[{"_1":2,"_111":-5,"_112":-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",[32,75,87,99],{"_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",6323505,"mediaKeyId","2342349-7321a79e70082fe5495a7890ec4e72fc","parentId",2342349,"title","VTrans says nine sand piles uncovered; recommends containment language for chloride bill","audioSeconds",121,"startMs",2191255,"endMs",2313000,"viewUrl","/Search/View?dp=1&key=2342349-7321a79e70082fe5495a7890ec4e72fc&start=2191&end=2313","thumbnailUrl","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/2342349-7321a79e70082fe5495a7890ec4e72fc/thumbnail_2191255.jpg","articleUrl","/articles/6323505/Vermont/VTrans-says-nine-sand-piles-uncovered-recommends-containment-language-for-chloride-bill","mediaUrl","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6323505-af26db4b5e999633973d5d523819ac6b/orig.mp4?Expires=1770993310&Signature=Uijttenq1ycTfbnMJQlrPcNmKrdUwclQZGViKbVN0zsmo-ZWdwXmK7Sj0FWCLBAcjObn5yQYnx9o8Sl~ji0AzikTUmqw5Z0TkpzRqCFA2R~f0qzIfFsf11dqDQ7dyaMJWvQtsmBGeuXq1yRW14aSWsjZJvYSBgw6UfVBnmiUE16y6FCjwBZmzER21KI0JH0mL6Zut~mYH9XaEwyQpoTjAqLTYw91NohkzZebqLsGAh3vN-E06gJdoabR~ulEgpkTe4xJKmS0rVg2LCvFbI-zdx~bcsHkPm9TsMM-5~MWL9Hkh~uPW7PMugMAHwQxbPaCp2dO3PZ7roOnqa2JuRLPJQ__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","author","","date","2025-02-19T16:17:13.6Z","article","Michelle Boomhower, director of policy planning and intermodal development at the Vermont Agency of Transportation, answered senators’ questions about salt and sand storage during a Feb. 19 Senate Transportation hearing and provided specific counts and a policy recommendation tied to pending legislation in the Natural Resources Committee.

Boomhower said “a percentage of our salt piles are undercover at this time, and we have 9 sand piles that are not undercover, 1 of which has treated sand with salt.” She told the committee the agency believes it can relocate or reduce uncovered sand piles to fit undercover storage at existing facilities but suggested that legislation might instead require containment rather than mandating covering for all sand piles.

The nut graf: the agency urged lawmakers to consider a practical standard for a chloride‑reduction bill that would prevent runoff and mitigate phosphorus bonding to sand while allowing the department and towns flexibility on how to meet that standard.

Boomhower said VTrans and Senator Watson (working on related language) have discussed whether the bill should require sand piles to be “contained, not necessarily covered to prevent runoff, and to require sand treated with salt to be undercover.” She encouraged the Natural Resources Committee and the Transportation Committee to coordinate language and share drafts.

Committee members asked the agency to map uncovered piles and report back if there are any uncovered salt or sand sites that will remain exposed under current plans. Boomhower said the agency will follow up with specific location information if requested.","mediaType","Video","parentTitle","Senate Transportation - 2025-02-19 - 9:00AM","oneSentenceSummary","VTrans testified that a percentage of salt piles are undercover and that nine sand piles are not covered — one treated with salt — and suggested bill language requiring containment rather than mandatory covering of sand piles to reduce runoff.","taxTitle","Senate Transportation, SENATE, Committees, Legislative , Vermont","taxId",51841,"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},6323509,"VTrans requests $2.5M in FY26 to build Springfield six‑bay garage on existing site",721,1337805,2058910,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=2342349-7321a79e70082fe5495a7890ec4e72fc&start=1337&end=2058","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/2342349-7321a79e70082fe5495a7890ec4e72fc/thumbnail_1337805.jpg","/articles/6323509/Vermont/VTrans-requests-25M-in-FY26-to-build-Springfield-sixbay-garage-on-existing-site","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6323509-11860d576b5908f4e00476c79df15e76/orig.mp4?Expires=1770993310&Signature=AEDlMuzhdcQ2O0cEl71gTgMx8w5Wbti3-Ix-fFTf3WJBWo9IKmjPe9yNrqNFaqn~7Qba-o1N~6LkCD4pGAnc02RFtbrDFMR47vtJZvAP-gxwLTEffEu6-sTrPuXRfHSXxHMJtmk9vo7BJhRNIAjbjCeXD3TCpK5EQmXp6nN4yJqDODDZbu-BlLKPbZ6W198uhsa1h5SgAqBStqxcgkdLRlLJVvPef9MVepFuYcx~r0QPXNFpo2~oPlKURod0m2ds~chQ-7OcJ6XzWhLZvPs-54xJqS5-nYKE755piLkdHUZBVxLGnYRmhrqZOjWNdAuhj~FHvvKSkRiSJW~NQ35gmA__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","Jayna Morse, division director for finance and administration, presented the agency’s transportation buildings request and said the governor’s recommended FY26 budget includes $2.5 million for a new Springfield six‑bay garage on existing property.

