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ACCOMPLISHMENTS7Waterbury Area Transportation ProjectsIn 2014, the Vermont Agency of Transportation initiated theWaterbury Area Transportation Projects (WATP), a group ofindependent transportation projects in and around the Town ofWaterbury that served to improve transportation infrastructure andmeet the immediate and long-range needs of the community andregion. These projects included the rehabilitation and replacementof three Interstate 89 bridges in Waterbury, a reclaim project on VTRoute 100 between Waterbury and Stowe, a reclaim project on USRoute 2 between Bolton and Waterbury, and the construction of aroundabout at the US 2/VT 100 intersection, among others.In 2021, the Agency completed construction of one of the mostcomplex and significant projects: the reconstruction of US 2 (MainStreet) in downtown Waterbury. This 25 million constructionproject rebuilt approximately one mile of Main Street and includedthe installation of engineered subbase material, replacement andupgrades to the drainage system, reconstruction of sidewalks,replacement and upgrades to buried utilities, street lighting, andsignage, resulting in a roadway that integrates all users and fitswithin the context of the community.With the completion of this project, as well as the projects identifiedunder the WATP, the significant investment that was made willstrengthen the region’s transportation system and also contributeto the economic viability, livability, and sustainability of localcommunities.DOWNTOWN WATERBURY. A ribbon cutting ceremony to mark thecompletion of downtown construction was held in late August 2021.The event coincided with the 10th anniversary of Tropical StormIrene. Senator Patrick Leahy was in attendance to help celebratethis important milestone in Waterbury’s decade of resilience andtransformation.Formation of the District Maintenance and FleetDivisionOn April 25, 2021, the Agency formed the District Maintenance &Fleet Division to oversee all regional offices, districts, and garagesstatewide; central garage functions; and maintenance activitiesstatewide. The formation of the new division also reestablishedMaintenance District 6, headquartered at the Dill Building in Berlinand charged with overseeing garages in North Montpelier, Orange,Morrisville, Middlesex, Waitsfield, and Williamstown.Fleet (Central Garage) is AOT’s advocate, caretaker, and technicalresource for the Agency’s mid-size and heavy-duty highway andbridge maintenance fleet assets, including multi-use plow anddump trucks and specialized heavy and construction equipment.These assets include 275 dump trucks, 112 pickups with plows,55 loaders, and eight graders. Additionally, Fleet supportsequipment for Highway Maintenance, DMV Commercial VehicleEnforcement Section, Aviation, and Bridge Inspection throughintra-agency service agreements. Fleet also collaborates with BGSFleet, municipal and regional technical projects, and various adhoc engagements during major emergency events in and outsideVermont.The Maintenance Districts and Central Garage were previously apart of the Highway Division, which was created in 2014 in largepart due to lessons learned from Tropical Storm Irene. The HighwayDivision doubled in size as a result of combining the previousProject Development Division and Operations Division. At thattime, the goal was to realign the Agency for better integration ofworkflow across divisions and to address assets throughout theirlife cycle. Seven years later, AOT determined that it was time toreintroduce the Districts and Central Garage with the clarity of focusand prominence that their key functions require. The Districts andCentral Garage now account for 125.7 million of the Agency’s FY22As Recommended Budget.Four bureaus now comprise the Highway Division: Construction& Materials Bureau, Project Delivery Bureau, Asset ManagementBureau, and Operations & Safety Bureau.AOT FACT BOOK 2022

