Vermont Business Magazine The Vermont Agency of Transportation (AOT) today announced a grant funding opportunity for 2023 municipal highway and stormwater mitigation projects, as part of the Agency’s ongoing commitment to improve the quality of state waters and provide financial assistance to municipalities in these efforts.
Grants funded through this program must be related to link.
The enabling legislation that determines eligibility states:
Any environmental mitigation activity, including pollution prevention and pollution abatement activities and mitigation to address stormwater management, control, and water pollution prevention or abatement related to highway construction or due to highway runoff.
AOT has identified the following as potentially eligible project types:
- Planning Studies (stormwater inventories, flow restoration plans, phosphorus control planning)
- Salt/Sand Sheds
- Bank Stabilization
- Culvert Replacement/ Re-sizing
- Stream Bank Stabilization
- Detention Ponds
- Check Dams
- Swirl Separators
- Permeable Pavers
- Infiltration Basins
- Gravel Wetlands
- Subsurface Detention Systems
- Bio Filters
- Bio Retention Systems
Eligible applicants for this grant program are municipalities.
There is not a program cap on the amount of funding granted to a specific project. There is, however, a 20% local match requirement. All projects must be developed in accordance with applicable federal and state regulations.
All projects shall be developed according to the guidelines published in AOT’s Municipal Assistance Bureau – Local Projects Guidebook for Municipally Managed Projects. The document and appendices can be found at http://vtrans.vermont.gov/highway/local-projects/general-information/guidebook.
Additional information for federal-aid projects is available at the Federal Highway Administration (FHWA) website: http://www.fhwa.dot.gov/federal-aidessentials/.
Salt and Sand Shed projects must also meet these guidance criteria: https://vtrans.vermont.gov/sites/aot/files/highway/documents/ltf/Municipal%20Assistance%20Section%20Salt%20Shed%20Application%20Guide%20Final.pdf
The AOT Guidebook and the FHWA website outline requirements that include compliance with the following:
·National Environmental Policy Act
·Uniform Act for Right-of-Way acquisition
·Buy America Provisions
·Low bid, sealed bid process for construction – Force Account generally not allowed
This a reimbursement program; municipalities must submit invoices for completed work to be reimbursed appropriately equal to the grant amount. All projects must be completed, or all expended federal funds will be required to be paid back.
All applications require a letter of support from the Regional Planning Commission. Projects located in or adjacent to a State maintained right-of-way must include a description of the project and/or plans to the District Transportation Administrator in that region. A copy of the correspondence to the DTA must be attached to the grant application.
How to apply:
·Application and program guide can be found at:
http://vtrans.vermont.gov/highway/Municipal-Highway-and-Stormwater-Mitigation-Program
·Applications must be received before 1:00 p.m. on October 7, 2022. Electronic submittal of PDF files via email is required. Hard copy applications will not be accepted. Please submit via email to [email protected]
8.26.2022. Barre, Vt— Vermont Agency of Transportation vtrans.vermont.gov
