Vermont Public Transit Policy Plan Update - Public Meetings

Come share your views on public transit services and needs in Vermont! Public transit plays a vital role in the high quality of life that Vermonters enjoy and we need your help.

The Vermont Agency of Transportation (VTrans) is currently updating their Vermont Public Transit Policy Plan (PTPP). The purpose of the PTPP is to review and update transit polices and goals and to develop strategies to meet current and emerging public transit challenges over the next 10 years.

As part of this process, VTrans is hold a series of public meetings to help shape the vision for the state's transit system and to identify and explore issues that should be addressed to realize that vision. A second round of public meetings in November will present the proposed plan to the public and interested parties and to gather public comment.

All meetings will begin at 7:00 pm. The schedule for the meetings is:

2/7/11 Vermont Interactive Television (VIT) sites throughout VT including Bennington, Brattleboro, Castleton, Johnson, Lyndonville, Middlebury, Montpelier, Newport, Randolph Center, Rutland, Springfield, St. Albans, Waterbury, White River Junction, Williston.
For location information and directions go to: http://www.vitlink.org/location or call: 802-728-1455

2/8/11 Central Vermont Regional Planning Commission
29 Main Street, Montpelier, VT 05602
Directions: http://www.centralvtplanning.org/montbase.JPG

2/9/11 Connecticut River Transit (CRT)- The Current 706 Rockingham Road, Rockingham, Vermont 05101
Directions: http://www.crtransit.org/contact/contact_info.html

Central Vermont Regional Energy Forum

Wednesday, Feb 16, 6PM. until 9 p.m. at Montpelier City Hall in the Memorial Room. Hers' a snapshot of the agenda:

6:00 - The first 1/2 hour will be for nibbles and socializing.
6:30 - We will ask each town to provide an update on their efforts: who knows, you may find a town to collaborate with!
7:15 - A presentation by Brian Shupe of VNRC, who will overview the 'hot-off-the-presses' Energy Planning and Implementation Guide - a tool designed to help motivated communities harness their town plans - with support - to address energy-saving, energy-generating opportunities.
7:45 - A presentation about the online Renewable Energy Atlas of Vermont by Scott Sawyer of the VT Sustainable Jobs Fund. This tool is an incredible resource for energy groups, planners and more.
8:15 - Q& A
8:35 - A legislative snapshot
8:45 - Next steps

Please join us for an informative and fun evening!

Energy Committee Grant Opportunity

Here is the information you need about the new grant program the Vermont Energy & Climate Action Network (VECAN) announced at the Dec. 4 conference workshop called 'Building the Power of Vermont Communities to Increase Energy Efficiency and Reduce Climate Change Impacts'.

The VECAN grant program will support Vermont groups working on energy efficiency and renewable energy projects in their communities that support local sustainability. Goals of the initiative are:

• To build Vermont's leadership fostering and supporting energy and climate change strategies at the community level;
• to decrease community carbon footprints;
• and to increase carbon-free energy independence by supporting the implementation of community based energy projects.

Grants will range from $1,000 to $3000, with an application deadline of January 31, 2011. Grant applications will be reviewd by a committee made up of the key VECAN support organizations and members of the VECAN Advisory Committee. The funding is made possible by a Dept. of Energy grant secured by Vermont Senator Bernie Sanders.

Find many more details about the grant program and download the grant application at http://www.vecan.net/ or call the New England Grassroots Environment Fund's office at 802-223-4622. Please feel free to call or email NEGEF, who is the VECAN partner administering the grant porgram, with questions or to discuss project ideas.

VECAN is a collaborative effort of six nonprofit organizations: Community Climate Action, New England Grassroots Environment Fund, Vermont Sierra Club, Sustainable Energy Resource Ground, Vermont Energy Investment Corporation and the Vermont Natural Resources Council.

Thanks for all you do to help save energy and transition Vermont to a clean, green energy future!

Nancy Nottermann, CVRPC Energy Coordinator

Pre Disaster Mitigation Plan Workshop

SAVE THE DATE

Pre Disaster Mitigation Plan Workshop

WHEN: December 14, 2010, 2:00 - 4:00 pm

WHERE: The New East Montpelier Fire Station located at 54 Village Acres (Rte 2 & 14), East Montpelier

WHO: Central Vermont Regional Planning Commission

PRESENTATION SPEAKERS: Ray Doherty from Vermont Emergency Management

WHY: Updated plans and new plans are due in the near future & FEMA has made changes in the PDM plan structure and requirements

RSVP – Jen @ mojo@cvregion.com

(p) 802-229-0389 (f) 802-223-1977

Come learn about the changes FEMA has made to the PDM plan structure. Also learn about the benefits your town can receive by having a PDM plan such as a PDM-C grant, HMGP grant and funding for hazard mitigation projects (culvert expansion, flood mitigation projects, property acquisition, retrofit projects etc.) Please forward this to those you may think are interested. If you are unable to attend this session, we will be holding another workshop in mid January – details to follow.

Refreshments will be served

Montpelier Winners - Rain Garden Contest

At the 3rd annual Vermont Rain Garden contest held this summer, Heather Burt (Montpelier High School) won best garden outside Chittenden County and Jeff Schumann (also Montpelier) won best us of native plants for his garden. Congratulations to both for their attractive landscape that is also used to treat storm water runnoff; nice work, indeed!

Bagels & Brownfields!

The Brownfields & Bagels meeting has been postponed to a later date.

Please feel free to contact Jennifer at mojo@cvregion.com if you have questions or are looking for more information regarding brownfields funding and redevelopment ideas.

ECO DRIVING

Want to save money on your vehicle’s fuel costs – personal and municipal?
CVRPC is pleased, to announce free workshops on vehicle fuel savings for your municipal road crews, town employees, business and the general public. These 2 hour sessions will be held on Nov 11, Thurs, and Nov 12, Friday each from 3 – 5 pm. The workshop is entitled ‘Eco Driving’ and will provide hands on training in proven energy reduction strategies for fuel efficient driving, including the realities of idling. The University of VT Transportation Research Center has developed these highly sought after trainings.

Locations are TBD, but one will be in the Barre/Berlin area and one in the Waterbury area. Since the capacity is 30 people per workshop, please contact me at CVRPC, 229-0389 to reserve a spot. Our goal is to reach as many towns as possible.

Who should attend? Our hope is that towns will send representatives, including planning commission members, select boards, road crews, and managers, who can report back to their towns and then implement the workshop strategies. We also hope that the general public and energy committees will wish to participate.

Small changes in driving habits can save a lot of money.
Whether you are a town employee or a community member or a business with a fleet of vehicles, these workshops are appropriate for you.

To learn more or register, please contact Nancy Nottermann, the Energy Coordinator at CVRPC, 229-0389 or email nottermann@cvregion.com. Feel free to pass this information on to anyone who might be interested.