[{"_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",6269984,"mediaKeyId","3039717-5bff5fd61df5c3186c4e06ff185b27c6","parentId",3039717,"title","Committee asks DMV, agencies to study low‑volume vehicle certification after member raises case for small‑scale manufacturers","audioSeconds",279,"startMs",7061505,"endMs",7340700,"viewUrl","/Search/View?dp=1&key=3039717-5bff5fd61df5c3186c4e06ff185b27c6&start=7061&end=7340","thumbnailUrl","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/3039717-5bff5fd61df5c3186c4e06ff185b27c6/thumbnail_7061505.jpg","articleUrl","/articles/6269984/Vermont/Committee-asks-DMV-agencies-to-study-lowvolume-vehicle-certification-after-member-raises-case-for-smallscale-manufacturers","mediaUrl","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6269984-3c35c264483e2067bce6da8f20a0bb2d/orig.mp4?Expires=1775046172&Signature=jnQ59o53msSkl~uIrNBhTWjBwmmVuT~qz4wBKmQvyLzoWteDI8Tdbc5pUVinhEG0P2ng1d6vM0YfP-emDOVicdRAYTq2H3D~7eaDGN977nGllGNSBbghwOIn86ThLsJZBT1Jt1K90w4R1ULwRawI2KpNNNV1v3QgRvtXmV8nFP0rmZmr4w75oKgfve~ZB55fBTlGQSKzkgysIsyceu9LBQN2afEcAumY70wPHMAud0npVJvL6KuIyzAuSrTyX1llteNtHWh7nHDlTurdq-kmM2~myUy5QqZcengpb8joWICl~i~BH9MtTtYLC6cjyObGeJYo1FEgY4uzPXjlsg86Ig__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","author","","date","2025-04-17T13:05:24Z","article","Senators asked state agencies on April 17 to study whether Vermont can create a cost‑effective path to register and certify ultra‑low‑volume and home‑built motor vehicles, using other states’ waiver programs as models.

The committee discussion followed a member’s example of a locally manufactured or home‑built vehicle that currently faces certification and emissions hurdles under inspection and federal emission rules. The sponsor said the intent is not to broadly change vehicle safety standards but to explore whether a tightly limited waiver or a rule change could help very small manufacturers or hobbyist builders register vehicles without the high cost of full emissions certification.

Committee members and several attendees referenced California’s low‑volume manufacturer program, which allows limited waivers tied to production thresholds (California has used 325 in‑state/5,000 worldwide thresholds and an annual cap of 500 waivers). The chair asked agencies to identify whether similar thresholds or a waiver process would make sense for Vermont and to recommend what changes to inspection manuals, rules or statutes would be necessary.

The proposed study would also consider whether changes require federal emissions‑certification waivers or whether inspection‑station procedures could certify safety without full federal certification for a limited class of vehicles. The committee did not adopt statutory changes at the hearing; members asked for a short report and draft language to be circulated to stakeholders quickly, because members expect manufacturers and hobbyists to seek clarity before any RFP or program decisions.

Senators agreed the issue should be handled collaboratively with DMV, Agency of Natural Resources and other stakeholders to avoid unintended consequences for emissions compliance and safety. The chair said he would circulate the draft language and invited agencies and stakeholders to meet promptly; committee staff said the matter would be placed high on the list for the next day’s drafting cycle.","mediaType","Video","parentTitle","Senate Transportation - 2025-04-17- 9:00AM","oneSentenceSummary","The Senate Transportation Committee directed agencies to study options for certifying ‘ultra‑low‑volume’ or home‑built vehicles—examining inspection‑manual changes and low‑volume waiver models used by other states such as California—and asked for a stakeholder report to guide any rule or statutory changes.","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},6269988,"Medicaid officials warn volunteer driver waiver could clash with federal rules; committee urges expedited agency‑stakeholder talks",3145,3452820,6598180,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=3039717-5bff5fd61df5c3186c4e06ff185b27c6&start=3452&end=6598","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/3039717-5bff5fd61df5c3186c4e06ff185b27c6/thumbnail_3452820.jpg","/articles/6269988/Vermont/Medicaid-officials-warn-volunteer-driver-waiver-could-clash-with-federal-rules-committee-urges-expedited-agencystakeholder-talks","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6269988-a4c2c29d64628a56b6069f9fd55709ff/orig.mp4?Expires=1775046172&Signature=J9iEDZKLrz0Kn4wsCJA7d8PsrlP5ZDXNXDQyILHQj3NsLHbWRkSrG-HevFdC89FUoXtVaNF5b-5PqgUIwv59NEt60C6bh2nLi1tVGUhuPhv4utBCMJk~y-sjyb1AffdvkwpgVKGQZ47qm-gfxFeEkgit~56deFF~jQZMEDmbrfWTzSyrNhwqzkiePGYu~1d-EIeXw5pBpUv5rAnR4gsg2tkaDcfbwG17~YhrGjmcCl7GNAN9zkV69uitSZtkJw5aRhM6HoKAi~s-ogweozhz4RWUqkYppri8~RAJPJtulH3AmML8SIkIuD8Mhuwqa6rz3wOhTtctW~4mgbPHD3H~Sg__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","Department of Vermont Health Access officials told the Senate Transportation Committee on April 17 that proposed language to ease background checks for volunteer non‑emergency medical transportation drivers would likely conflict with federal Medicaid requirements and protections for medically vulnerable members.

