Vt. public transit gets $26.7M in relief funding
Signage directs Route 4 traffic to the Park & Ride in Woodstock, Vermont. This week, the state is receiving some critical funding for public transit operations. (Gareth Henderson Photo)
Public transit operations in Vermont are getting a $26.7 million boost from the federal COVID-19 relief bill signed into law in December.
That brings critical aid at a time when ridership has steeply declined during the pandemic. The $26,772,119 award comes in addition to Vermont’s annual federal budget allocation for public transit, according to Vermont’s Congressional Delegation, Sen. Patrick Leahy, Sen. Bernie Sanders and Rep. Peter Welch.
“In a rural state like ours, Vermonters rely on public transit to get to work, buy groceries, see a doctor, and stay connected to their communities,” they said in a joint statement Wednesday. “Like so many aspects of daily life, the pandemic has upended transit ridership. Without congressional action, transit providers in Vermont and across the country would be facing the potential for steep cuts to transit routes and frequency.”
Ross MacDonald, the state’s public transit manager, said the federal money will help with current and future needs. The funds will be used to address the significant vehicle and facility needs around the state, enabling the Vermont Agency of Transportation (AOT) to replace as many as 30 buses, fund energy-efficient projects, and construct office space in the Rutland region. Operations and payroll are top priorities, and the relief money will also be used to purchase PPE and sanitize buses.
“These funds arrive in time to help us address the additional costs and challenges of our transit service, and also enable us to invest in vehicles and rebuild an improved transit service as we move past this health and economic crisis,” MacDonald said in a news release.
Most federal funds for public transit have a 20% or 50% non-federal funds match requirement, which usually comes from state and local resources, according to state officials. They said the federal relief funding will allow AOT to temporarily reduce the state and local funds needed for statewide transit service, providing more flexibility and resources to respond to the economic hardships and rebuilding costs associated with the pandemic.
The news came as discussions continued on Capitol Hill over the Biden administration’s $1.9 trillion stimulus proposal. The plan includes a round of $1,400 direct payments to most Americans, funding for state and local governments, money for vaccine distribution, an extension of the eviction moratorium until the end of September, among other items.
— Gareth Henderson
