[{"_1":2,"_98":-5,"_99":-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",[32,75,86],{"_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",6336912,"mediaKeyId","2277985-1cde136c027ea8008b9487717cb64e0a","parentId",2277985,"title","Vermont snowmobile association outlines trail network, funding and enforcement needs to House Transportation committee","audioSeconds",1421,"startMs",30891,"endMs",1452471,"viewUrl","/Search/View?dp=1&key=2277985-1cde136c027ea8008b9487717cb64e0a&start=30&end=1452","thumbnailUrl","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/2277985-1cde136c027ea8008b9487717cb64e0a/thumbnail_30891.jpg","articleUrl","/articles/6336912/Vermont/Vermont-snowmobile-association-outlines-trail-network-funding-and-enforcement-needs-to-House-Transportation-committee","mediaUrl","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6336912-2cecc660d7fd26fc30e055f735cd3aa1/orig.mp4?Expires=1771171085&Signature=AphEvdiLJU07-j48Uyi0ZpNeJXPNI2Z9JMcvcv9fJBAMOQf~DeI31BSIhZsKGsGEVJn~Xjsv5D48rHJigPDEZCyMZNyvBb7-jIXobEQphQ53U~PQ9hLkQlM4NPOvV57k5GqUN6XziFZO4kAllBfL-aZDFW4g47i5olICHyV3JsOf1yzoLroDO8LeiVnCJryFzK8Sc7JunVCyJx-WPqKCncwKv3YdfnvefW-8mYyX-jzI1sBtGgtnHXC4OOSzdgvu4tNeMwQr6C4zBJCFU7pIx4e2OKCaGju0hL5hU8-v5MAJdEDXZOMO0jTf~YXKz~Psr9cMKamMQITX~ToXyZ38Ow__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","author","","date","2025-02-12T16:02:06Z","article","Cindy Locke, executive director of the Vermont Association of Snow Travelers, told the House Transportation Committee on Tuesday that VAST operates a statewide snowmobile trail network that is largely volunteer-run, supports local economies and relies on a combination of trail-pass revenue, state funding and club grants.

Locke said VAST has about \"20,000 members\" and that the organization estimates an annual economic impact of about \"$550,000,000 a year\" for Vermont. She said VAST works with \"about 9,500 landowners\" and that \"80% of our trails are on private property,\" with the remainder on municipal, state and federal lands.

The association manages roughly \"4,100 miles of trails,\" Locke said, and operates a grooming fleet she valued at about \"$30,000,000.\" She told the committee the organization runs 104 Class‑1 groomers and that power units cost in the hundreds of thousands of dollars each; VAST spends an estimated \"$800,000 to $2,000,000 a winter\" on grooming and pays about \"$500,000 a year\" in annual trail maintenance. Locke said flood damage from 2023–24 accounted for about \"$2,000,000\" in repairs.

VAST finances come mostly from trail passes and state support. Locke said VAST has \"about a $4,000,000 annual budget,\" including roughly \"$450,000 a year from the state of Vermont\" derived from a capped portion of gas tax receipts and snowmobile registrations; some funds are managed through a state fund the agency of natural resources administers as a fiscal agent. VAST also issues equipment grants to local clubs and allocates money to law enforcement patrols.

Locke described the group’s safety and enforcement work: last winter law enforcement provided \"4,660 patrol hours\" and performed \"over 17,000 snowmobile inspections.\" VAST hires patrols from state police, fish and wildlife officers, sheriffs and municipal departments and runs a volunteer \"safety ambassador\" program of about 40 volunteers who report trail hazards and assist riders and law enforcement in non‑paid roles.

On policy items, Locke said VAST plans to review state fine levels for operating without a trail pass or registration, noting the current fine structure has not been updated in many years and that much of the fine revenue is returned to fund law enforcement. She said the association will do work with its Governor's Snowmobile Council this summer and may pursue changes through the Department of Motor Vehicles in the coming legislative session. Locke also suggested exploring whether the Agency of Transportation's sign shops could print nonprofit trail signage to reduce VAST's sign budget (Locke said VAST spends about \"$40,000 a year\" on signs).

Committee members asked several operational questions. Representative Burt asked whether the Lamoille Valley Rail Trail is suitable for mixed use; Locke said the rail trail is \"wide enough that it supports all uses\" but that usage patterns vary by season and landowner permissions. Representative Holt asked whether local businesses sell passes; Locke said stores sometimes sell club memberships but that state trail passes are issued per snowmobile rather than per person and that landowner agreements typically specify that permission is for snowmobiling only. Representative Burke and others praised VAST’s volunteer base and economic contributions to rural communities.

No formal action was taken; the presentation served to inform committee members and to flag issues VAST plans to pursue with state agencies and the Governor's Snowmobile Council.