Alex McCracken, director of communications and legislative affairs at DVHA, and Grace Johnson, a policy analyst at the Agency of Human Services (AHS), said federal Medicaid rules and DVHA’s NEMT provider manual require checks aimed at preventing fraud, waste and abuse and protecting member safety. The manual specifies database checks such as HHS exclusion lists and criminal records searches (for example, the National Crime Information Center and the Vermont Crime Information Center) and registry checks for adult and child abuse where applicable.

“Medicaid is not responsible for the general operation or deficit financing of public or private transportation providers,” McCracken told the committee, quoting federal guidance. DVHA said the program’s federal funding and audit risk limit Vermont’s ability to waive required checks in statute.

DVHA also noted the program must consider member safety: Medicaid members include children, people with severe disabilities, behavioral‑health needs, and long‑term‑care recipients. DVHA noted the Affordable Care Act established a national background‑check framework for certain long‑term providers and said exempting volunteers from checks could create inconsistent safeguards.

DVHA asked the committee to remove or delay the statutory waiver language and instead let DVHA and Vermont Public Transit Association (VPTA) work together during the department’s upcoming NEMT contract procurement and RFP process this summer. DVHA said it will engage bidders and stakeholders to identify the offenses that presently exclude applicants and to evaluate whether narrowly tailored categorical exemptions or adjusted screening approaches could expand the volunteer pool without running afoul of federal law or member‑safety requirements.

Committee members said they want the agencies to continue discussions with VPTA and other stakeholders during the contracting window and requested a timetable. DVHA replied that its NEMT contract is set to expire and the RFP work begins this summer, and the department is willing to meet with stakeholders before issuing the RFP so procurement and screening requirements can reflect shared goals where legally permissible.

Senators and transportation stakeholders said the volunteer‑driver issue has persisted for years and asked DVHA and VPTA to produce draft language or a report before final contract specifications are issued. DVHA agreed to pursue expedited stakeholder engagement and to return to the committee with proposals that are consistent with federal law and member safety.","Department of Vermont Health Access officials told the Senate Transportation Committee that proposed language to waive background checks for volunteer non‑emergency medical transport (NEMT) drivers conflicts with federal Medicaid requirements and member‑safety checks; they proposed stakeholder work during an upcoming RFP process instead.",{"_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},6269991,"Committee weighs new federal‑funding briefings and a project dashboard for the transportation program",471,3719645,4191095,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=3039717-5bff5fd61df5c3186c4e06ff185b27c6&start=3719&end=4191","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/3039717-5bff5fd61df5c3186c4e06ff185b27c6/thumbnail_3719645.jpg","/articles/6269991/Vermont/Committee-weighs-new-federalfunding-briefings-and-a-project-dashboard-for-the-transportation-program","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6269991-718292a5fc5776d0284435a7dbb56889/orig.mp4?Expires=1775046172&Signature=WCl3soK6dMsLDQ4nUBqdz8zNbuhrczINMhDbUhGclSSd07sicbWQmmVXtxiinT~lIyV4XOwlZ80ok2VKHP-CUdiSaAgh3Kud17dJEurXjmWU9hjldNEZibtC7ufCZuS7OOROm9msFEDlFjfTEo01Tf~utWABY0xehQaLjypopBjhOmXjVDmZ8RY~k-D-nnoqGWc1890yF9ncqLS7rozwQQ-eczY61kXvN4va9D-3LVXyux5wJEkntlKAEyDVJCbpx3aABOWAOyNjEjvfbGNy4Jf7BsFmaxWiRLThTqzcG~LLe4fZ3DpmCFA9nSQRhrM9Xu0On~0ZEV9lqIGZlHYrzA__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","Legislative counsel and Agency of Transportation officials described draft bill language on April 17 that would require AOT to brief the Joint Transportation Oversight Committee on state and federal funding at two points in the fiscal year and to publish a program dashboard showing project delays and cost overruns.

Damian Leonard of the Office of Legislative Counsel told the committee the draft would ask the secretary of transportation to provide briefings on or before Sept. 30 and Dec. 15 covering federal funds received, anticipated federal funding for the state fiscal year, delayed or reduced federal grants, State Transportation Fund revenues and impacts on the fiscal year 2026 transportation program. The briefings would also summarize any legislative actions needed to address revenue or funding changes.

