide said.

Several members of the council were more curious about the department’s long-term savings planning, and when the $30 million in federal transportation funds earmarked for a pilot rail project will be used.

“My biggest fear is that if we get more federal money, we won’t have state money to match it,” said Jim Hall, who asked Ide to consider setting some funds aside for that very purpose.

“It’s a very real fear,” Ide acknowledged. “But right now I’m trying to find $5 million in the budget to keep Amtrak running.”

The Brookings Institute has been investigating how the different candidates approach Transportation Policy. Check it out here:

Compiled by Brookings Institution experts, this chart is part of a series of issue indices to be published during the 2008 Presidential election cycle. The policy issues included in this series were chosen by Brookings staff and represent the most critical topics facing America’s next President.

Open the Index » (PDF)

Opportunity 08, a Brookings project in partnership with ABC News, aims to help presidential candidates and the public focus on critical issues facing the nation, providing ideas, policy forums, and information on a broad range of domestic and foreign policy questions. Brookings is an independent think tank (501c3) that does not support or oppose any candidate for public office. Voters should learn all they can about the candidates on a range of issues and should not rely on any single source of information before making their decision.

SEPTEMBER 18th, 2008 Contact:

Jon Martz – President, ACT 248-597-3500

Cynthia Keillor – Executive Director, ACT 202-712-9050

The Association of Commuter Transportation (ACT)

Announces Industry Award Winners for 2008

Washington, DC — With record high gas prices and the growing pressures of climate change on commuters and employers the need for creative and effective strategies to increase the use of public transit, carpooling, vanpooling, biking and walking has never been more important.

The Association for Commuter Transportation is proud to announce its 2008 Award Winners for excellence and achievement in reducing traffic congestion, conserving energy, and improving air quality. While their success is singular, their benefits affect us all.

The Association for Commuter Transportation is North America’s most respected association for professionals who specialize in commute options and solutions as well as organizations, business and individuals interested in creating a more workable transportation system. Together with employers and government agencies, ACT works to create programs, services and products that help reduce traffic congestion, increase mobility, and improve air quality.

The annual international conference brings together more than 500 attendees each year to provide continued learning sessions, networking opportunities and the chance to showcase ‘best practices’ in the areas of commuter transportation. This year’s International Conference was held in Atlanta, Georgia, August 30 – September 2. The following ACT members were recognized:

ACT Leadership Award Winner

Ericka Vandenbrande, City of Redmond (Redmond, WA)

• Leader in TDM for over 8 years

• Created extraordinary programs like Go Green, Get Green and the new Commute Management System for www.GoRTrip.com

• Positively affects developers and properties owners with purposefully and useful TDM strategies

UCLA Sustainability Fair, UCLA Transportation (Los Angeles, CA) received a Creative Excellence Award Under (<$8,000)

• Over 1,000 event attendees

• Reduced drive-alone trips 14%

• Eliminated over 1.8 million vehicular trips

• Included over 30 group vendors

• Integrated a speaker session with top officials in UCLA transportation

IT Consultation Services for Telework Programs, Denver Regional Council of Governments (Denver, CO) received a Creative Excellence Award ($8,000 - $20,000)

• Identified a need for IT consulting for companies interested in telework programs

• Launched a media campaign to spread the word about the service

• Met with over 20 companies to help ‘jump start’ telework program

Team Ridefinders (Richmond, VA) received a Creative Excellence Award (> than $20,000)

• Led a marketing campaign to bolster communication about services to new and existing partners

• Registered 687 new partners in five months

• Increased website visitors by over 13%

The Culture Committee at The Grove Park Inn Resort & Spa (Asheville, NC) received an Employee Transportation Coordinator Champion (ETC) Award

• Joined City of Asheville’s PASSport program providing free bus rides for employees

• Became a Best Workplaces for Commuters company

• Helped Asheville increase overall transit ridership with its commitment to transit

• Allows bicycle commuting and provides showers and changing areas

• Is exploring a carpool preferential parking program and hopes to expand its TDM programs in the future

The Connector, Microsoft Corporation (Seattle, WA) received the Outstanding Service Award

• Launched the ‘Connector’ express bus for employees that lived in areas not accessible to transit

• More than 60% of its ridership came from employees that used to drive alone

• The Connector has provided over 210,000 trips to over 7,000 employees

• Saved nearly 100,000 vehicle trips, 1.4 million miles from being driven, and 1.8 million pounds of CO2 from being generated on the Redmond campus for six months

Meadowlink (Rutherford, NJ) received the Outstanding Transportation Management Association (TMA) Award

• Providing transportation solutions for over 25 years

• Serves over 7,000 daily commuters including 5,550 carpoolers, 1,000 shuttle riders and 700 vanpoolers

• Added 1,000 carpools and increase shuttle ridership over 38% this year

Vanpool +One, UCLA Vanpool received the Renovation Award

• Saw a need to fill seats, even in full capacity vans, when riders are sick, work late, have other obligations, etc

• Created +One where the rider uses a backup form of transportation if the van is full

