Transportation

The SWCRPC offers a wide range of transportation planning services for the Region based on our annual funding sources that typically include Transportation Planning Initiative, Safe Routes to School, municipal project management and other special studies.  Our transportation program is based on VTrans’ Transportation Planning Initiative Manual and Guidebook , 19 V.S.A. §101 , and seeks to implement our Regional Transportation Plan .  For details on the transportation planning services we provide please see below.

A significant amount of the transportation work done by SWCRPC is carried out through participation in Vermont’s Transportation Planning Initiative which is a collaboration between the Vermont Agency of Transportation (VTrans), the ten Vermont Regional Planning Commissions and the Chittenden County Metropolitan Planning Organization (CCMPO).  The FFY 2011 Transportation Work Program  details all the work that will be carried out in Southern Windsor County in conjunction with this initiative.  In 2009 SWCRPC completed its update to the Regional Transportation Plan .

SWCRPC has a Transportation Advisory Committee (TAC) that advises on regional transportation issues with representatives from each community in southern Windsor County, an ex-officio representative from VTrans and up to two “at-large” members.  Part of their work includes an annual prioritization of regional transportation projects which helps VTrans to prioritize their work across the state.  More information about the TAC’s meetings, agendas and work can be found on their webpage.

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Transportation News/ Updates

Recent news and updates from southern Windsor County (January 2012):           - Majority of transportation network is ready for winter following severe Tropical Storm Irene damage - Interstate highway weight limits lifted in Vermont and Maine - Go Vermont – Grant opportunity for local energy committees ———————————————————————————————        New publications and reports:  - 2011 Bike and Pedestrian Count - 2011 Park and Ride Lot Count Report ——————————————————————————————–  Other projects at Southern Windsor County:  - 2010 Park and Ride Count Summary -2010 Traffic Count Report - Transportation Projects Prioritized by TAC March 2011 - Connecticut River National Scenic Byway -  2010 Park and Ride Assessment          -  2010 Traffic Signal Inventory Report - New Sign Standards and Inventories - Sidewalk inventories          - Bridge and culvert inventories   - Access management category updates for state highways       - Road foreman meetings - Safe Routes to School

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Scenic Byways and Roads

The Connecticut River National Scenic Byway runs on the Vermont and New Hampshire side of the Connecticut River from Massachusetts to the Canadian border.  In southern Windsor County it follows U.S. Route 5, running through Springfield, Weathersfield and Windsor, with spurs on VT Routes 44 and 44A to Brownsville and VT Route 11 to downtown Springfield.  SWCRPC has been involved with the Byway since before its designation in 1998. SWCRPC is currently coordinating an effort to create travel itineraries along the Connecticut River Byway in Vermont and New Hampshire from Brattleboro to Colebrook.

SWCRPC is also involved with a Vermont Byway along Route 100 in the region.  A brief summary of the Byway can be found at Vermont Byways. The Scenic Route 100 Byway was designated on April 20, 2011 as the 8th Vermont Byway. The Byway includes Route 100 through the towns of Andover, Ludlow, Plymouth, Bridgewater, Killington and Pittsfield, as well as Route 100A and part of Route 103 in Ludlow.  The Byway Committee, which includes representatives of towns, business, chambers of commerce and RPC’s from along Route 100 are currently working on their new bylaws and getting moving on some of the goals outlined in its Corridor Management Plan. If anyone is interested in joining the committee, please contact Katharine.

Below are some documents relating to the Scenic Route 100 Byway:
   Full Scenic Route 100 Byway nomination and corridor management plan (4Mb)

•     Public Hearing Notice for March 24, 2011
•     Public Hearing Notice for April 13, 2011
•     Scenic Route 100 Byway Map (2Mb)
•     Draft Scenic Route 100 Byway Bylaws
•     Scenic Route 100 Byway Committee Meeting Agenda (July 2011)

Southern Windsor County also has a state scenic highway – Route 131 in Cavendish – which means that any construction or maintenance work on that section of road must be consistent with the standards established by VTrans pursuant to 10 VSA §425.

For more information on scenic byways and roads see Chapter 4 of the 2009 Regional Transportation Plan or contact Katharine.

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Way To Go Challenge and Alternative Ways to Commute

Way To Go is a week long challenge for commuters to find alternatives to driving alone to work. Started in Chittenden County in 1994, the Vermont event has evolved to take on new partners, expand its outreach efforts, and expand geographically to encompass participants in 180 municipalities throughout the state in 2011. Results from the 2011 Way To Go week, which was held May 16^th through 20^th, are starting to be released online at http://www.waytogovt.org/.  In just one week, commuters involved in the 2011 year’s challenge saved over 400,000 vehicle miles

for the week and over $90,000 in total transportation costs while reducing CO₂ emissions by about 350,000 pounds.  In total we had 22 commuters that either started or ended their commute from our region.  These commuters saved on a total of 63 commutes where they would travel an average of 49.5 miles per commute.  Collectively these commuters saved just under $500 in transportation costs and approximately 2,500 pounds of CO₂ emissions.

