by Anne Galloway vtdigger.org March 30, 2011 The T-bill, or state transportation bill, as it’s known, took a $42 million hit this year when the federal government ended funding for state transportation projects in 2011 under the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act. Most of that money is coming out of paving and road building.
Last year, the state spent $595 million on total transportation ‘ highway, rail, public transit and aviation. The grand total this year is $553.7 million. About 60 percent of that outlay for fiscal year 2012 would be spent on the state’s highway system. The remaining $165.1 million is slated for administration, facilities, public transport, aviation and rail projects.
Lawmakers in the House will take up the T-bill on Thursday.
Rep. Patrick Brennan, R-Colchester, chair of the House Transportation Committee, said the proposal follows the governor’s budget ‘right down the line.’ The only deviation in the spending plan is about $200,000 in expenditures on town sidewalks. Otherwise, the transportation budget is identical to the one proposed by Gov. Peter Shumlin, a Democrat, in January.
The Transportation Committee decided to keep state aid to town highway programs at the same level as last year. The state will distribute about $13 million for town paving, road structures and sidewalks. Last year, the Legislature bumped up funding for towns, and Brennan said the money was well spent. Road construction costs about $1 million a mile, and can be burdensome for towns.
‘It’s high on our radar,’ Brennan said. ‘Towns rely heavily on that program. It’s a commitment by the state to show the locals we’re there for them.’
Public transit will receive $25.4 million, or about $700,000 more than last year. Funding for Vermont’s airports will be level-funded by the federal government, though about $7.7 million will be passed through the state; the rest will be given to the airports directly, Brennan said.
Spending on rail is up about $3.5 million. A total of $52 million would be invested in the eastern corridor, which is owned by NE Central. The state is also applying for $80 million in grants for the Rutland to Burlington section of the Western Corridor, from Montreal to Albany. The state would
subsidize Amtrak by about $4.55 million.
Town bridges will get $17.88 million, while state bridges will receive $52 million.
The T-bill, which in some ways is a recitation of abstract numerical tallies, is expected to pass easily.
Anne Galloway is editor of vtdigger.org