Governor Peter Shumlin has announced that 20 Vermont communities will receive a combined $3.58 million for 2012 Transportation Enhancements projects. The Vermont Transportation Enhancement Program is a federal-aid reimbursement program established as part of the Safe, Accountable, Flexible, Efficient Transportation Equity Act: A Legacy for Users federal transportation bill.
Transportation Enhancements are awarded for 12 categories offering communities the opportunity to expand transportation choices. Activities such as safe bicycle and pedestrian facilities, scenic routes, beautification, historic restoration and other investments increase opportunities for economic activity, recreation, accessibility, and safety for everyone beyond traditional highway programs.
‘These projects will make our roads safer, and expand recreational use of paths and scenic routes,’ Gov. Shumlin said. ‘The money will also fund restoration and other projects that will give Vermont’s economy a boost.’
Since 1995, the Vermont Agency of Transportation (VTrans) has annually awarded enhancements grants to communities and non-profit organizations for a wide range of federally-eligible projects such as restoring historic buildings, rebuilding and extending sidewalks, enhancing the environment, bike paths, purchasing scenic easements and repairing historic bridges. Since the program’s inception, more than 368 grant awards have been made to Vermont communities totaling over $49 million.
The federal government reimburses 80 percent of a Transportation Enhancements project’s cost. The project sponsor (a local community or non-profit organization) pays the 20 percent non-federal match. Vermont’s Transportation Enhancement program requires communities to apply for and compete for the available funds on an annual cycle.
Thirty five grant applications were received in August by the Vermont Agency of Transportation to affirm project eligibility, and then were considered by a Transportation Enhancement Grant Committee (TEGC), which made the awards. VTrans staff provides technical project assistance and oversight to grant recipients as the projects work their way through the development process. All projects must meet a myriad of federal and state standards and avoid environmental impacts.
In keeping with the will of the Vermont Legislature that priority be given to pedestrian and bicycle facilities, the greater portion of the awards went to sidewalks, bike paths and scoping studies for pedestrian and bicycle improvements. Additional awards were given to restoring two historic covered bridges and conducting Scoping Studies to determine the feasibility of future projects.
The 2013 program will be announced in April 2012, with applications due in August 2012. Specific questions about the Transportation Enhancements Grant Program may be answered by calling Kevin Russell, TE Program Coordinator at 828-0583.
2012 Vermont Transportation Enhancements Awards
Town/Village
Project
Awarded
St. Johnsbury
Railroad Street Improvement
$291,000.00
Poultney
E. Poultney Pedestrian Improvements
$230,000.00
Rutland
Rutland Creek Path #2
$126,000.00
Bethel
Bethel Pedestrian Safety
$167,000.00
Dover
Valley Trail Segment A
$300,000.00
Rockingham
Saxtons River Path
$216,000.00
Jeffersonville
Sidewalk Scoping Study
$52,000.00
Derby Line
Sidewalk Construction Funding
$300,000.00
Chester
Sidewalk Improvements
$274,000.00
Fairfax
Main Street Sidewalk
$300,000.00
Ludlow
Path Scoping Study
$24,000.00
Jericho
Jericho Center / MMU Path
$249,000.00
Chittenden
Shared-use Path
$300,000.00
Essex Junction
Lincoln Street Sidewalk / Lights
$220,000.00
Guildford
Green River Covered Bridge
$194,000.00
Hartland
Pedestrian Scoping Study
$24,000.00
Hyde Park
Johnson Street Sidewalk
$230,000.00
Cabot
Scoping Study for Ped Improvements
$24,000.00
Norwich
Path Scoping Study
$28,000.00
Montgomery
Longley Covered Bridge Scoping Study
$28,000.00
$3,577,000.00