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TAC recommends board warn public hearing for 2023 Metropolitan Transportation Plan
Summary
The CCRPC Transportation Advisory Committee reviewed the draft 2023 MTP, noted it is fiscally constrained with roughly $1.028 billion (70%) for system maintenance and $440.6 million (30%) for modernization, and unanimously recommended the Board warn a public hearing for May 17.
The Chittenden County Regional Planning Commission Transportation Advisory Committee on April 4 reviewed the draft 2023 Metropolitan Transportation Plan and unanimously recommended the CCRPC Board warn a public hearing for May 17.
Eleni Churchill, CCRPC Transportation Program Manager, presented the draft and said, “We’re accepting comments until May so please share any feedback.” She told members the MTP is one of four required MPO documents and is fiscally constrained: “Note that 70% of estimated funds ($1,028.1 million) are allocated for system maintenance, with the remaining 30% ($440.6 million) are for new modernization and enhancement projects.”
The draft includes a Transit-Oriented Development overlay to emphasize denser development along primary transit routes, 121 modernization and enhancement projects (walk/bike improvements and projects in areas planned for growth or at high-crash locations), and planned scoping work: an Exit 14 interchange study in FY24 and a Regional Transportation Demand Management (TDM) study to evaluate feasibility of the proposed investments.
Committee members questioned key assumptions. Bryan Osborne asked whether the MTP projects a 90% electric non-commercial vehicle fleet by 2050; Churchill confirmed the model uses that projection to meet state and regional climate goals, and members noted that figure seemed ambitious. Sam Andersen noted the 70% maintenance share could be stated as “$1.028 billion.” Members also asked whether housing shortages and post‑COVID travel trends were reflected; Churchill said the plan used population, employment and housing figures from the 2018 ECOS Plan (the Board approved using those figures) and staff are tracking telework and traffic-volume trends for future updates.
At the close of discussion, Sam Andersen moved that the TAC recommend the Board warn a public hearing for the 2023 MTP at the Board’s April 19 meeting for a May 17 hearing; Jonathon Weber seconded. The motion passed unanimously.
The TAC requested staff bring follow-up details to subsequent meetings, including what the TDM study may recommend for short-, medium- and long-term investments and any additional data on telework and travel trends. The Board will consider the TAC recommendation and, if it votes to warn the hearing, will hold the public hearing on May 17.