Policy Planning & Research bureau budget: 70% federal funding, 61% pass‑through and limited flexibility

Amy Bell, bureau director for Policy, Planning and Research at the Agency of Transportation, briefed the House Transportation Committee on Feb. 4 on the bureau’s FY26 budget and program responsibilities.

Bell said the Policy, Planning and Research budget is roughly $1,540,000 and that roughly 70% of the bureau’s revenue comes from federal sources. She told the committee about the bureau’s five sections — research, policy & planning, development review and permitting services, mapping, and federal policy — and noted that the bureau carries administrative and overhead costs for the larger Policy, Planning and Intermodal Development division.

Bell said about 61% of the bureau’s funding is pass‑through or mandatory: federal planning and research requirements and pass‑through grants to Metropolitan Planning Organizations (MPOs) and regional planning commissions. She emphasized that the Chittenden County MPO receives federal funds as a direct recipient; VTrans administers those funds but does not have discretion over how the MPO spends them. Bell said the MPO planned to increase use of federal funding by roughly $540,000 this coming year, which appears as a increase in the bureau’s pass‑through line.

On staffing, Bell said the public outreach section was reduced from two positions to one and that one new administrative position (Patrick Murphy) was included on the administrative side of the division budget. Bell also explained mapping work is typically funded 80% federally with a 20% state match.

Committee members asked for clarification about how federal funding is applied and how the pass‑through arrangements work. Bell said the bureau primarily administers federal planning funds and grants to regional planning commissions and that many of the spending lines are therefore constrained by federal eligibility rules or statute. She offered to provide committee members with additional detail and contact information for follow up.

Ending

Bell concluded by offering a line‑item history and noting the 2023 spike in funding was driven by first‑year economic development incentive dollars that were placed in the bureau budget; other years returned to prior levels. She told members to contact her for follow‑up materials and spreadsheets.