The draft adds a discretionary 14‑day emergency meeting requirement: if the secretary learns of a significant decline in state revenues or federal funding that threatens the ability to carry out the program, the secretary may request a meeting of the oversight committee within 14 days.

A reporting threshold would require a written, project‑level report when total state or federal funding declines exceed 4 percent; that report would detail the impacts and propose reductions or delays to stay within available funds. \"If there's a decrease in overall state or federal funding that is in excess of 4%, the secretary would have to prepare a written report detailing the impact of the decrease on projects that are in the FY26 transportation program,\" Leonard said.

AOT Chief Engineer Jeremy Reed said the agency had concerns about a project‑by‑project listing — chiefly that legislative actors could be asked to choose individual projects — but said the requirement could be framed as an informational report rather than a directive for legislators to select projects for delay. Reed said the revised draft significantly reduces the administrative burden compared with earlier versions and that the agency could work with counsel to finalize language.

Separately, the draft proposes replacing the long‑standing “10(g)” annual project listing with a graphical dashboard (to be added as a new 10(g)(q)) in AOT’s proposed transportation program. The dashboard would show: the percentage of projects delayed more than one year from the preliminary plan projected completion date; and the percentage of projects whose cost has increased by more than 50 percent or $5,000,000 (whichever is less) from the preliminary plan estimate. Quarter‑to‑quarter updates would be provided to the committee.

The bill would phase in the dashboard on Jan. 1 next year and repeal the current 10(g) project‑listing report on July 1 next year, giving the committee one year of overlap. Committee members noted data limitations for the first dashboard year because agencies may not have historic milestone fields captured in IT systems; AOT acknowledged the first year’s data may be “lumpy” and said it would work with IT to improve reporting in subsequent years.

The committee also discussed end‑of‑year reversions: draft language would direct the secretary, with approval by the secretary of administration and within statutory limits, to identify mid‑year reversions from fiscal year 2025 appropriations (excluding Town Highway State Aid structures and class 2 roadway programs) to support the FY26 program, and to report identified reversions to joint fiscal oversight. Members noted this was intended to align program financing with fiscal decisions already made in the session; committee financial staff said one recent estimate of required reversions was roughly $4.5 million and that a $680,000 adjustment was part of the committee’s positions, but cautioned that final numbers depend on ongoing budget work.

Chair members said the reporting package is intended to give legislators timely situational awareness without inviting legislators to micromanage projects. AOT and legislative staff agreed to continue redrafting to address agency concerns about process and administrative workload.

No formal vote was recorded at the hearing; the committee directed counsel and AOT to keep refining the language for the bill.","Legislative staff and AOT proposed reporting changes to give the Joint Transportation Oversight Committee earlier visibility into federal grants, state revenues and project schedule/cost risks, including two briefings (Sept. 30 and Dec. 15), an emergency meeting trigger and a dashboard of delayed/over‑cost projects.",{"_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},6269997,"Vermont DOT outlines shift to multimodal guidance and rolls out Complete Streets training for planners and engineers",1789,39275,1828820,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=3039717-5bff5fd61df5c3186c4e06ff185b27c6&start=39&end=1828","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/3039717-5bff5fd61df5c3186c4e06ff185b27c6/thumbnail_39275.jpg","/articles/6269997/Vermont/Vermont-DOT-outlines-shift-to-multimodal-guidance-and-rolls-out-Complete-Streets-training-for-planners-and-engineers","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6269997-b384b56eaeaad3332d45deb089477b99/orig.mp4?Expires=1775046172&Signature=RvqEfaeNE8yKFXOox-n-vQeVZbNi~9yZ-vyA~32WSTAug0XgoP9KGLRgE1sKY82leQsiErviqQi2rQAHVA2FxVChzwv6ITkNeulYcKgC6a3nTsEuj5Kaj3nzaaBUbn-Cb-iwGEpXeE8ENBh39UQkzAGQr9qMSFvedwqjIHCZ9SjEdc5GQsQ7RZGJ5KySkcm9Uau1MYJGZePc3trEuVm~Zcf8lxPzpJVh2zNxNVYFai2htR~41np2-fUtMEWNjRR31JT4Wf7DWJQmzJysvRdIy6Me7OGYeVax2rIX~Hl3grYToxdh9weBbVuOhWv~4DgBkj8sThTcsoRWqc4Z17wGFw__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","The Agency of Transportation told the Senate Transportation Committee on April 17 that it is replacing the Vermont State Design Standards with a Vermont Multimodal Roadway Guide and will launch a Complete Streets training program for state and municipal planners and engineers.