Morse said VTrans reduced its separate statewide maintenance line for FY26 and asked districts and programs to absorb typical facility maintenance needs in their operational budgets. She described the Springfield project as a new six‑bay maintenance garage to be built on the department’s existing property; the bridge crew would move into the current job garage and the temporary job trailer would be removed.

The nut graf: the committee asked whether the project would trigger an Act 250 review, whether intersection or access improvements were planned to address traffic at the site entrance and whether salt and sand storage at the facility are covered. VTrans said the Springfield facility project “will not trigger” Act 250, has an on‑site salt shed and that intersection work is not part of the facility project though staff will check on planned nearby work.

Morse told the committee the FY26 governor’s recommendation for transportation buildings is $2,500,000 and that the FY25 capital bill included a one‑time $3.5 million appropriation for district work (not part of the transportation fund comparison). She said the statewide maintenance figure (listed on slides as $825,000) typically covers heating systems, generator replacements and similar work; the division absorbed major generator costs this past year and has allocated remaining maintenance into district budgets.

Several senators raised operational concerns about ingress/egress at the Springfield site, noting proximity to a gas station and hotel and warning of increased truck traffic if the garage capacity grows. Morse said the facility will be designed to better accommodate larger trucks and loaders and that staff would “inquire if there’s any planned work at this location in the next couple of years.”

Morse also reviewed the facilities team’s several‑year outlook and said projects are reprioritized annually based on asset condition, bids received and operational needs.","VTrans presented a $2.5 million FY26 request to build a six‑bay maintenance garage at its Springfield site, showing plans to consolidate crews, move bridge crew into the existing job garage and not trigger Act 250 review.",{"_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},6323514,"VTrans outlines uncertainty over IIJA-funded programs; NEVI at high risk, carbon and PROTECT funds more secure",1138,2458705,3597140,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=2342349-7321a79e70082fe5495a7890ec4e72fc&start=2458&end=3597","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/2342349-7321a79e70082fe5495a7890ec4e72fc/thumbnail_2458705.jpg","/articles/6323514/Vermont/VTrans-outlines-uncertainty-over-IIJA-funded-programs-NEVI-at-high-risk-carbon-and-PROTECT-funds-more-secure","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6323514-ce7bc8cd80a97c2747619d078d86f67a/orig.mp4?Expires=1770993310&Signature=dtLFZfgHqu4MtU-2vw8SLNXYOUiHco18IV7lOgFH7jrxKithup38VTSZ4~gps73oqkQwEVldRIzPNGbeLl5Nd9OllyUJwLgAlT2-0-I7I~VyXZXZyOMFJjdTxjhxkkCiXiMFno-TgFqiEVDiBqMnSZqgUq0SYaMuME3Gm4~nGyKIxgLiYrMc3rjJm7as3wciHGpKT6Q2RkDE6nF4EjK~o~FB5Hx3ykDZjk1QKnbUIK-y-uv9NrIZc4lAJGEj1rcWVk2aKpyREtn3w2TqS9e46OE5Cz1mCPg8hlZb0GRQjuKuv4ffUqYKK2INC8uX6KjsKf70hyWL-P7l1hhcXCNaew__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","Michelle Boomhower, director of policy planning and intermodal development for the Vermont Agency of Transportation, told the Senate Transportation Committee that recent federal administrative actions have left some IIJA-funded programs uncertain and that the agency is actively tracking which funds remain accessible.

“We have only obligated $3,500,000.0 [of carbon reduction funds] to date,” Boomhower said, and she reported that the agency has been able to transfer certain carbon reduction monies into Surface Transportation Block Grant (STBG) funds to increase flexibility. On the National Electric Vehicle Infrastructure (NEVI) program, Boomhower said a federal pause and reassessment of the NEVI notice of funding opportunity has left the program “at high risk,” and she said the plan the state previously submitted is effectively void until new federal guidance is issued.

The nut graf: committee members sought specifics on which projects are already contracted and what would be at risk if federal guidance changes; VTrans officials said they would provide a clearer, written risk analysis to the committee and noted some projects funded through alternate sources remain underway.

Boomhower and Jayna Morse, director of finance and administration, said the only fully operational NEVI site to date is Bradford. The agency also has two additional charging sites moving forward that are funded through ARPA-derived state monies: Randolph and Wilmington.

On other federal sources, Boomhower said PROTECT (resilience) funds are accessible and that the agency prefers to leave those funds in PROTECT, where the federal share is 90% to preserve maximum federal dollars rather than transfer them to programs with a larger state match requirement. She said the agency has been able recently to transfer roughly $2.3 million in carbon reduction funds to STBG and that roughly $8 million had been transferable earlier under program guidance.

Committee members asked whether the agency has signed contracts that could leave small contractors exposed if federal rules change. Jacob (committee member) said he worries about “getting contracts out and having signed contracts with contractors… and then, based upon what we totally believe in what was passed by Congress, and then stuff comes up.” VTrans staff said they are monitoring obligations, have drawn down some formula funds, and will return with a short written update for legislators on which programs, contracts and projects are at identifiable near-term risk.