• Creates benefit for riders as well as efficiency for the UCLA vanpool program

• Helped increased revenue over $15,000 annually

Perry Frenzel, Meadowlink (Rutherford, NJ) received the TMA Board Member Leadership Award

• Served on board for over 15 years, chairmen over 10 years

• Offered leadership that grew Meadowlink to 100 employees and revenues of more than $5 million

• Cultivated a shuttle system that 4 years, expanded to 25 vehicles, 40 drivers, and more than 1,000 daily riders

• Expanded the EZ Ride brand that weaved the TDM services provided by Meadowlink, Trans Ware and CarShare under one umbrella

Delaware Beach Free Bike Program, Transportation Management Association of Delaware (Wilmington, DE) received the TMA Service Award

• Provides safe, inexpensive and reliable transportation for international students seeking employment at resorts

• Over 150 bikes were refurbished and offered to students

• Reduced bike crashes by 1/3 with accompanying bicycle education courses

• Reduced congestion in the seaside area

‘”We’re very proud of the accomplishments of these members. These awards recognize extraordinary efforts conducted in a time of high demand for our member’s services. The last two summers of high gasoline prices have increased the demand for, and priority given, to these efforts in each of their communities. I hope you will join me in applauding their efforts.” said Jon Martz, ACT President.

For information about the Association of Commuter Transportation (ACT) visit www.actweb.org or for information regarding the above activities reported by the ACT membership, please contact ACT Executive Director, Cynthia Keillor at 202-712-9050.

Governors, premiers talk transportation
By Bill Trotter - Bangor Daily News
BDN Staff

BAR HARBOR — Governors from six New England states and premiers from four eastern Canadian provinces agreed Tuesday that truck weight limits need to be harmonized if the two-nation region hopes to benefit substantially from transportation improvements.

In Maine, truck weights on Interstate 95 are limited to 100,000 pounds south of Augusta but north of the state capital the limit is 80,000 pounds.

In Canada, trucks can travel with two trailers on the federal highway system and can carry more than 137,500 pounds.

Leaders say this disparity complicates traffic patterns by forcing heavy trucks to take circuitous routes through northern New England as they travel from the Maritime Provinces either to southern New England or west to Quebec.

Maine Gov. John Baldacci and Vermont Gov. James Douglas each lamented the effect the truck weight limits have on the region, but not just on its economy.

Baldacci said that, though safety advocacy groups claim the limits make highway travel safer, they actually make it “more dangerous” on the secondary roads and in the small towns where the limits force the heavier trucks to go.

Douglas agreed that one truck weight limit for the entire region would be good for both the economy and for public safety.

“It’s been so frustrating for our state,” Douglas said. “It’s been environmentally detrimental to our state by forcing trucks to go through our small towns. We need to get some effort to get uniformity.”

The state and provincial leaders are meeting for a day-long conference at the Bar Harbor Club, located on West Street overlooking Frenchman Bay. It is the 32nd annual meeting for the executives, who are expected to wrap up the conference Tuesday afternoon.

Quebec Premier Jean Charest called for his colleagues at the conference to endorse a continent-wide adoption of California’s tailpipe standards, which call for a 30 percent reduction in tailpipe greenhouse gas emissions by 2016.

Last year, automobile manufacturers unsuccessfully sued the state of California, which voted in 2002 to adopt the standards, on the grounds that the state law were pre-empted by federal regulations and United States foreign policy.

Charest said Quebec supports a proposed cap-and-trade system, by which some polluters could acquire the rights to create more emissions than others as long as the total amount of emissions by all polluters did not pass a certain limit.

“In Quebec, we have taken the position that we support California standards,” Charest said. “[But] we’ve never said we will do it alone.”

The Quebec premier encouraged all the governors and premiers at the conference to endorse the same standards and to inform their respective federal governments of that support.

“As far as I know, we would be the first region to speak to that,” Charest said.

Energy and economic development are among the other topics that the premiers and governors are expected to discuss at Tuesday’s event.

Check out this great resource for tax incentives for your business TDM efforts:

Qualified Transportation Fringe Benefit Rates for 2008

Employers may provide workers with up to $115 per month in tax-free transit and vanpool benefits in 2008. According to Internal Revenue Bulletin: 2007-45 (November 5, 2007), for taxable years beginning in 2008, the monthly limitation under Section 132(f)(2)(A) Qualified Transportation Fringe Benefits regarding the aggregate fringe benefit exclusion amount for vanpools (commuter highway vehicles) and transit passes is $115. The monthly limitation under Section 132(f)(2)(B) regarding the fringe benefit exclusion amount for qualified parking is $220. Commuters can receive both the transit and parking benefits (i.e., up to $335 per month). Employers can allow employees to use pretax dollars to pay for transit passes, vanpool fares and parking.

Senate approves $8 billion for highway trust fund

By JIM ABRAMS – 1 hour ago

WASHINGTON (AP) — The Senate voted Wednesday to shift $8 billion into the highway trust fund, restoring solvency to an account that is going broke and staving off what could have been crippling delays in federal aid for road and bridge projects around the country.

The voice vote came five days after Transportation Secretary Mary Peters said the trust fund would be out of money by the end of the month and urged Congress to approve the $8 billion replenishment bill that the White House previously had threatened to veto.

