Committee hears overview of Vermont welcome centers, examines Highgate border site for new northwest facility

Buildings and General Services Commissioner Wanda Manoli told the House Transportation Committee on March 20 that Vermont operates a network of 16 welcome and information centers that collectively handle millions of visits and serve tourism, highway safety and commercial-vehicle needs.

The committee heard a detailed overview of how the centers are run and funded, data on visitation and site features, and preliminary work by the Agency of Transportation on a possible northwest welcome center near the Highgate border crossing. Agency of Transportation project delivery director Rob White described the federal funding constraints that limit commercial use of interstate land, and Franklin County Industrial Development Corporation director Tim Smith urged action to capture expected traffic increases when the new Canadian highway link is completed.

Manoli said the information centers are intended to serve travelers year‑round, to support commercial-vehicle enforcement and to promote Vermont communities and businesses. “We really focus on that strongly, because the goal is to direct them to Vermont’s communities and all of the activities,” she said. She described the Guilford center as a strong local partnership that highlights regional arts and businesses and functions as an economic driver for its area.

The presentation included operational and financial details: Manoli said Vermont…