Vermont snowmobile association outlines trail network, funding and enforcement needs to House Transportation committee

Cindy Locke, executive director of the Vermont Association of Snow Travelers, told the House Transportation Committee on Tuesday that VAST operates a statewide snowmobile trail network that is largely volunteer-run, supports local economies and relies on a combination of trail-pass revenue, state funding and club grants.

Locke said VAST has about "20,000 members" and that the organization estimates an annual economic impact of about "$550,000,000 a year" for Vermont. She said VAST works with "about 9,500 landowners" and that "80% of our trails are on private property," with the remainder on municipal, state and federal lands.

The association manages roughly "4,100 miles of trails," Locke said, and operates a grooming fleet she valued at about "$30,000,000." She told the committee the organization runs 104 Class‑1 groomers and that power units cost in the hundreds of thousands of dollars each; VAST spends an estimated "$800,000 to $2,000,000 a winter" on grooming and pays about "$500,000 a year" in annual trail maintenance. Locke said flood damage from 2023–24 accounted for about "$2,000,000" in repairs.

VAST finances come mostly from trail passes and state support. Locke said VAST has "about a $4,000,000 annual budget," including roughly "$450,000 a year from the state of Vermont" derived from a capped portion of gas tax receipts and snowmobile registrations; some funds are managed through a state fund the agency of natural resources administers as a fiscal agent. VAST also issues equipment grants to local clubs and allocates money to law enforcement patrols.

Locke described the group’s safety and enforcement work: last winter law enforcement provided "4,660 patrol hours" and performed "over 17,000 snowmobile inspections." VAST hires patrols from state police, fish and wildlife officers, sheriffs and municipal departments and runs a volunteer "safety ambassador" program of about 40 volunteers who report trail hazards and assist riders and law enforcement in non‑paid roles.

On policy items, Locke said VAST plans to review state fine levels for operating without a trail pass or registration, noting the current fine structure has not been updated in many years and that much of the fine revenue is returned to fund law enforcement. She said the association will do work with its Governor's Snowmobile Council this summer and may pursue changes through the Department of Motor Vehicles in the coming legislative session. Locke also suggested exploring whether the Agency of Transportation's sign shops could print nonprofit trail signage to reduce VAST's sign budget (Locke said VAST spends about "$40,000 a year" on signs).

Committee members asked several operational questions. Representative Burt asked whether the Lamoille Valley Rail Trail is suitable for mixed use; Locke said the rail trail is "wide enough that it supports all uses" but that usage patterns vary by season and landowner permissions. Representative Holt asked whether local businesses sell passes; Locke said stores sometimes sell club memberships but that state trail passes are issued per snowmobile rather than per person and that landowner agreements typically specify that permission is for snowmobiling only. Representative Burke and others praised VAST’s volunteer base and economic contributions to rural communities.

No formal action was taken; the presentation served to inform committee members and to flag issues VAST plans to pursue with state agencies and the Governor's Snowmobile Council.

VAST provided committee members with details on grooming‑map technology (GPS tracking on groomers, a free public map with paid upgrade features), trail best‑management practices developed with the Agency of Natural Resources, and information on trail signage tied to E‑911 location identifiers. Locke also identified administrative staff and volunteers who accompany VAST’s statehouse visits: lobbyist Frank Stanley, board vice president Mark Reeves and programs and trails manager Mandy Vinal.

Locke closed by reiterating VAST’s reliance on volunteers, landowner permissions and state partnerships to maintain a network that VAST says supports local businesses and provides recreation across Vermont’s rural areas.