Green Mountain Transit (GMT) notified regional partners in December that it would restrict several trip types and limit non‑medical trips for the state Older Adults and Persons with Disabilities (O&D) program, prompting alarm in Chittenden County and among municipal officials.

Clayton Clark, GMT general manager, told the House Transportation Committee that restrictions announced to some partners in December had applied earlier to Washington and Franklin counties but that GMT later made restrictions in Chittenden County voluntary with an implementation window pushed to Feb. 23. "The statement that trip restrictions are mandatory and going into effect on February 1 is erroneous," Clark said, adding that GMT would make the restrictions voluntary for Chittenden County partners.

Colchester town manager Erin Frank said the December letters and near‑term timeline disrupted riders and local planning. Frank told lawmakers Colchester had 115 O&D riders over the prior five months and that 98 of those trips would be affected if suggested limits were adopted: "Of those trips, 9 were for work trips, 57 were personal, 25 social personal, and others included medical and substance‑use treatment," she said, urging the committee to weigh impacts on residents who depend on transit for employment and basic needs.

Ross McDonald, a public transit program manager at the Agency of Transportation, provided fiscal context to the committee. He said the 2026 state contribution for core O&D activities was roughly $4.5 million while the total core budget — federal plus other funds — is about $30.7 million; providers requested about $6.1 million in state‑level awards this year and the agency used some unspent federal capital funds to reach about $5.9 million after a midyear adjustment. McDonald emphasized that regional O&D committees set local trip parameters and that eligibility and priority rules (critical care such as dialysis and cancer treatment, then senior meals and adult day services) guide decisions.

Local officials and providers said rising costs and reduced volunteer capacity are driving the changes. McDonald told the committee per‑trip costs had risen from about $24 pre‑COVID to more than double and that volunteer driver use fell to roughly 44% statewide; the legislature provided one‑time $600,000 to bolster volunteer coordinators and other efficiency measures. Elaine Heiko, executive director of the Vermont Public Transportation Association, said VPTA and providers have hired additional coordinators and recruited volunteers but noted retention and winter weather remain challenges.

Frank and other municipal witnesses asked whether Colchester or other towns could choose to adopt more generous trip allowances while accepting financial responsibility if the regional budget overspends. Frank said GMT’s voluntary approach included a financial protection: communities that agree to the voluntary restrictions would be held harmless; those that maintain more generous local policies would be responsible for any overages.

Committee members asked about fares and local contributions. McDonald and Frank said voluntary donations or local match are possible but that federal rules require fare revenue to be split in specific ways if fares are charged; local contributions and in‑kind volunteer time remain key to drawing down federal funds.

Next steps: committee members requested a brief memo on the Medicaid transportation contract shortfall and the status of the RFP/contract negotiations. Providers and VTrans staff pledged to supply a budget summary and follow‑up materials; GMT has delayed Chittenden County implementation and indicated a Feb. 23 target for voluntary adoption of suggested parameters.