The Route 15 Corridor

Current status

Planners recently studied the transportation financing in several areas that were similar in size to Chittenden County and had a commuter rail system. The study resulted in these findings:

1. Vermont spends less per capita on transit than comparable areas, and CCTA spends only slightly more than four of the communities examined in the Regional Peer Group. (See Figure 1 below.)

2. Local property tax is the primary source of funding in Vermont, at 71% compared to 10% in the areas studied.

3. State funding is less for CCTA, at 25% compared to 62% in the areas studied.
(See Figures 2 and 3 below.)

4. CCTA is a very efficient and effective operation for the area it serves.

Facts about funding for the plan

• It is our intent to work with the offices of Senators Jeffords and Leahy on a multimodal earmark to cover almost all of the components of this Corridor transportation plan.
• The capital costs for the rail portion of the project will come from Congressional earmarks.
• Operations of commuter rail will come from the state transportation fund.
• There is an increased need for bus transportation. For this Corridor, both capital and operating expense for three years will be included in a request for a multimodal earmark. However, there is a long-term need for local funding of bus transportation. It will be recommended that through a new transportation authority, funding of public transportation in Chittenden County be shifted off of the property tax to other sources.
• All other projects will be included in a request for a multimodal earmark. Depending upon the size of the earmark, each project will then be implemented over the next five years or so through the normal transportation funding process.

What are the next steps?

The Route 15 Corridor Improvement Plan is now part of the CCMPO’s long range transportation plan. As the work moves forward step-by-step, there will be ongoing presentations to local communities and organizations, with frequent opportunities for continued public input.