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CCRPC committee backs moving millions to Richmond bridge project, asks TAC and Board to approve via email
Summary
VTrans told the CCRPC Executive Committee it needs to reallocate federal funds to increase construction funding for the BR29 Richmond bridge; the committee recommended TAC and Board approval via e-mail to avoid delaying advertisement. Members cited inflation and right-of-way delays on other projects.
The Chittenden County Regional Planning Commission Executive Committee on Feb. 1 recommended that the Transportation Advisory Committee and the CCRPC Board receive and approve proposed Transportation Improvement Program (TIP) amendments by e-mail to allow VTrans to advertise the Richmond bridge project on schedule.
Christine Forde, CCRPC staff, and VTrans staff described three proposed TIP amendments that would shift federal construction dollars to BR29 (US-2 over I-89, Richmond, Project BP059). The RR bridge project’s federal construction allocation would increase from $8,697,759 to $18,264,708 — an added $4,566,949 in state fiscal year 2023 and $5,000,000 in SFY2024 — reflecting a more refined design and inflationary cost increases, according to VTrans.
Matthew Langham, VTrans, said the increases reflect refined cost estimates and current market pressures: "These types of increases are across the board," he said, citing long lead times for structural steel, inflation and labor shortages. VTrans staff said the money is being moved from two projects that do not need construction funding in FY23–FY24: the US-7 Middle Road/Railroad Street intersection in Milton (HP007), which would see federal funds reduced by $3,866,949 in FY23 and $1,500,000 in FY24, and the VT2A/Industrial Avenue/Mountain View Road intersection in Williston (HP123), which would see FY23 reduced by $700,000 and FY24 reduced by $3,500,000 because of right-of-way delays.
Charlene Cota (Carolyn Cota), VTrans, told the committee VTrans plans to publicly advertise the Richmond bridge project on Feb. 15, 2023. Committee members expressed concern about the short notice for amendments but agreed that delaying advertisement would push the project schedule; members asked VTrans to provide earlier notification when possible.
Catherine McMains, committee chair, supported moving the item forward to the TAC and Board with the understanding that the TIP adjustments are within CCRPC’s Minor Amendment policy for interstate projects. Chris Shaw moved that the Executive Committee recommend TAC and the Board receive the proposed TIP amendments for approval via e-mail; the motion carried unanimously.
Next steps: the CCRPC will circulate the proposed amendments to TAC and Board members for e-mail approval; if no objections are raised, VTrans will proceed with advertising. The committee noted that when the Milton and Williston projects are ready for construction, funding would be restored to those projects.