8ACCOMPLISHMENTSVehicle ElectrificationAOT serves on an interagency team that is administering a 4.6million grant program for constructing and operating electric vehiclecharging stations through public-private partnerships. More than 2.8 million of this funding comes from Vermont’s share of thenationwide settlement stemming from Volkswagen’s sale of dieselvehicles containing fraudulent emissions defeat devices. Another 1.75 million comes from state funds. All projects require somelevel of matching funds from grantees.The first two funding rounds of the program granted approximately 1 million to support about 30 charging stations across thestate. The third funding round dedicated about 1.7 million tofilling gaps in the state’s highway corridor fast-charging network.Once constructed, these eleven new charging stations will puta fast charger within about 30 miles from almost every addressin Vermont. Round 4 applied 750,000 to continue building outVermont’s highway corridor fast-charging network by adding anadditional six stations. The interagency workgroup also designed afifth funding round to make 1 million available for Level 2 chargingat affordable multiunit dwellings.program for used fuel-efficient vehicles, including EVs, through agrant to Capstone Community Action. In addition, AOT is developinga Replace Your Ride Incentive Program that will pay Vermontersto retire old combustion vehicles and to drive electric or usealternative forms of transportation such as public transit. AOT isalso developing an Incentive Program for Electric Bicycles.AOT provides funding to Drive Electric Vermont for consumereducation and outreach relating to electric vehicles, research anddata tracking, and stakeholder coordination. AOT has played aleading role in drafting the transportation sections of Vermont’s2022 Comprehensive Energy Plan and Vermont’s first ClimateAction Plan.Using Federal Transit Administration grant opportunities, AOTcontinues to purchase electric buses for the state’s transit system.Two electric buses are currently in service and an additional twelvehave been ordered. The regional provider in Rutland, Marble ValleyReginal Transit District (MVRTD), has also been awarded VWsettlement money to purchase two electric transit buses. The PublicTransit Program will continue to apply for competitive federal fundsand is embarking on a “Zero-Emission Transition Plan” study toascertain the funding and operational requirements necessary tomove to an all-electric transit fleet in the future.AOT worked with the Legislature, the Public Utility Commission(PUC), and other agencies and stakeholders to remove PUCjurisdiction over public charging stations. This allows chargingcompanies to construct and operate new stations without theneed to obtain a certificate of public good and to price chargingby the per-kilowatt hour. AOT and other agencies continue to workon price transparency and a system of weights and measures forcharging stations. An interagency team will also continue work onestablishing a system of highway user fees for electric vehiclesthat can take the place of motor vehicle fuel taxes. AOT and otheragencies are exploring ways to address utility demand charges thatadd to the costs of owning and operating fast charging stations andto the charging fees passed along to electric motorists.With the assistance of the State’s electric distribution utilities andDrive Electric Vermont, AOT continues to administer a point-of-saleor -lease incentive program for new plug-in electric vehicles. Theincentives are now available to individuals and married coupleswith an adjusted gross income of up to 125,000 (depending ontax filing status) for new electric vehicles with a base MSRP of 40,000 or less. AOT also administers the MileageSmart incentiveAOT FACT BOOK 2022Name a Plow Program & Vermont Plow DayIn October 2021, AOT invited Vermont school children to name theAgency’s snow plows. The plow naming tradition began years agoin Scotland, and in recent years, AOT has received many inquiriesabout naming the State’s fleet of plow trucks. A total of 163 schoolssent in names, and the Agency made a sign with each plow nameand school name. The Agency declared November 17th “VermontPlow Day” and drove the plow trucks to schools around the stateto visit the students that had named them. Students learnedabout the trucks and the work done by AOT snow plow operators.Throughout Vermont, young students posed for photos with the bigorange trucks, AOT plow drivers, and the signs displaying the newsnow plow names. The naming program and visits were a greatsuccess, generating fun for all involved and a chance for Vermontstudents to learn about winter highway maintenance. The completelist of participating schools and plow names is on the AOT websiteat https://vtrans.vermont.gov/name-a-plow.

ACCOMPLISHMENTS9Department of Motor VehiclesELECTRIC MOTORCYCLEThe Vermont DMV Enforcement and Safety Division was the firstpolice agency in the country to employ an electric motorcycle. HarleyDavidson reconfigured its LiveWire electric motorcycle to makeit suitable for police use. The success of the LiveWire opens thepossibility of moving the police vehicle fleet to the electric platformand makes Vermont a pioneer for the use of electric motorcycles forlaw enforcement officers.ONLINE SERVICESThe DMV continued to increase the number of services availableonline to include enhancements to the scheduling system anddevelopment of an online tax estimator that is expected to launchin early 2022. Online services have opened many possibilities forcustomers who can obtain necessary documentation from home.Online services also expanded to allow third-party examiners anddrivers’ education instructors to use online classroom training inplace of in-person.UBI DUO DEVICE. DMV customers who are deaf or hard ofhearing can now communicate more effectively with DMV staffusing the new Ubi Duo device.COMMERCIAL VEHICLE INFORMATION EXCHANGE WINDOWThe Commercial Vehicle Information Exchange Window (CVIEW)helps DMV Enforcement inspect commercial vehicles. CVIEW makesthe inspection of commercial vehicles much faster because it allowsofficers to access information through a single portal.MODERNIZATION PROJECTFunding for the vehicle services stage, the first stage of the DMVCore System Modernization project, was secured and work beganon planning for implementation. The business lead for the projectwas identified, and a team is being assembled in anticipation of thesystem’s launch. The first stage of the project will focus on vehicleservices and provide a streamlined experience for DMV customersand staff.UBI DUO DEVICEThe Ubi Duo device enables deaf people to communicate moreeffectively with DMV staff. It allows for text-to-speech functionality.The DMV acquired these devices to increase access to services fordeaf and hard of hearing individuals as part of an ongoing effort toexpand accessibility.MONTPELIER. DMV Enforcement continued the annual traditionof escorting the State House Christmas tree to its new homeat the Capitol. This year’s tree traveled all the way fromWallingford, Vermont.AOT FACT BOOK 2022

