2015 Vermont Statutes
Title 19 - Highways
Chapter 1 - State Highway Law; General Transportation Provisions
§ 38 Transportation Alternatives Grant Program

§ 38. Transportation Alternatives Grant Program

(a) The Transportation Alternatives Grant Committee is created and shall comprise:

(1) the Secretary of Transportation or his or her designee;

(2) a representative from the Division of Historic Preservation appointed by the Secretary of Commerce and Community Development;

(3) one member appointed by the Secretary of Commerce and Community Development to represent the tourism and marketing industry;

(4) a representative of the Agency of Natural Resources appointed by the Secretary of Natural Resources;

(5) three municipal representatives appointed by the governing body of the Vermont League of Cities and Towns;

(6) one member representing and appointed by the governing board of the Vermont Association of Planning and Development Agencies;

(7) two members from the House designated by the Speaker; and

(8) two members from the Senate designated by the Committee on Committees.

(b) Municipal and legislative members of the Transportation Alternatives Grant Committee shall serve concurrently for two-year terms and the initial appointments of these members shall be made in a manner which allows for them to serve a full legislative biennium. In the event a municipal or legislative member ceases to serve on the Committee prior to the full term, the appointing authority shall fill the position for the remainder of the term. The Committee shall, to the greatest extent practicable, encompass a broad geographic representation of Vermont.

(c) The Transportation Alternatives Grant Program is created. The Grant Program shall be administered by the Agency, and shall be funded in the amount provided for in 23 U.S.C. § 213(a), less the funds set aside for the Recreational Trails Program as specified in 23 U.S.C. § 213(f). Awards shall be made to eligible entities as defined under 23 U.S.C. § 213(c)(4), and awards under the Grant Program shall be limited to the activities described at 23 U.S.C. § 213(b) other than Recreational Trails Program grants.

(d) Eligible entities awarded a grant must provide all funds required to match federal funds awarded for a Transportation Alternatives project. All grant awards shall be decided and awarded by the Transportation Alternatives Grant Committee.

(e) Transportation Alternatives grant awards shall be announced annually by the Transportation Alternatives Grant Committee not earlier than December and not later than the following March.

(f) Each year, $1,100,000.00 of Grant Program funds, or such lesser sum if all eligible applications amount to less than $1,100,000.00, shall be reserved for municipalities for environmental mitigation projects relating to stormwater and highways, including eligible salt and sand shed projects. Regarding the balance of Grant Program funds, in evaluating applications for Transportation Alternatives grants, the Transportation Alternatives Grant Committee shall give preferential weighting to projects involving as a primary feature a bicycle or pedestrian facility. The degree of preferential weighting and the circumstantial factors sufficient to overcome the weighting shall be in the complete discretion of the Transportation Alternatives Grant Committee.

(g) The Agency shall develop an outreach and marketing effort designed to provide information to communities with respect to the benefits of participating in the Transportation Alternatives Grant Program. The outreach and marketing activities shall include apprising municipalities of the availability of grants for salt and sand sheds. The outreach effort should be directed to areas of the State historically underserved by this Program. (Added 2003, No. 56, § 74, eff. June 4, 2003; amended 2003, No. 160 (Adj. Sess.), § 29, eff. June 9, 2004; 2005, No. 175 (Adj. Sess.), § 63; 2013, No. 12, § 12; 2015, No. 40, § 20.)