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Committee considers three studies to better target municipal road funding; VLCT and regional planners to be involved
Summary
Senate staff outlined three proposed studies aimed at making municipal road funding more needs-driven rather than simply inflation-adjusted; the Vermont League of Cities and Towns and regional planners were identified as stakeholders.
The Senate Transportation Committee discussed three proposed studies designed to produce better information about municipal road needs and prioritize funding to high-use or critical transportation facilities.
Committee members said they want to move beyond the traditional inflationary increases and instead target support based on demonstrated municipal needs. Damian Leonard, counsel with the Onslow Legislative Council, said he had received study language from testimony and would circulate draft language for committee review.
Committee members asked that the Vermont League of Cities and Towns (VLCT) and regional planning partners be included as stakeholders in the studies. Leonard confirmed he would ensure VLCT and regional planning partners are named in the language under development and would flag any inconsistencies the committee needed to discuss at the next meeting.
One senator said the committee should focus funding on “critical roads and use,” giving the example of a local bypass that functions as a diversion when the state highway is blocked. The committee emphasized the need for data on municipal roads and transportation facilities so resources could be allocated by need rather than by a uniform inflationary formula.
Ending: Staff will draft placeholder study language, incorporate stakeholder lists including VLCT and regional planning partners, and circulate the text for committee review.