10ACCOMPLISHMENTSPublic TransportationCOVID RESPONSEThe Public Transit program, in partnership with seven regionalproviders, continues to implement service changes to address thepandemic. In addition to the safety protocols, which included goingfare-free, erecting barriers, posting updated mask and distancingguidance, etc., AOT used its demand response services to offerrides to vaccination clinics for anyone needing a ride. To date, therehave been no infections traced to the public transit service.MICROTRANSITGreen Mountain Transit (GMT) successfully launched the state’sfirst “Microtransit” pilot in Montpelier. Microtransit is real-time, ondemand transit service, and GMT replaced three fixed routes witha “service region” encompassing roughly 8 square miles. Mobilityservices are now being provided through the “MyRide” brandedservice, and anyone can call a local number or use an app toschedule a trip. This transition to microtransit has led to increasedridership and reduced wait and on-bus times, and it is receiving anaverage of 4.8 out of 5 stars in the rating responses.E-BUSES. In Summer 2021, members of the Governor’sELECTRIFICATION OF THE TRANSIT FLEETTo date, AOT has successfully applied for a total of 18 electricbuses. When these buses have been delivered, six of the seventransit providers will have embarked on the electrification process.Furthermore, the recently published Vermont Public Transit FleetElectrification Plan, due out in December 2021, outlines theinfrastructure and capital needs to achieve full electrification. Thisplan is a critical next step as the State moves from initial testing ofe-buses to replacing the entire fleet during the next several years.RECOVERY AND JOB ACCESS PROGRAMIn FY22, the Agency awarded funds to all transit organizations toprovide trips for those continuing their recovery and/or seekingaccess to a job opportunity. These competitively awarded fundshave provided thousands of trips throughout the state for thesepurposes and are now incorporated into the current demandresponse programs (Medicaid, Vermont Elders and Persons withDisabilities programs). AOT and AHS are partnering to split the nonfederal matching funds required, a meaningful interagency plan andpartnership.Cabinet were aboard GMT’s Proterra Electric Bus. The 40-footelectric bus is one of two e-buses that have been in servicesince January 2020, traveling a combined 25K miles in thattime.GMT’s e-buses are the first in the state, with 16 more nowfunded through federal grants. The new e-buses are expectedto roll out for service during the next three years.Structures and HydraulicsIn the Highway Division’s Structures section, 24 projects wereadvertised in 2021, and four projects were delayed, representingan 86% success rate of advertising on time. Of the 24 projectsadvertised in 2021, 58% (14 projects) are state highway projects,29% (seven projects) are town highway projects, and 13% (threeprojects) are interstate projects. Finally, nine projects weretransferred from scoping to design in 2021.The Hydraulics section completed 20 preliminary hydraulic reports,18 final hydraulics reports for programmed projects, and 61hydraulic reports for district and town culverts.27 bridge replacement, rehabilitation, and preventativemaintenance projects were under construction during2021, totaling 90.8 million dollars. Five of the projectsutilized Accelerated Bridge Construction (ABC).AOT FACT BOOK 2022

