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Committee hears agency update on Vermont State Design Standards, raises concerns about prescriptive language
Summary
AOT told the Senate Transportation Committee it is replacing the 30‑year‑old Vermont State Design Standards with a multimodal design guide emphasizing context‑sensitive guidance; agency staff cautioned against prescriptive statutory language and outlined upcoming training and stakeholder engagement.
The Agency of Transportation told the Senate Transportation Committee it is preparing a replacement for the Vermont State Design Standards that will emphasize multimodal, context‑sensitive guidance rather than one‑size‑fits‑all prescriptive standards.
AOT staff described a phased program of stakeholder engagement, online tools and training; the agency estimated the work will cost in the range of $750,000–$1,000,000 across multiple years and said an external rollout and municipal training will begin this fall through the Vermont Local Roads Program.
Why it matters: The draft replaces technical standards that currently can require wide travel lanes and other prescriptive designs that stakeholders say preclude rebuilding or expanding historic downtowns in a way that fits community context.
Agency presentation and committee reaction
Michelle Boomhower of AOT said the agency is delivering staff and external training, a walk‑audit program and online modules to help municipalities and planners apply the new guidance. “This complete streets training for external parties is set to be deployed this fall, and it'll be delivered through the Vermont Local Roads Program,” Boomhower said.
Committee sponsors had proposed statutory language (sections 28 and 29 of the draft) directing the agency to prioritize vehicle‑miles‑traveled reductions in downtowns, align eligible transportation improvements with regional future‑land‑use maps and require context‑sensitive design standards for downtown and village centers. Agency staff expressed concern that highly prescriptive statutory language could conflict with the agency’s approach, which aims to offer flexibility, engineering judgment and digital tools for designers.
AOT noted prior legislative direction: recent transportation bills required the agency to prepare a replacement, release a draft, hold public hearings and produce responsiveness summaries. Staff emphasized the new standards will be implemented as guidance with examples tailored to contexts ranging from rural roads to downtown centers; the agency also said it would provide additional materials to committee members on the project website.
Training, stakeholder engagement and schedule
AOT said the new framework will include a digital, multimodal design guide, focus groups and at least four public hearings as previously directed by the legislature. The agency described the guide as an online, flexible resource allowing planners to select design approaches appropriate to a community’s settlement scale, modal hierarchy and future‑land‑use map. AOT staff said the effort has extensive stakeholder involvement and is roughly two‑thirds complete.
Next steps
Senators asked AOT to provide the committee with documentation and links so legislators can review the draft materials and stakeholder outreach schedule. The agency agreed to supply materials and to bring subject‑matter experts to a future meeting to explain how the new framework addresses the priorities enumerated in the draft bill language.