Boomhower said several discretionary grant streams (including some rail and FTA discretionary awards) have been paused and the agency will continue to assess impacts as federal guidance evolves. She agreed to return to the committee with a concise one- to three-page summary showing program status, what has been obligated or contracted, and which funding lines remain at risk.","Agency of Transportation officials told the Senate that new federal-administration reviews have put NEVI (electric vehicle charging) funds at high risk, while carbon reduction and PROTECT monies are presently accessible and some CRP funds have been transferred to STBG.",{"_33":100,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":101,"_41":102,"_43":103,"_45":104,"_47":105,"_49":106,"_51":107,"_53":108,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":109,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":110,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":72,"_73":56,"_74":56},6323519,"VTrans finance division warns vacancy savings alone won’t cover $1M planned cuts",1199,20545,1220000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=2342349-7321a79e70082fe5495a7890ec4e72fc&start=20&end=1220","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/2342349-7321a79e70082fe5495a7890ec4e72fc/thumbnail_20545.jpg","/articles/6323519/Vermont/VTrans-finance-division-warns-vacancy-savings-alone-wont-cover-1M-planned-cuts","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6323519-2e544c33a4e7bb150fae1ef43c622293/orig.mp4?Expires=1770993310&Signature=oD8uRW8Jkr5lCrx7iN3sIhfsj83lGiSMVFwHWfl056S7vxsk8A1apyh5DL04x3Bw1Kef5qayMLlopQmyOYRcMV1k5XoSxZjqtRDgRPgbGWk6xVTzXaKYUSt3xZEJ5CkPYLb9LE2-Tjev8kogw1kFEadYBhigmr3D601AXthdlifYzsilbKlYv6F5uq72R5AJAP6rRmMfZs~hGktP-6UrBYjzTyPBc0iuo8IuF9ggnZ920DyFzNUmpPEQAuS2NkrTX5d8GSXEjp~rDueVfHjvXZPEoCIrhHjOsKZU1Tagc7OGwieBJmjeRQYW6FEB7h~OLlfmdYhAqjaMdAs0J4huQQ__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","Jayna Morse, division director for finance and administration at the Vermont Agency of Transportation, told the Senate Transportation Committee on Feb. 19 that the division’s FY26 budget request totals about $26.5 million and includes continued funding for limited-service positions and attorney general support staff.

Morse said the division’s budget “is $26,500,000 estimated, with just a small fraction of that being federal funds and a larger portion being transportation funds.” She told senators the $1.9 million increase (about 8%) in the division’s request is “attributable to the salaries and benefits that are included in the collective bargaining agreement for the employees within this division.”

The nut graf: committee members pressed Morse on whether routine vacancy savings could absorb a proposed $1 million cut in the agency’s requested reversion or reallocation. Morse and senators agreed vacancy savings at current levels would not be sufficient and that deeper personnel reductions or other operational cuts would likely be required if the legislature does not authorize the transfers or revenues the agency expects.

Morse said the division currently has a 5.8% vacancy rate, representing 11 positions, and estimated that vacancy savings equate to about $1.1 million. She also said the agency models a 5% vacancy assumption overall but that Finance and Administration typically contributes about a 2% vacancy allowance to the agency-wide assumption. “The $1,000,000 is not included in the 5 point. So currently, we have 5.8% of our positions vacant,” Morse said, adding that several of those vacancies are actively under recruitment.

Committee members pressed for how the division would choose where to reduce services. Morse said managers assess whether a vacant job should be refilled as-is, reclassified or repurposed; she gave an example of converting a continuous improvement post into a data analyst role. But she warned that many core functions “are in support of drawing down our federal dollars,” and that some positions cannot be cut without jeopardizing federal funding draws.

When asked whether the division would need to eliminate positions to meet a $1 million reduction, Morse said: “It would not be our choice to cut positions. We would seek to do this through vacancy savings and look at other reductions in the operation. So we might be turning in fleet vehicles. We might be doing less training…” She also testified that the agency has returned limited-service positions to the central pool in previous years to reduce headcount.

Senators repeatedly sought more granular detail on which program areas would be scaled back if cuts are required and asked the agency to provide those policy-level tradeoffs rather than leave decisions solely to vacancy timing.

The division provided the committee with a high-level breakdown: about 130 permanent positions, nine limited-service positions, and 90% or more of the division’s spending classified as operational (personal services and service-level agreements). Morse said the budget includes salaries and benefits for six attorney general’s office staff who support the agency.","Vermont Agency of Transportation’s Finance and Administration division told the Senate Transportation Committee that a proposed $1 million reduction would likely require cutting positions beyond routine vacancy savings and that their FY26 budget is built on a 5% agency vacancy assumption.","actionData","errors"]

Article not found

VTrans says nine sand piles uncovered; recommends containment language for chloride bill

VTrans requests $2.5M in FY26 to build Springfield six‑bay garage on existing site

VTrans outlines uncertainty over IIJA-funded programs; NEVI at high risk, carbon and PROTECT funds more secure

VTrans finance division warns vacancy savings alone won’t cover $1M planned cuts