[{"_1":2,"_99":-5,"_100":-5},"loaderData",{"_3":4,"_26":27},"root",{"_5":6,"_17":10,"_18":19,"_20":21,"_22":10,"_23":-5,"_24":-5,"_25":10},"user",{"_7":8,"_9":10,"_11":10,"_12":-5,"_13":-5,"_14":15,"_16":-5},"roles",[],"isAuthenticated",false,"isPremium","planName","subscriptionStatus","featureFlags",{},"insightsBudget","isDevelopmentHost","userPreferences",{},"recaptchaSiteKey","6LcvOJcUAAAAAHsB-gPGfGktcRlKpH7OTIU_dMTD","isImpersonating","impersonation","affiliateStatus","isFreedomPortal","routes/v2/article/layout",{"_28":29,"_30":31},"notFound",true,"relatedArticles",[32,75,87],{"_33":34,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":40,"_41":42,"_43":44,"_45":46,"_47":48,"_49":50,"_51":52,"_53":54,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":60,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":66,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":72,"_73":56,"_74":56},"mediaId",6352895,"mediaKeyId","2222195-161c104fa6008501faa64f79e35f40ca","parentId",2222195,"title","Policy Planning & Research bureau budget: 70% federal funding, 61% pass‑through and limited flexibility","audioSeconds",283,"startMs",3080000,"endMs",3363000,"viewUrl","/Search/View?dp=1&key=2222195-161c104fa6008501faa64f79e35f40ca&start=3080&end=3363","thumbnailUrl","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/2222195-161c104fa6008501faa64f79e35f40ca/thumbnail_3080000.jpg","articleUrl","/articles/6352895/Vermont/Policy-Planning-Research-bureau-budget-70-federal-funding-61-passthrough-and-limited-flexibility","mediaUrl","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6352895-a19916ab75301a1eba7799418c16e90c/orig.mp4?Expires=1773561772&Signature=mvGtpm2w620ffzZOCs1e3tn4JAnElClXF~Ib-77Ad2TjHqsrtihdswDOxXARoVKVpmfrNznALEwuVtzNHst5zoJXYz7ypU92hmQOZsU4-~x~m5DL7fw~AxieqsZMAkN1dhIMIT~ofJXnL6oYFeYKTI~uvhE8Qlq3CppdzT9xafWB94SYDxWg3vY23LOCStm5QlE~AkiB5JWbONXqKWxduCwlm4BdHzed3~ovtkG8gnVLYcmWFuLxxm9BT3p4alz0Qg5WiVDnsUrF6A8WmPx8BY0kvARk7Gkc20ckYB7h5lD-qVfXgXnxKMhwl~Hw5Y2LLK81eDwj0l02eEE~clvKng__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","author","","date","2025-02-05T07:48:17Z","article","Amy Bell, bureau director for Policy, Planning and Research at the Agency of Transportation, briefed the House Transportation Committee on Feb. 4 on the bureau’s FY26 budget and program responsibilities.

Bell said the Policy, Planning and Research budget is roughly $1,540,000 and that roughly 70% of the bureau’s revenue comes from federal sources. She told the committee about the bureau’s five sections — research, policy & planning, development review and permitting services, mapping, and federal policy — and noted that the bureau carries administrative and overhead costs for the larger Policy, Planning and Intermodal Development division.

Bell said about 61% of the bureau’s funding is pass‑through or mandatory: federal planning and research requirements and pass‑through grants to Metropolitan Planning Organizations (MPOs) and regional planning commissions. She emphasized that the Chittenden County MPO receives federal funds as a direct recipient; VTrans administers those funds but does not have discretion over how the MPO spends them. Bell said the MPO planned to increase use of federal funding by roughly $540,000 this coming year, which appears as a increase in the bureau’s pass‑through line.

On staffing, Bell said the public outreach section was reduced from two positions to one and that one new administrative position (Patrick Murphy) was included on the administrative side of the division budget. Bell also explained mapping work is typically funded 80% federally with a 20% state match.

Committee members asked for clarification about how federal funding is applied and how the pass‑through arrangements work. Bell said the bureau primarily administers federal planning funds and grants to regional planning commissions and that many of the spending lines are therefore constrained by federal eligibility rules or statute. She offered to provide committee members with additional detail and contact information for follow up.

