TAC approves TIP amendment to add rail-safety work and enable Amtrak service to Burlington

The Chittenden County Regional Planning Commission Transportation Advisory Committee unanimously approved a Transportation Improvement Program amendment Aug. 2 to add funding for rail-safety improvements that staff said are required to secure Amtrak service to Burlington.

Christine Forde, senior transportation planner for CCRPC, said the amendment covers additional costs because bids for the project were higher than anticipated and that the work will “improve safety with signals and pedestrian crossings,” while not substantially changing the project’s appearance. She said the amendment brings the project into compliance to allow Amtrak service to Burlington.

Bruce Hoar moved to approve the TIP amendment and Sam Andersen seconded; the motion passed unanimously. TAC members also said they supported VTrans bringing a separate, culvert-related TIP amendment to the CCRPC Board later this month rather than waiting for a September TAC review.

The amendment was circulated to TAC members by email the day before the meeting. No dollar amounts were provided in the TAC discussion. CCRPC staff noted the additional funding need was driven by higher-than-expected bids but did not specify the bid amounts or the funding sources during the meeting.

The committee had earlier handled routine business, including approval of June 7 minutes (a motion by Jonathon Weber that passed with three abstentions). The TAC then moved into presentation items, including a longer discussion of the VTrans Transportation Equity Framework. The CCRPC Board is expected to see related TIP items at its next meetings when staff and VTrans coordinate on project timing and any additional amendments.