Governor Jim Douglas today announced that 30 Vermont communities in 2010 will receive a combined $3.8 million for transportation enhancement projects.
Since 1995, the Vermont Agency of Transportation (VTrans) has awarded enhancement 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, improving hiking and biking trails, purchasing scenic easements and repairing historic bridges. Since the programs inception, more than 330 grant awards have been made to Vermont communities totaling over $45 million.
These grants provide seed money so communities can complete important transportation projects they otherwise might not be able to afford, Governor Douglas said. The projects not only improve our existing transportation system, but they provide a significant contribution to the state s economy.
The 2010 process was quite competitive and saw 45 applications with funding requests totaling over $8.7 million. Grant applications were reviewed by VTrans to affirm project eligibility, then were individually considered and awarded by a grant committee. VTrans staff provides technical and limited project assistance to grant recipients.
In keeping with the will of the Vermont Legislature that priority be given to pedestrian and bicycle facilities, over two thirds of the awards and nearly ninety percent of the funding went to pedestrian and bicycle facilities. Most of the remaining awards were given to either environmentally sensitive projects such as a wildlife crossing or the construction of new salt sheds, or other projects such as the reconstruction or repair of historic bridges.
The Intermodal Surface Transportation Efficiency Act (ISTEA) passed by Congress in 1991 created the Transportation Enhancement Program. In 2005, the Safe, Accountable, Flexible, Efficient Transportation Equity Act: A Legacy For Users (SAFETEA-LU) reaffirmed Congress commitment to enhancing communities by increasing funding support for enhancement projects through 2010.
Specific questions about the Transportation Enhancements Grant Program may be answered by calling 828-0583.
Source: Governor's office. 3.30.2010
Enhancement awards for FY10 include the following:
2010 TRANSPORTATION ENHANCEMENT AWARDS
County
Town
Sponsor
Project Title
Award Amt
Project Total
Bennington
Bennington
Village of North Bennington
Sidewalks and streetscape study
$15,000
$18,750
Windham
Brattleboro
Town of Brattleboro
Downtown Sidewalks
$300,000
$375,000
Chittenden
Burlington
City of Burlington
Bike Path Realignment
$100,000
$125,000
Rutland
Castleton
Town of Castleton
Sidewalks & Crosswalks
$46,000
$57,500
Rutland
City of Rutland
City of Rutland
Rutland Creek Path
$300,000
$375,000
Orleans
Derby
Village of Derby Line
Sidewalks Study
$20,000
$25,000
Windham
Dummerston
Town of Dummerston
Covered Bridge Wing-walls
$200,000
$250,000
Washington
East Montpelier
Cross Vermont Trail Association
Cross Vermont Trail - US 2 retaining wall
$300,000
$375,000
Franklin
Enosburgh
Town of Enosburgh
Municipal Salt Shed
$50,000
$62,500
Franklin
Fairfax
Town of Fairfax
Fairfax Village Sidewalks Study
$20,000
$25,000
Franklin
Fairfield
Town of Fairfield
Fairfield Sidewalks Study
$24,000
$30,000
Franklin
Georgia
Town of Georgia
Municipal Salt Shed
$50,000
$62,500
Windsor
Hartford
Town of Hartford
N. Hartland Road Bike/Ped
$275,000
$343,750
Lamoille
Johnson
Village of Johnson
School Street Streetscape
$290,000
$362,500
Lamoille
Johnson
Town of Johnson
Village to LVRT Path Study
$14,000
$17,500
Addison
Middlebury & Weybridge
Town of Middlebury
Pulp Mill Bridge Sidewalk Study
$20,000
$25,000
Addison
Monkton
Town of Monkton
Monkton Road Wildlife Crossing
$150,000
$187,500
Lamoille
Morristown
Town of Morristown
VT 100 Sidewalk Scoping
$16,000
$20,000
Rutland
Poultney
Town of Poultney
E. Poultney Pedestrian Bridge Study
$16,000
$20,000
Windham
Putney
Town of Putney
Putney Village Sidewalks
$300,000
$375,000
Windham
Rockingham
Town of Rockingham
Bridge Street Bridge Rehab
$240,000
$300,000
Bennington
Shaftsbury
Town of Shaftsbury
South Shaftsbury Sidewalk
$73,000
$91,250
Chittenden
Shelburne
Town of Shelburne
Shelburne Falls Ped Study
$24,000
$30,000
Grand Isle
South Hero
Local Motion
Causeway Bike Ferry
$300,000
$375,000
Franklin
St. Albans
Aldis Playground Trust
St. Albans scenic easement
$80,000
$100,000
Bennington
Stamford
Town of Stamford
Municipal Salt Shed
$50,000
$62,500
Washington
Waterbury
Town of Waterbury
Stowe Street Sidewalk
$205,000
$256,250
Rutland
West Rutland
Town of West Rutland
Marble Street Sidewalks Study
$20,000
$25,000
Chittenden
Winooski
City of Winooski
Sidewalks to School
$300,000
$375,000
Lamoille
Wolcott
Town of Wolcott
LVRT Trailhead Study
$20,000
$25,000
TOTAL AWARDS:
$3,818,000
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