VAST provided committee members with details on grooming‑map technology (GPS tracking on groomers, a free public map with paid upgrade features), trail best‑management practices developed with the Agency of Natural Resources, and information on trail signage tied to E‑911 location identifiers. Locke also identified administrative staff and volunteers who accompany VAST’s statehouse visits: lobbyist Frank Stanley, board vice president Mark Reeves and programs and trails manager Mandy Vinal.

Locke closed by reiterating VAST’s reliance on volunteers, landowner permissions and state partnerships to maintain a network that VAST says supports local businesses and provides recreation across Vermont’s rural areas.","mediaType","Video","parentTitle","House Transportation - 2025-02-12 - 11:00AM","oneSentenceSummary","Cindy Locke, executive director of the Vermont Association of Snow Travelers, told the House Transportation Committee on Tuesday that VAST operates a 4,100‑mile snowmobile trail system largely on private land, supports local economies and faces rising maintenance and enforcement costs.","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":79,"_47":80,"_49":81,"_51":82,"_53":83,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":84,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":85,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":72,"_73":56,"_74":56},6336903,"Agency of Natural Resources explains Advanced Clean Cars 2 adoption, compliance options and enforcement to House Transportation",0,2362025,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=2277985-1cde136c027ea8008b9487717cb64e0a&start=2362&end=2362","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/2277985-1cde136c027ea8008b9487717cb64e0a/thumbnail_2362025.jpg","/articles/6336903/Vermont/Agency-of-Natural-Resources-explains-Advanced-Clean-Cars-2-adoption-compliance-options-and-enforcement-to-House-Transportation","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6336903-cacd5d18a76a2f7f57222aad1f76d190/orig.mp4?Expires=1771171085&Signature=e1hqw~JB89Oz1NZV721LYIGbLvDUYu-jJZPzvnbY-7t35bDuFxiSubNVrscuvMorwIdV-7R-PHGKzvj9O9M7YcQ5ZfRW9tIyp25kGHmrsKp8eTT4nDYqpA3nsj7cDf2CSizi9goX1Arx~WmR9T9W6ul7jD9nWBhQ6ezSWjCDi1ljr7Es8eAu6WiWhpqoLe~aKnhWBybpR9mQVy1XUl5Q7i1Q4Sx6quiu~inJFzj1ot6A7SFHo0QzQhUnQUwpZpyn1YVCmt5GoVU2uafjzlThp42JV-2CFPxzohYZqP~80KYfEWHgUm~076p6aP4pCyiX-x67JviWSh042bflyMrscQ__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","Rachel Stevens of the Vermont Agency of Natural Resources told the House Transportation Committee on Tuesday that Vermont adopted Advanced Clean Cars 2 as part of a package of vehicle‑emissions rules in 2022 and that the rule is designed to reduce greenhouse gases and criteria air pollutants from light‑duty vehicles by requiring manufacturers to provide a rising share of zero‑emission vehicles (ZEVs) and by tightening emissions controls on internal combustion engines.

Stevens said Vermont adopted California’s vehicle regulations under authorities in the Federal Clean Air Act and that the rules were recommended in the state’s climate planning process following the Global Warming Solutions Act. She said agency staff held an extensive public engagement process during the 2022 rulemaking and provided committee members with the administrative record, including technical support documents and responses to public comments.

Deirdre Ritzer, Mobile Sources Section Chief at the Department of Environmental Conservation, described how the rule works: it sets increasingly stringent manufacturer deliverables for model years beginning in 2026 and imposes both tighter emissions standards on combustion engines and a ZEV sales requirement. Ritzer explained that the 2026 ZEV sales requirement starts at 35% but that manufacturers have multiple compliance pathways, including banked credits, early‑compliance credits, environmental‑justice credits (for selling discounted vehicles to qualifying programs), and the ability to transfer credits across states and manufacturers.

Ritzer said those flexible options can reduce a manufacturer’s 2026 obligation substantially — \"by as much as 70%\" in combined scenarios — which, she said, could bring an effective 35% requirement down to about 11% for a given manufacturer depending on credit use and trading. She emphasized the agency does not set credit prices; credit trading is a market transaction between manufacturers and the agency tracks credit reports for compliance.

Committee members asked about enforcement and penalties. A senator asked what the minimum fine would be if a manufacturer failed to meet delivery requirements. ANR staff answered that enforcement is governed by state statute (Title 10 provisions cited in the discussion) and that the agency’s practice prioritizes compliance through outreach and education; manufacturers are afforded a three‑year make‑up period for missed model‑year targets and any enforcement penalties would be determined case‑by‑case using statutory factors and maximum penalty limits set in statute.