The change moves Vermont from prescriptive standards to a guidance-based, context-sensitive framework designed to give engineers flexibility while encouraging consistent outcomes across rural, suburban and urban settings.

AOT Deputy Chief Engineer Erin Sisson said the project aims to provide a single “umbrella” document that points designers to state standard drawings, engineering instructions and national guidance such as AASHTO and NCHRP so practitioners can choose context-appropriate solutions instead of applying a one-size-fits-all standard. “We’re gonna do a little two-part update for you all about where we’re at with the Vermont multimodal roadway guide… and then the Complete Streets training,” Sisson said.

Why it matters: the state’s standards date to the 1990s and the update reflects a nationwide trend toward outcomes-based guidance that balances local land use, safety and multimodal access. Committee members and stakeholders said the new approach could better align transportation decisions with Act 181 land‑use maps and help preserve options for walking, biking and transit in older downtowns.

AOT said the department completed a year of public engagement and hired a consultant team (BHB and Tool Design) to build the outline of the guide. The consultants delivered an 85-page outline two weeks before the hearing; AOT staff said they are reviewing it internally and will distribute it externally after alignment checks with agency policy. Sisson said a full draft is expected “by early next year,” followed by implementation and training so the guidance is used in practice rather than shelved.

The guidance will reframe roadway classification away from federal functional class (minor arterial, major collector, etc.) toward land-use contexts — for example, treating one continuous “major collector” differently where it passes through a downtown than where it carries interstate connector truck traffic. “Even though this roadway is the same classification the whole way, is it in a rural setting? Is it a connector… or is it a downtown?” Sisson said.

Complete Streets training: Matthew Arancio, regional planning manager in AOT’s Policy, Planning and Research division, summarized an internal training program AOT piloted this winter and spring that combines (1) a guided walk audit, (2) a presentation on the 2023 Complete Streets guidance and (3) a guided design (tabletop) exercise. Arancio said AOT will adapt the internal model for external delivery starting in fall 2025, with online modules plus five to six in-person sessions organized with regional planning commissions and VLCT.

The training emphasizes three takeaways AOT wants design professionals to absorb: design for context rather than deploy a single template; assemble multiple Complete Streets elements (there is “no one Complete Street”); and, at minimum, do not preclude future multimodal improvements when doing smaller rehabilitation work. Arancio described an internal walk audit in downtown Barre as an example where participants observed frequent jaywalking and discussed design responses.

Stakeholder input and safeguards: Locomotion, a statewide active‑transportation advocacy group, and other stakeholders told the committee they support the move toward guidance but urged the department to balance flexibility with performance targets so that places that need high‑quality walking and biking facilities (routes to school, village centers) are pushed toward higher design standards. Jonathan Weber, director of Locomotion, recommended integrating objective measures such as Level of Traffic Stress (LTS) into the guidance to identify where LTS 1–2 facilities (comfortable for the majority of the public) should be a goal.

AOT staff and committee members discussed the possibility of retaining some prescriptive language in companion engineering instructions where minimums (for example, sidewalk width) must be enforced. Michelle Boomhower of AOT said prescriptive elements will likely “nest” under the new guidance in other agency documents and that training will help practitioners understand when to apply flexibility and when to follow explicit requirements.

AOT reiterated that the guidance and training are being designed to encourage collaboration with regional planning commissions, municipal staff and other stakeholders so projects consider funding sources early and allow municipalities time to respond. Sisson and Arancio both said the department expects to continue stakeholder outreach as it develops the full draft.

The committee asked AOT to share the consultants’ outline with members after internal review; Sisson said she would distribute the outline externally in about a month.

Looking ahead: AOT will continue to develop the draft multimodal guide through the coming year, followed by an implementation program of training for agency and municipal staff. The department also said it is coordinating the guidance with Act 181 land‑use mapping work underway by RPCs to ensure transportation and land‑use contexts align.

For now the plan is guidance plus practical training rather than adding new blanket “shall” requirements; AOT and stakeholders will test whether a combination of guidance, nested prescriptive standards and training moves local projects toward safer, multimodal outcomes without introducing unworkable mandates.","Agency of Transportation officials told the Senate Transportation Committee that they are replacing the Vermont State Design Standards with a Vermont Multimodal Roadway Guide to give engineers more context-sensitive guidance and that a statewide Complete Streets training program for municipal and agency staff will be deployed beginning fall 2025.","actionData","errors"]

Article not found

Committee asks DMV, agencies to study low‑volume vehicle certification after member raises case for small‑scale manufacturers

Medicaid officials warn volunteer driver waiver could clash with federal rules; committee urges expedited agency‑stakeholder talks

Committee weighs new federal‑funding briefings and a project dashboard for the transportation program

Vermont DOT outlines shift to multimodal guidance and rolls out Complete Streets training for planners and engineers