Ending

Bell concluded by offering a line‑item history and noting the 2023 spike in funding was driven by first‑year economic development incentive dollars that were placed in the bureau budget; other years returned to prior levels. She told members to contact her for follow‑up materials and spreadsheets.","mediaType","Video","parentTitle","House Transportation - 2025-02-25 - 1:00PM","oneSentenceSummary","Amy Bell, bureau director for Policy, Planning and Research at the Agency of Transportation, briefed the House Transportation Committee on Feb. 4 that the bureau’s FY26 budget is about $1.54 million and is primarily federal funds.","taxTitle","Transportation, HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES, Committees, Legislative , Vermont","taxId",35155,"location","Vermont","headline","shortSummary",{"_33":76,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":77,"_41":78,"_43":79,"_45":80,"_47":81,"_49":82,"_51":83,"_53":84,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":85,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":86,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":72,"_73":56,"_74":56},6352900,"Agency of Transportation outlines $61.5 million FY26 gap, proposes using JTOC appropriation and project delays",1800,39000,1839000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=2222195-161c104fa6008501faa64f79e35f40ca&start=39&end=1839","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/2222195-161c104fa6008501faa64f79e35f40ca/thumbnail_39000.jpg","/articles/6352900/Vermont/Agency-of-Transportation-outlines-615-million-FY26-gap-proposes-using-JTOC-appropriation-and-project-delays","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6352900-887cb7e3d7596a1b0ecd9f174479423b/orig.mp4?Expires=1773561772&Signature=d17TXtMxeLF0uL3~b3NANBGsRUUS7dMXU4VRBhT9ADAaFes1XIkYsKodWfCnz5KmjvLFm2XYnZAX4abZE-MRWbxAWCImjjNdk4DZN-5yKyWjDD26uvxJtm9qL2aL6SMJcwsLrsVJLpci6Bi2pIG2ZmGLCjthwcMnitIkILciLiW4eDPZQTyb97FnFudZ6uCE2AgNy1UbiNJh4QX5TanhnpxxgVeaAKt3bNiXi5b7VpzzFJ-~MVTInPAqhGsBIDyyXKr0as-h8FjdSibDvEWUlQkNl5wd4DGi0FSs12TpVPF-L~II3ZmFhIuz9d3XwIiKKwP2gAzV2TlheyZCYfSjXQ__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","Candace Santos, chief financial officer of the Agency of Transportation, told the House Transportation Committee on Feb. 4 that the agency faces about a $61.5 million gap in its Transportation Fund going into fiscal 2026 and outlined how the administration proposes to close it.

The shortfall combines a set of one‑time revenues that are not available in FY26 with recurring cost pressures. To close the gap the administration proposed using the JTOC appropriation (an amount historically paid from the Transportation Fund to the state police), a one‑time $12.5 million transfer from the cash fund, roughly $14 million in internal reductions and $4.5 million in anticipated reversions at year end.

Santos said the Transportation Fund operating statement showed three one‑time items that created a starting \"hole\" of about $46 million: an FHWA administrative reimbursement estimate that has changed since last session, $12.5 million in required reversions identified at prior closeout, and a roughly $25 million transfer from the capital/cash fund that supported the FY25 budget. She said the FHWA reimbursement estimate dropped from $8.5 million to $6.3 million after negotiations, costing the agency about $2.3 million in the current year.

The nut of the agency proposal for FY26, Santos said, is to rely on a higher consensus revenue estimate (+$10.3 million), use the JTOC appropriation as an ongoing revenue source (the statute currently provides about $20.25 million to the state police), enact $14 million of division reductions and rely on $4.5 million of anticipated reversions. \"We would propose that that appropriation be general funds,\" Santos said of the JTOC amount, adding the governor's recommendation shifts funding for the state police patrols to the general fund so Transportation Fund dollars would remain available to AOT.

Jeremy Reed, the agency's chief engineer, described how the proposed reductions would affect capital work. Reed said the scope for cuts is narrow because bridges, federal emergency and federally matched projects are largely protected; the primary projects available to delay are paving projects that do not require a federal match. He listed projects that would be affected if the agency were compelled to produce roughly $12.5 million in Transportation Fund savings, and said most projects above Essex–Fairfax on the agency list were expected to be under contract by March: Chelsea–Washington (under contract), Pinesburg–South Burlington (advertised Feb. 5), Sheldon–Enos (advertise Feb. 12), Berry City and three Battleworld projects (advertise Feb. 19), and Essex–Fairfax (advertise Feb. 19). Reed said larger reclamation projects such as Killington–Stockbridge are later in the year and have more time before contract award.

Committee members pressed the agency on risks from delaying projects. Santos and Reed warned that suspending or terminating contracts after award can incur contractor claims or termination costs and can reduce federal participation depending on project funding splits. \"We would have to understand whether or not those costs would even be eligible for federal participation,\" Reed said, noting that an 82/18 federal/state split can multiply the state key‑fund hit.

The administration also identified $14 million in budget reductions in division budgets, plus $4.5 million of expected reversions and the one‑time $12.5 million transfer. Even so, several legislators said the agency would face a structural shortfall going into FY27 if recurring revenue sources are not found. Santos told the committee she hopes FHWA negotiations on flood‑related administrative reimbursements conclude by May and that one‑time revenues be treated as one‑time items on the bottom line rather than used for recurring balance.

Committee members asked for more specificity on what work would be delayed and on the schedule for bid advertisement and awards; Reed provided a near‑term timeline by project and said that most listed paving projects would need contracts executed by late March to preserve the program. Santos said the agency can provide the committee a crosswalk spreadsheet with line‑by‑line reductions and an updated multi‑year gap analysis.

The agency emphasized that if the Legislature required the JTOC appropriation to remain in the Transportation Fund, the agency would need to identify larger, agency‑wide reductions beyond the highway paving list; Santos said finding a further $8 million to reach the full $20.25 million would require deeper cuts across divisions. Reed warned the cuts would “cut to the bone” and hurt the agency’s ability to deliver services.