Stevens also explained practical implementation details: DMV registers only California‑certified vehicles in Vermont by checking the manufacturer’s certificate of origin, and the state has used this registration process since the program’s earlier iterations dating to 1996. ANR staff told the committee that ZEV market share in Vermont is already growing and that, in calendar year 2024, direct ZEV sales in Vermont were exceeding milestones under the older Advanced Clean Cars 1 program.

ANR staff provided committee members with the agency’s technical support document, economic and environmental analyses, and the formal responses to public comments submitted during the 2022 rulemaking. They said they are available to return to the committee to discuss Advanced Clean Trucks or other related rules.

No committee action was taken; the session was informational and included a question‑and‑answer exchange about compliance flexibility and enforcement processes.","ANR staff summarized Vermont’s 2022 adoption of California‑aligned Advanced Clean Cars 2, described how the rule reduces emissions and requires manufacturers to deliver zero‑emission vehicles, and answered committee questions about credit trading, DMV registration and enforcement procedures.",{"_33":87,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":88,"_41":89,"_43":90,"_45":91,"_47":92,"_49":93,"_51":94,"_53":95,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":96,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":97,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":72,"_73":56,"_74":56},6336907,"Vermont Arts Council outlines public‑art partnerships with transportation agencies",892,1432905,2325135,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=2277985-1cde136c027ea8008b9487717cb64e0a&start=1432&end=2325","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/2277985-1cde136c027ea8008b9487717cb64e0a/thumbnail_1432905.jpg","/articles/6336907/Vermont/Vermont-Arts-Council-outlines-publicart-partnerships-with-transportation-agencies","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6336907-7164a409d4efba5cbf1a363a8bade234/orig.mp4?Expires=1771171085&Signature=binL27sJ2HzQ7FlFKtI~o3~98GbMmH0XWdqhqhvx9i6HnjIUodfeoKxF6S3IaoV2U8Lb~r-tQn2kzzzodmnucFW4H9E3KFy2wmHbCmZtdP9zvsfHUVT5KTIZjilyTIEuGF773Z2tVeFp0GpMDLXc6Rh8qLllc3fBd-a~xv8SdiZ6NLq4rh4L-nJ5g28j10Fi7pgnYXXyoNDiMH1Qe6-NIat9-E0pKHWiA7j3VDJs85Ah8Q6kSZMuUr2FMGXcLfT9aFbbjBQAyD5UZT6VxggBdPiBSZuuevFs-6A3fO5a8MuTz~OWLShAbHlzeAREfQBtHKEiFxaOLbaD2fvjoFbYzA__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","Michelle Bailey, senior program manager at the Vermont Arts Council, told the House Transportation Committee on Tuesday that the council’s public‑art programs have partnered with the Vermont Agency of Transportation on projects designed to animate infrastructure, support local businesses and improve public spaces.

Bailey described the program called \"Animating Infrastructure,\" launched in 2015, and said the council has funded public art projects in 29 Vermont communities since the program began. She said projects include murals under bridge underpasses, bridge lighting installations, kinetic sculpture at the Brattleboro Transportation Center, a bus‑stop project called \"Flower Stop\" that trained welding students, and a planned vehicle wrap for Rural Community Transit buses in the Northeast Kingdom.

\"Creative placemaking ... animates public and private spaces, rejuvenates structures and streetscapes, improves local business viability and public safety, and brings diverse people together,\" Bailey told the committee. She said art integrated with transportation projects can foster civic pride and encourage walking, biking and transit use.

Bailey noted the long relationship between the Vermont Arts Council and VTrans, beginning with the Danville transportation enhancement project in 1999 and culminating in later programs that paired artists with engineers, conservation groups, businesses and community organizations. She said VTrans has a guidance document for projects located on state transportation facilities to address permissions and safety concerns; applicants to the Arts Council's programs are directed to that guidance to coordinate with the agency.

Committee members and presenters cited examples of projects that connect downtowns to rail‑trail access points, illuminate underpasses to improve safety and encourage foot traffic, and incorporate stormwater‑drain art to raise public awareness about stormwater management. Bailey said some projects were temporary and others permanent, and that the council maintains a public‑art map on its website with project details.

No formal action was taken. Bailey invited committee members to an Arts Council reception and noted outreach materials and videos that document recent bridge and lighting projects.","The Vermont Arts Council told the House Transportation Committee about its Animating Infrastructure program and partnerships with the Agency of Transportation to integrate public art into bridges, underpasses, transit stops and rail‑trail connections across more than two dozen communities.","actionData","errors"]

Article not found

Vermont snowmobile association outlines trail network, funding and enforcement needs to House Transportation committee

Agency of Natural Resources explains Advanced Clean Cars 2 adoption, compliance options and enforcement to House Transportation

Vermont Arts Council outlines public‑art partnerships with transportation agencies