If the Vermont transportation budget goes a little farther this year, and if the winter roads are a little clearer during storms, thank the Lyndon Institute of Applied Meteorology (LIAM) and the five students working with the Vermont Agency of Transportation (VTrans) to make that happen. Since last fall, Kyle Blount, Steve Breault, Joshua Redinger, Tyler Southard and Matthew Clegg, all LSC meteorology majors, have been sending weather predictions to VTrans. The agency, in turn, uses the information to help determine the best time at which to send out the plow, sand or salt trucks, often just before the storm hits. The weather information can help save lives through improved road conditions, as well as save money in the long run. It is always a challenge for state road crews to determine the precise time a storm will arrive. Accurate weather predictions help road crews plan just when to lay down salt to help improve driving conditions during a storms first few hours. Forecasts provided by Lyndon State students will help VTrans respond in a timely manner to severe winter weather conditions. The project is funded by Clarus and Connect Vermont, a federal Intelligent Transportation Systems initiative that US Senator Patrick Leahy secured for the State of Vermont.