VTrans unveils draft Mobility Service Guides, aims to centralize local transit options

The Vermont Agency of Transportation on Feb. 20 told the House Transportation Committee it has produced draft Mobility Service Guides that summarize local options for walking and biking, ride sharing (carpool/vanpool/car share) and passenger transportation such as trip planning, microtransit and door-to-door services.

"The agency, in consultation with existing nonprofits, and mobility service organizations, shall develop a web based guide to outline the different mobility service models that could be considered for deployment in Vermont," said Dan Currier, public transit coordinator at the Agency of Transportation, reading the legislative requirement that drove the work and describing the agency's approach.

The guides are organized into three service types: active transportation (walking and biking), ride sharing (carpool, vanpool and car share) and passenger transportation (trip planning, microtransit and door-to-door services). VTrans said it collected information from nonprofit operators and existing providers to describe program types, capital and operating costs, service-area characteristics, potential revenue options, technical-assistance needs and potential funding sources.

Currier said the agency plans to present the guides to the public as downloadable PDFs on GoVermont (the presentation also referenced connectingcommuters.org for mobility resources). Drafts are already circulated to partner nonprofits for review. The agency proposes translating the guides into eight commonly spoken languages in Vermont to improve accessibility.

Committee members and staff raised questions about audience and presentation. "As a member of the public, when I look at [the mock-up] I think, is it people who need assistance with mobility? Is it just ride sharing?" said Representative Burton, urging clearer, plain‑language labeling so users immediately understand what "mobility services" covers. Currier said the agency built the guides from the statute's language and is open to revising names and presentation to fit public understanding.

Practical examples in the drafts include Local Motion and CATMA bike-share information and a "walk to shop" program that supplies wheeled shopping bags so riders can bring groceries on buses without violating rider rules. Currier described the operational rationale: "Our code of conduct on the bus instructs riders to keep your bags in your control. ... If it's 3, 4, and 5 [bags] ... it's all about safety of the passengers and the drivers." He said the rolling bags can carry about 50 pounds and be stowed in front of the rider or, when space allows, beside the rider.

Committee members also discussed outreach and non-digital access: Currier said GoVermont operates a call center that can field questions, and the agency distributes printed handouts to senior centers, libraries and transit agencies. He said transit agencies themselves are relied upon as "eyes and ears on the ground" and that VTrans will supply agencies with copies of the guides for local distribution.

Currier told the committee the drafts in the packet are open for comment and that the agency plans to finalize accessible PDFs, add them to the GoVermont resources page and link them from related pages across VTrans' web properties. He said the target deadline for finalizing the guides is December 2025 and offered to return to the committee to present the final versions.

The committee did not take formal action on the guides during the session.