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 eleven Vermont Regional Planning Commissions.  The FFY 2013 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.

Transportation News/ Updates

Recent news and updates from southern Windsor County (April 2013): 
- Scenic Route 100 Byway applying for extension – Updated Corridor Management Plan available for review
- Regional Transportation Plan update – Outreach to town selectboards completed
- Several new bridge replacement and re-paving projects being scoped and scheduled for construction
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New publications and reports (since January 2013):
- 2012 Traffic Count Report
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Other projects at Southern Windsor County:
- New Housing and Transportation Affordability Study – see Publications Page
- Transportation Projects Prioritized by TAC March 2012
- 2010 Traffic Signal Inventory Report
- Vermont RPC’s receive 2012 Excellence in Regional Planning Award for role in Irene Transportation Network Recovery

Regional Transportation Plan Update


View SWC Regional Transportation Plan Update – DRAFT in a larger map

SWCRPC is in the process of updating their Regional Transportation Plan which was last adopted in 2009.  The Transportation Advisory Committee (TAC) began to provide input for sections of the plan in 2012.  Outreach to road foremen, town selectboards, members of the public and other entities started in January 2013 – click on the map to the above to explore the potential needs and projects currently identified.  The current 2009 plan can be found at http://swcrpc.org/wp/publications-and-resources/regional-plan/

The following documents have been released so far as final drafts for review:

For more information about the Transportation Plan Update, please contact Katharine Otto.
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Upcoming major bridge and road construction projects

There are a number of upcoming major bridge and road construction projects due for the region or nearby.  See below for basic information and contact Katharine for more information.

Town

Project type

Construction year

Location info

Notes
Windsor Interstate Bridge 2013 & 2014 Bridges 33 N&S on I-91 over VT-44 Design-Build.  VT-44 will be closed for about a week each summer.
Weathersfield Paving 2013 VT-131 and VT-12 from VT-106 to NH
Weathersfield State Highway Bridge 2013 Bridge 11B VT-131 Big Culvert
Andover, Weston, Ludlow Paving 2013 VT-100 south of Ludlow village
Chester, Andover Paving 2013 VT-11 west of Chester village Reclaim, DR
West Windsor State Highway Bridge 2014 Bridge 4 on VT-33 just west of Kimball Farm Rd

Major Maintenance Work. SEP-14. Deck replacement.  Was originally scheduled for 2013, delayed to 2014.
West Windsor State Highway Bridge 2014 Bridge 7 on VT-44 just east of Brook Rd
Cavendish Paving 2014? VT-131 DR
Cavendish State Highway Bridge 2014 Bridge 1 on VT-131 in Whitesville DR.  5 week closure
Woodstock State Highway Bridge 2014? Bridge 29 on VT-106 in So. Woodstock SEP-14.  One way traffic.
Chester, Springfield Paving 2015 VT-10
Ludlow Town Highway Bridge 2015/2016 Walker Bridge (25) on VT-103 ABC.  Full bridge replacement. 4-6 week closure.
Andover State Highway Bridge 2015/2016 Bridge 41 on VT-11 just east of Hill Top Rd ABC. Superstructure replacement. 10 day closure
Woodstock State Highway Bridge Unknown Bridge 24 on VT-106 in So. Woodstock

Notes: ABC (Accelerated Bridge Construction Program), DR (Disaster Recovery Funding)

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Alternative Ways to Commute

2013 Way To Go Commuter Challenge

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 expanded geographically to encompass participants in 250 municipalities throughout the state in 2012. More information about the statewide challenge can be found at http://www.waytogovt.org/.

What is happening this year?
This year’s commuter challenge will be May 13 – 17.  Registration is now open at http://www.waytogovt.org/.  More information about prizes and local events will be advertised in late April/ early May as they are finalized.  If you are interested in getting your business involved, please contact Katharine.

How can I benefit from finding an alternative way to commute?
There are several advantages to not travelling alone in your car/ truck, including:

  • Reducing the amount you have to spend on gas
  • Reducing transportation pollution
  • Improving your health

What commuting options are there in the area?

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.

Park and Ride

SWCRPC has three state park and rides which serve the region on I-91 at exits 7 (Springfield), 8 (Ascutney) and 9 (Hartland/ Windsor) and have commuter transit connections.  There is also a park and ride lot in Ludlow – at the Fire Department.  SWCRPC monitors the usage of these lots monthly and recently completed needs assessments for park and ride lots in the region (existing and new):

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Bicycling and Walking

Bicycling and Pedestrian Facilities

SWCRPC has a variety of bicycling and pedestrian options in the region – include sidewalks in many villages and downtowns and the Toonerville Trail that connects Springfield to Charlestown.   VTrans and SWCRPC monitors usage of some of these facilities through both manual and automatic counts.  See our 2012 Annual Bicycling and Pedestrian Count Report f0r more details.

Vermont Complete Streets Guidebook

The new Vermont Complete Streets Guidebook was released in November 2012 and is available at http://healthvermont.gov/family/fit/target.aspx#streets.  For more information about the Complete Streets Act which took effect on July 1, 2011, check out our Vermont’s Complete Streets Law Technical Bulletin.

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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.

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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 SWCRPC Winter 2012 newsletter for more information.

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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 two years the meetings have covered a variety of topics including:

  • Sign standards, inventories and ordering – For more information see SWCRPC’s Fall 2010 newsletter and this Vermont Local Roads’ announcement.
  • Hazardous materials awareness
  • Road safety
  • Town Road and Bridge Standards
  • Winter road maintenance and salt-brine
  • Town Right of Way Issues
  • Hazard mitigation grant opportunities
  • Town mutual aid agreements
  • Japanese Knotweed
  • Complete Streets

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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 School seeks 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://saferoutes.vermont.gov/.

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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.  Limited funding is available through our ongoing work programs, and we will provide technical assistance on a first come, first served basis.