The House passed a nearly identical bill in July and was scheduled to vote Thursday to send a final version of the legislation to the president.

“I’m pleased that the Bush administration has finally come to its senses and realized the need to address this problem,” Senate Finance Committee Chairman Max Baucus, D-Mont., said.

“What we are facing is indeed a crisis,” agreed Sen. Jim Inhofe, R-Okla., the top Republican on the Senate Environment and Public Works Committee, warning that failure to act would disrupt projects in every state. “There are projects that have already been bid. People have been hired. Shovels are in the ground.”

The Senate has tried several times this year, and as recently as Monday, to funnel money into the fund, only to be blocked by Republicans who wanted to offer amendments or who objected to transferring $8 billion from the Treasury’s general fund into the trust fund, which is made up of money coming from the federal gasoline tax.

But Peters’ announcement on Friday that the fund was running out of money much faster than expected, and the White House’s reversal of position on the bill, changed the dynamics.

Sen. Judd Gregg, R-N.H., who previously had opposed moving on the legislation without an opportunity for amendments, said it would not be right for those involved in projects to “be blindsided by the fiscal irresponsibility of the Congress.” But he said he still felt that transferring money from the general Treasury “does even more egregious harm to the future of this country by significantly extending the deficit.”

Peters commended the Senate for its swift action to address the immediate crisis, but added in a statement that “Congress must eliminate the billions in wasted spending, thousands of unneeded earmarks and hundreds of conflicting and contradictory special interest programs in order to make sure states don’t face this situation again.”

The 52-year-old trust fund provides nearly half of public funding for surface transportation capital projects. It enjoyed a surplus of $10 billion just three years ago, but has seen its financial situation deteriorate rapidly as high gasoline prices forced drivers to cut down on their driving and switch to more fuel-efficient vehicles.

Congress also has refused to raise the federal fuel tax since 1993 despite inflation and sharp increases in construction costs. The federal fuel tax is 18.4 cents a gallon, or 24.3 cents for diesel.

Because highway money is paid out over a number of years, postponement or delay in starting a project can have long-term ramifications. “The urgency of this bill is very critical. We cannot delay it,” said Sen. Patty Murray, D-Wash. Without the money, she said, next week federal reimbursements for state projects could drop to as little as 64 percent of promised funds.

Sen. Barbara Boxer, D-Calif., chairman of the Environment and Public Works Committee, said 379,000 construction jobs would be lost if Congress doesn’t endorse the $8 billion infusion.

Congress must act next year to rewrite a five-year, $286 billion highway and mass transit spending bill that expires next September.

Democrats provided statistics showing that, without the fix, federal highway funds going to the states would drop by one-third, from $35 billion in the fiscal year that ends this month to $24 billion in fiscal year 2009. California would see its funds fall from $3.2 billion to $2.3 billion, and Texas from $2.8 billion to $1.9 billion. Job losses would range from 32,000 in California to 1,600 in Vermont.

The bill is H.R. 6532.
On the Net:

* Bill text: http://thomas.loc.gov

The Vermont Agency of Transportation has completed their Environmental Assessment of the Chittenden County ‘Circ’ Highway.

State officials say they have cleared a major legal hurdle and are again moving forward with construction of Circ Highway in Chittenden County.

It’s been five years since a ceremonial groundbreaking marked the start of construction on the Circumferential Highway, better known as the Circ. In 2004, Judge William Sessions put a halt to building the road, after opponents demanded a new Environmental Impact Study.

VTRANS announced Wednesday that the new EIS is finished, and state and federal highway officials have decided on a route that is largely the same as the original design.

“It reduces the traffic delays, not only on Route 2A but on also on 15 and Vermont 17,” said Vermont Transportation Secretary, David Dill. “The 2A alternatives do not do that.”

VTRANS says it looked at alternative routes - including widening and expanding 2A from Williston to Essex Junction - but those routes are not as good as building the Circ between I-89 in Williston - and 289 in Essex.

“Federal highway will not participate a funding that has these kinds of historic impacts if there is a suitable alternative available and in this case there is a suitable alternative available, the AB alignment,” said Dill.

The project is not near construction however, with the State required to pursue necessary permits.

The state says it must still wait for the the Army Corps of Engineers to approve the project. From that point, it expects it would take about a year and a half to get all the permits in place to start construction. That timeline does not take into account any legal tie-ups, which both sides anticipate are very likely.

Although the EIS is complete there is still substantial disagreement on whether the new Highway is worth the effort or the cost of construction.

Opponents say they are still waiting for the latest information from the state and doubt it will convince them the road is needed. The Conservation Law Foundation, which has lead the effort against the road, says it can’t imagine any justification for building the Circ.

“It was clear in the draft environmental impact statement that building the Circ highway really provided no benefit in terms of solving traffic problems in Chittenden County,” said CLF’s Vermont Director, Christopher Kilian.

CLF is still pushing for alternatives to the highway and says it doesn’t understand why the state is dead set on building the Circ.

“Our belief is they are more related to political pressure from real estate developers,” added Kilian.

Source: Bianca Slota - WCAX News

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