VTrans outlines major projects, maintenance pressures, EV buildout and DMV modernization

Secretary Joe Flynn, the secretary of transportation, told the House Committee on Transportation on Jan. 15 that the Vermont Agency of Transportation (VTrans) and the Department of Motor Vehicles together manage a broad set of statewide responsibilities — from interstate bridge replacements to airport runways, public transit, and DMV services — and face rising maintenance and staffing pressures as the 2026 construction season approaches.

The overview mattered because VTrans depends heavily on federal funds, is preparing a biennial budget that committee members will review later this month, and is managing several multi‑year projects and recovery efforts that affect travel safety, municipal partners, and state finances. Flynn emphasized that decisions about the maintenance budget will affect routine tasks such as ditching, bridge washing, litter removal and snow and ice control.

Flynn opened by describing the agency structure and major programs. "The agency consists of four divisions and the Department of Motor Vehicles," he said, listing highway; district maintenance and fleet; policy, planning and intermodal development (PPID); and finance and administration. He said the agency is authorized for about 1,300 staff and currently shows roughly 110 vacancies across the agency.

Highway projects and asset management

The committee heard details about large construction efforts, including the Colchester Exit 17 Reconstruction Project, which includes new interstate on‑ and off‑ramps and a new US‑2 bridge over I‑89. Flynn said the contract was planned for three construction seasons (2024–2026) and that the project uses a lightweight backfill material, foamed glass aggregate (FGA), at a bridge abutment because underlying soils are clayey and wet.

Flynn explained VTrans' asset‑management approach to bridges and pavements:…