RY BRIDGE AND RAIL PROJECT. The Vermont Agency of Transportation(AOT), in collaboration with the Town of Middlebury, replaced two nearly 100year old rail bridges in the center of Middlebury with a tunnel. The 360-foottunnel that replaced the Main Street and Merchants Row bridges addressesseveral deficiencies. The tunnel provides vertical clearance for double-stackrail cars. By lowering the railbed approximately 4 feet, clearance was increasedto 21 feet without affecting the grade of the road and sidewalks above.The tunnel provides improved rail alignment, softening the rail curve to allow better horizontal clearance for trains. The projectincluded drainage improvements that mitigated the risk of icing problems and ponding that occurred in the past. Replacing the railbridges with a tunnel received broad support at public meetings and was endorsed by the Middlebury Town Selectboard. The tunnelchanges the town landscape by overlaying the depressed, walled railbed with green space that links Triangle Park with the VillageGreen in the heart of downtown.AOT FACT BOOK 2022

12ACCOMPLISHMENTSROCKINGHAM I-91 BRIDGE REPLACEMENT This project includedthe replacement of the existing twin four span, two lane structuresover the Green Mountain Railroad and Williams River that wereconstructed in 1960-1961 and rehabilitated in 1988. The existingbridges were 850-feet in length and in poor condition.During construction, the bridges were built in two phases, with onebridge being built at a time. Highway crossovers were utilized tomaintain one lane of traffic in each direction.This project was contracted as a Design-Build project, a method of project delivery whereby a single entity is contractually responsible to performdesign, construction, and related services. The new superstructure is comprised of five precast concrete bulb-tee girder lines. The new bridges are widerthan the existing bridge with two 12-ft travel lanes, a 4-ft left side shoulder, and a 10-ft breakdown lane. Both Bridge 24N and 24S have abutments andpier substructures supported by footings on piles, with the exception of one pier on each bridge bearing on bedrock.AOT FACT BOOK 2022

ACCOMPLISHMENTS13Transportation OperationsTRANSPORTATION MANAGEMENT CENTER(TMC)The Transportation Management Center(TMC) is the operations hub for alltransportation-related matters throughoutVermont 24 hours a day and 365 days ayear. The TMC monitors and responds totraffic conditions, and communicates vitalinformation about weather, storm alerts,and road conditions to AOT, State PoliceDispatcher centers, Vermont EmergencyManagement, other agencies, the media,and the public.In 2021, the TMC continued efforts with asoftware vendor to execute a new contractfor New England Compass. The contractincludes a new 511 Traveler Informationwebsite for the public that has new featuresand an improved user experience. The TMCsupported and continues to support DigitalMessage Board requests for COVID vaccineclinics throughout the state, facilitating thedeployment of message boards to cliniclocations and activating digital messages.The TMC also has been participating inthe development and implementation ofthe DMV’s new ePermittng system as aBusiness Lead. This system modernizes thepermitting system and makes it availableonline to DMV customers.MORRISVILLE-STOWE STATE AIRPORT. Morrisville-Stowe State Airport was busy in thesummer of 2021 with improvements to the runway surface area and constructionof a new parallel taxiway to create a safer aviation operating environment. Thesetwo projects also included earthwork, stormwater drainage, and new electricalinfrastructure.AviationThe Agency finished work on the new taxiway at Morrisville-Stowe State Airport safetyproject. AOT will continue to finalize the design of the next phase of the project at FranklinCounty Airport, which will extend the runway by 1,000 feet, making the total runway length4,001 feet. The Agency began the design phase for a runway reconstruction project at theSpringfield Airport to improve the surface condition and safety areas. Tree clearing withinaviation flight paths continued at many airports; this FAA requirement must be fulfilled inorder to apply for federal grants. Master planning efforts commenced in Middlebury andRutland, as well as an update of the Knapp Airport Master Plan.RailTRAFFIC SIGNALSThe number of traffic signals with remotecommunication capabilities increased from74 to 104 (64% of the system). Six signalson US Route 7 were replaced. They weresome of the oldest in the system with thehighest traffic volumes in the state. AOTsignal replacement and upgrade projectsreduced the number of signals in poorcondition from 36 to 28 during 2021.The AOT Rail Bureau continues to advance projects associated with the federal BUILDgrant that was received in 2019. A total of 31 bridge projects are associated with this 20million 2019 federal grant from the U.S. Department of Transportation’s Better UtilizingInvestments to Leverage Development (BUILD) program. The projects include improvementsfor a freight capacity of 286,000 pounds along 53 miles of the Vermon

Jan 07, 2022 · bridge maintenance fleet assets, including multi-use plow and dump trucks and specialized heavy and construction equipment. These assets include 275 dump trucks, 112 pickups with plows, 55 loaders, and eight graders. Additionally, Fleet supports