Vermont Business Magazine Governor Peter Shumlin and Transportation Secretary Chris Cole today announced just over $4 million in transit grants to Green Mountain Transit and the Ascutney, Windsor and St Johnsbury regions. A $3.9 million Federal Transit Administration competitive grant was awarded to the Vermont Agency of Transportation (VTrans) for purchasing buses for Green Mountain Transit (formerly known as CCTA), the largest transit provider in Vermont. This critical funding will help with purchasing approximately 10 large vehicles to replace nearly 10 percent of their aging fleet. This will allow GMT to continue to provide Vermonters with over 3 million trips per year to jobs, schools, shopping, medical facilities, recreation and personal business.
The Rides to Wellness grant for $170,000 was awarded by the Federal Transit Administration to VTrans to connect people to much-needed health care in an efficient manner. This grant will create replicable pilot programs in Ascutney, Windsor and the Northeast Kingdom -- in partnership with Northern Counties Health Care and the Mount Ascutney Hospital and Health Center. This will create faster access to non-emergency medical appointments and reduce unneeded emergency room visits.
“A reliable public transit system promotes economic growth and public health in many ways,” said Gov. Shumlin. "Updating the fleet means fewer delays and a better ride for the growing number of Vermonters who choose to travel by bus. And by making it easier for people to get to the doctor, we can increase the chances that they'll get the care they need before it becomes an emergency.”
The Shumlin Administration has initiated 23 new routes serving a variety of communities. The new funds will assist VTrans in keeping the services operating with quality vehicles.
"Quality rolling stock is essential to operating a transit system that works for its customers,” said Secretary Cole. "These new buses will help strengthen service in the region that GMT serves, while the Rides to Wellness grant will support continued innovation in how we use public transit to improve the lives of Vermonters."
In addition, Advance Transit, a bi-state provider of service in the White River Junction, VT and Hanover/Lebanon area of New Hampshire was able to receive $382,500 to replace up to two buses for their New Hampshire routes. Advance Transit provides over 200,000 rides each year in Vermont and serves major facilities such as Dartmouth Hitchcock Medical Center, Dartmouth College, and the local cities and towns in that area of New Hampshire and Vermont.
Source: Governor's office. 9.14.2016