Developing transportation projects typically takes many years and involves critical steps including environmental permitting and right of way acquisition. As a result, transportation funding, particularly for a relatively small area such as Chittenden County, can vary considerably from year to year and should be evaluated over a multi-year period to accurately reflect trends. In federal FY2014 transportation spending in Chittenden County was 35 percent less than the previous year due to delay of some large bridge and paving projects. CCRPC originally programmed 57 percent of the transportation funds to system preservation, but several projects, including culvert repair on I-89 and two state highway paving projects, were delayed. When considering a multi-year trend 63.6 percent of transportation spending has been on system preservation over the past five years.

Maintaining our existing transportation system is a critically important task and a top sustainable transportation priority. The ECOS Plan estimates that 64% of anticipated future transportation funds, on average, will need to go to system preservation in order to sustain its integrity and protect public safety. This annual calculation will be tracked to assure adequate system maintenance investment (while realizing there may be year to year fluctuations).

Vermont Agency of Transportation