Paving industry warns Vermont lawmakers of shrinking transportation fund, fewer miles planned

Representatives of the paving industry told a joint legislative transportation hearing that Vermont faces a growing maintenance shortfall after state paving program funding dropped sharply and miles scheduled for work declined.

The Paving Association of Vermont’s lobbyist, Nick Sherman of Leonine Public Affairs, told members the transportation program “at its height” was about $141,000,000 two years ago and that the governor’s proposed program this year is about $102,000,000, and he said the miles planned for paving have dropped by roughly 100 miles in that same span. “We are very concerned,” Sherman said, “that there’s a real risk and that this downward trend in miles paved will continue.”

Why it matters: Federal highway funding frequently requires a state match; without sufficient state match money the state cannot draw down federal dollars for projects. The industry witnesses told the committee that fewer annual lane miles of preventive treatments means more expensive repairs later, and that the state aims for roughly 300 miles per year to sustain a 10-year pavement cycle.

Industry witnesses…