 Even though the Way To Go challenge is over for the year, there are still some veryl good reasons to consider trying out commuting alternatives  at other times: you can reduce the amount you have to spend on gas, reduce transportation pollution and improve your health.  Commuting options in the southern Windsor County area include:

• Taking the Bus – Try Connecticut River Transit’s in town and out-of-town routes with The Current. Also check out their Park and  Ride options from the I-91 exit parking lots.
• Carpool/Rideshare – Talk to colleagues and neighbors, or check out Go Vermont’s Carpool database and the Upper Valley Rideshare list. Both formal programs include guaranteed ride home options. 
• Bike – In addition to cycling along the roads you could also try out the Toonerville Trail that connects Springfield to Charlestown.
• Walking – There are several sidewalk networks in town and village centers that connect homes, schools, businesses and shops. 

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Traffic Counts

Every year the Vermont Agency of Transportation (VTrans) and SWCRPC monitor traffic along a variety of roads in the region.  VTrans publishes a large number of traffic count reports under Traffic Data Electronic Publications, with the Automatic Traffic Recorder Station History Reports and Automatic Vehicle Classification Reports being most useful for most locations.  The RPC traffic count program is intended to supplement VTrans’ traffic data in the Region.  It includes counts at 19 locations across the region on a bi-annual basis.  The RPC also performs traffic counts at the request of towns on a limited first-come, first-served basis.  Data can be collected on volume, vehicle classification and speed.  For more information about the traffic counts see the reports below and contact Katharine.

• 2010 Regional Traffic Count Report
• 2009 Regional Traffic Count Report
• Regional Traffic Count History 2003 – 2010
• Safe Routes To School Traffic Counts
• Quick Guide to Traffic Terms

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Trucks and the Interstate Weight Limit

 In December 2010 the one year Congressional pilot allowing trucks in excess of 80,000 pounds on the interstate highway network came to an end.  This pilot allowed many of the trucks that usually travel through the region on local state highways to instead use the interstate highway network.  In November 2011 a federal bill was signed into law that allowed the weight limits on the interstate highways in Maine and Vermont to be raised more permanently.  See the upcoming SWCRPC Winter 2012 newsletter for more information.

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New Sign Standards and Inventories

A new Federal Highway Administration (FHWA) rule requires that towns must develop a program to inspect and upgrade roadway signs. The intent is for all signs along public roads to meet the new retroreflectivity sign standards, which increase the amount of light bouncing off of the signs making them easier to read at night.  SWCRPC has been working with local road foreman to assist with the transition.  For more information see SWCRPC’s Fall 2010 newsletter.  Nancy Avery from VTrans visited the Orange and Windsor Counties road foreman meeting in April 2011 to address any questions about the sign standards.  SWCRPC also has a range of resources available for road foreman.

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Regional Road Foreman Meetings

SWCRPC, in conjunction with TRORC, regularly organizes meetings for the road foremen of Orange and Windsor Counties.  Over the last year the meetings have covered a variety of topics including:

• Sign standards, inventories and ordering
• Hazardous materials awareness
• Road safety
• Town Road and Bridge Standards
• Winter Road Maintenance
• Town Right of Way Issues
• Hazard mitigation grant opportunities
• Town mutual aid agreements

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Safe Routes to School

Safe Routes to School is a national program encouraging children to walk and bicycle to school.   Vermont Safe Routes to Schoolseeks to make it easier for all Vermont children, including those with disabilities, to enjoy the outdoors and become more physically active by providing funding for infrastructure improvements, safety education, and enforcement of safety laws.  In Southern Windsor County, Windsor and Weathersfield have participated in the Safe Routes to Schools program.  In July 2011 VTrans launched a Safe Routes to School Resource (SRTS) Center to distribute non-infrastructure SRTS support to all interested schools.  More information is available at http://www.aot.state.vt.us/progdev/sections/ltf/srts/vtsrts.htm.

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Planning Services

SWCRPC’s transportation planning services include, but are not limited to, the following:Regional and State Planning

• Regional Transportation Plan
• Corridor management plans
• Transportation modal planning (e.g. Bicycle and pedestrian, public transportation, freight, rail, intermodal, etc.)
• Scenic preservation planning
• Legislative reports and reviews
• Annual transportation project prioritization
• Participation in Act 250 proceedings
• Support State transportation planning activities

Town Planning and Implementation

• Town plan transportation chapter and maps
• Traffic studies/analysis
• Strategic planning
• Regulations and standards
• Public involvement and education
• Safe Routes to School program support
• Project development
• Grant writing
• Municipal project management

Transportation Infrastructure Planning

• Town road inventories (e.g. Road Surface Management System)
• Town bridge and culvert inventories
• Traffic counts (i.e. volume, vehicle classification or speed)
• GPS and GIS services
• Capital planning and budgeting

If your town is interested in our assistance, please contact us or send a letter of interest.  Limited funding is available through our ongoing work programs, and we will provide technical assistance on a first come, first served basis.