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Lawmakers press transit funding study as committee debates Green Mountain Transit route cuts
Summary
Members raised concerns about Green Mountain Transit route reductions and discussed whether to request a short-term appropriation; the committee deferred a funding request and instead encouraged the Agency of Transportation to pursue internal measures while planning longer-term solutions identified in a transportation funding study.
Members of the House Transportation Committee spent substantial time discussing recent and planned route reductions at Green Mountain Transit and whether the committee should ask Appropriations for emergency funding to prevent or restore service.
Representative Thompson raised the issue during the meeting and said the cuts, which began late last year and that have additional reductions planned, "are really significantly impacting Vermonters already" — particularly older residents, people with disabilities and people who do not have access to a car. Thompson said figures shared with the committee suggested an appropriation of $120,000 would prevent future cuts, while $190,000 would prevent upcoming cuts and restore service already lost.
Committee members differed on whether to include a funding request in the Budget Adjustment Act letter. Representative Cole objected to further short-term funding for Green Mountain Transit, saying the agency had failed to resolve operational problems after repeated appropriations: "It's been 3 and a half years and they have not fixed the problem. We gave them a million dollars ... I am not willing to give them any more. Fix it." Other members urged a more holistic approach to public transit funding and operations and recommended pursuing structural, longer-term revenue or organizational changes.
Agency testimony and study context
Committee members heard from agency witnesses that the Agency of Transportation is conducting a broader review of public transit and looking at both urban and rural service models. Several lawmakers said the agency and consultants are already examining options to identify savings and reconfigure services so reductions are sustainable in the longer term.
Representative McQuarrie and others suggested revisiting the transportation funding study and its recommendations, including possible revenue options to stabilize transit funding. Committee members discussed options ranging from temporary bridge funding to longer-term changes in revenue sources, but no appropriation was added to the committee's BAA letter that day. The chair encouraged those who wanted to draft specific language to meet with counsel and staff for a brief word‑smithing session and indicated the committee would take up any refined language in a separate, short block of time.
Why it matters
Witnesses and lawmakers said route cuts disproportionately affect seniors, people with disabilities, workers who rely on transit and businesses that depend on foot traffic. Members expressed urgency about finding a solution that does not simply postpone the problem, and several suggested that the committee direct the agency to seek internal savings and present options for the next fiscal plan.
Next steps
The committee did not adopt a formal funding request during the session and deferred finalizing any language. Members agreed to work with counsel and agency staff to draft possible language encouraging the Agency of Transportation to pursue internal savings and to report back with options; the committee scheduled additional time to address the larger transportation funding study in future meetings.
Sources: Committee testimony and member debate during the House Transportation Committee meeting (transcript).