The agency plans to return with refined FHWA reimbursement numbers and crosswalk spreadsheets; Santos said she will report back after May when negotiations and year‑end numbers are clearer.

Ending

The committee did not take formal action on the presentation. Members asked AOT for a detailed spreadsheet of proposed reductions, a project timeline for contracting and a refined estimate of FHWA reimbursements so legislators can weigh whether to approve shifting the JTOC appropriation to general funds or require Transportation Fund support.","Agency of Transportation officials told the House Transportation Committee on Feb. 4 that FY26 faces a roughly $61.5 million shortfall. The agency proposed using the historic JTOC appropriation, a one‑time cash fund transfer and $14 million in reductions, and said delays to paving projects would be the primary way to avoid larger program cuts.",{"_33":88,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":89,"_41":90,"_43":91,"_45":92,"_47":93,"_49":94,"_51":95,"_53":96,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":97,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":98,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":72,"_73":56,"_74":56},6352890,"House committee begins brainstorming on school transportation: pilots to merge school buses and public transit considered",475,4273000,4748000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=2222195-161c104fa6008501faa64f79e35f40ca&start=4273&end=4748","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/2222195-161c104fa6008501faa64f79e35f40ca/thumbnail_4273000.jpg","/articles/6352890/Vermont/House-committee-begins-brainstorming-on-school-transportation-pilots-to-merge-school-buses-and-public-transit-considered","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6352890-3cbf0fd765ec022335bd4d7f7d7d132f/orig.mp4?Expires=1773561772&Signature=gQ3kjKXUxNt7MuSlsAfxbbR6qpGZAy~YZQ5VpD~poeYq3R6QlzCOuDBkhxW-4VBH2vFLFZdPnfy5AoUXakQgLIVStTNPaZdJbq59PEqnX1Pi7HnBvaNEp0-meDRAzy0e8Iy0iy8AOS7eLIqDYspp6gpltw8GaN5i4ReN9dX35TLTKwhauQ6Q2W0jGm3AhyGwlpG1ve3X6Ex81-JGROlDHVLPC3~nh1ZP8dX4~ooGKkrXwEIxGZrr8WDIQtXtQXP83hrw-SxACsuqaFTk9SMa70W651JBx14~gBpuR1rPx6u4DsPAOpuRABjqAuaVl3lmw0nzSSiaOtVLtbKFZug3uQ__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","During a committee discussion slot on Feb. 4, members of the House Transportation Committee discussed school transportation and how it intersects with education reform and property tax relief. The chair framed the session as a brainstorming conversation to identify transportation topics the committee might research further.

Several members proposed exploring pilot programs that would combine school bus routes with public transit service in targeted areas. Representative Pausch described the idea of merging school and public routes and said his superintendent’s first concern was student safety; Representative Burt suggested using trained bus monitors or student leaders to improve safety and reduce costs, and noted driver shortages. Representative West described local practices in Orleans County, where districts sometimes pay drivers for longer hours as an incentive, and gave an example in which a 65‑mile trip with about 50 students cost roughly $400 to charter.

Committee members raised several lines of potential work: a statewide study to estimate per‑passenger costs for school buses and public transit (and variations by rural/urban area), pilot projects to trial shared routes or contracted regional services, and analysis of current procurement models (district‑owned fleets vs. contractor‑provided service). Members also identified existing federal programs and local initiatives to examine, including the federal Safe Routes to School program and limited examples where regional transit providers (for example, Tri‑Valley Transit) transport some students to non‑district programs.

Ideas raised included non‑capital pilots — for example, shared routes for older students — and longer‑term strategies such as co‑locating schools with transit hubs, or promoting active transportation (walking, biking) through programs that make walking and cycling safer. Several members floated concept ideas such as a statewide pilot or targeted region pilot and suggested the agency or committee staff gather data on: cost per passenger mile, driver shortage impacts, examples of existing shared‑service programs, and safety mitigation approaches for mixed‑ridership vehicles.

The chair said she will circulate a list of potential study questions and said the committee may request technical follow‑up from the agency or from the Joint Fiscal Office, legislative counsel or outside witnesses. The discussion was explicitly exploratory: no policy change or formal vote was taken.

Ending

Members asked staff to collect data and examples; the chair said the committee would return to the topic after collecting information and that interested members and students (some members said students planned to observe the committee on Feb. 11) could be involved in follow‑up.","Committee members spent part of the Feb. 4 meeting exploring whether state policy can reduce school‑transportation costs and property‑tax pressure by better integrating school buses, public transit and planning. Lawmakers suggested pilot projects, data collection and studies on costs, safety and workforce issues such as driver shortages.","actionData","errors"]

Article not found

Policy Planning & Research bureau budget: 70% federal funding, 61% pass‑through and limited flexibility

Agency of Transportation outlines $61.5 million FY26 gap, proposes using JTOC appropriation and project delays

House committee begins brainstorming on school transportation: pilots to merge school buses and public transit considered