Transportation Alternatives Program Profile
VERMONT (AOT, VAOT, Vtrans)

Funding History

State DOT Program Staff

TA Program Structure, Policies, and Procedures

• TA program structure: The TA program provides funds for scoping (feasibility) studies or project design and environmental permitting, right-of-way acquisition, and construction. Projects must go through a competitive selection process.
• Who is eligible to apply: City and County Governments, transit agencies, natural resource or public land agencies, schools, tribal governments, and any other local or regional governmental entity with responsibility for or oversight of transportation or recreational trails.
• Application information: The application can be found here online.
• Application timeline: Applications are due in the fall.
• Application components: Sponsoring organization, budget, location, proof of property ownership, funding sources, required training session, required regional planning commission support, required public meeting, and required notification to VTrans district transportation administrator.
• Selection criteria: 6 selection criteria: Brief description of project; feasibility of project; will the project address a need identified in a local or regional planning document; does the project benefit a designated downtown, designated village, or designated growth center recognized by the Vermont Department of Economic , Housing and Community Development; is the project budget reasonable; and the eligibility of the project.
• Application tips: Attendance to at least one of the TAP workshops is mandatory.
• Is there an advisory committee?: Yes.
• Advisory committee members: The Secretary of Transportation or his or her designee, a representative from the Division of Historic Preservation appointed by the Secretary of the Agency of Commerce and Community Development, one member to be appointed by the Secretary of the Agency of Commerce and Community Development to represent the tourism and marketing industry, a representative of the Agency of Natural Resources appointed by the Secretary of the Agency of Natural Resources, three municipal representatives appointed by the governing body of the Vermont League of Cities and Towns, one member representing and appointed by the governing board of the Vermont Association of Planning and Development Agencies, two members from the House designated by the Speaker, and two members from the Senate designated by the Committee on Committees.
• Project award minimum: $50,000
• Project award maximum: $300,000
• Typical local match: 20%
• Matching policies: On scoping studies, a minimum of fifty percent (50%) of the total project cost must be provided by the Sponsor. At least half of the match must be in cash expenditures. Match from other federally funded programs may or may not be eligible to be used toward match for a TA grant so check with the program coordinator to confirm eligibility. In-kind goods and services are subject to approval by VTrans. Issuance of a grant award does not constitute approval of in-kind match proposed in an application. Once approved, in-kind goods, services or donations are treated the same as any other project cost.
• Once your project is funded: Written guidelines can be found online.

Note

This profile and the charts are drawn from a database maintained by the Transportation Alternatives Data Exchange at the Rails-to-Trails Conservancy and are based on data provided by the States and FHWA. If there is an error or an update is needed for this profile please let us know about it. Direct questions and comments to TrADE @ RTC at 202-974-5135 or by email to policy@railstotrails.org

TrADE last updated this profile on: 03/31/2015