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REGIONAL NOTES
 
JUNE 2014
In This Issue
CCRPC 2014 Annual Meeting Summary
Of Note
Transportation News
Economy
Quality of Place
Energy & Natural Resources
Emergency Preparedness
Save the Date
Quick Links
Upcoming Events
 
JULY
 
7/1, 9:00am: CCRPC Transportation Advisory Committee Meeting
 
7/1, 6:30pm: North Ave. Advisory Committee Meeting # 6 [Learn More]
 
7/4: Independence Day (CCRPC Office Closed)
 
7/16, 2:30pm: CCRPC Planning Advisory Committee Meeting
 
7/16, 6:00pm: CCRPC Commission Meeting
 
AUGUST
 
-- No CCRPC Commission Meeting --

8/5, 9:00am: CCRPC Transportation Advisory Committee Meeting

SEPTEMBER

9/2, 9:00am: CCRPC Transportation Advisory Committee Meeting 

9/17, 2:30pm: CCRPC Planning Advisory Committee Meeting

9/17, 6:00pm: CCRPC Commission Meeting
Traffic Alert Program

Construction season is in full swing! Stay in the know by signing up for our weekly Traffic Alert emails -- your source for roadway and construction work in Chittenden
County.

Sign up today:
Front Porch Forum
Have You Joined Front Porch Forum?
Front Porch Forum's mission is to help neighbors connect and build community. It does that by hosting regional networks of online neighborhood forums. Common sense and a growing body of research tell us that well-connected neighborhoods are friendlier places to live, with less crime, healthier residents, higher property values, and better service from local government and public utilities.

United Way of Chittenden County
Summer Volunteer Opportunities
Looking for ways to volunteer this summer? Check out United Way of Chittenden County's Summer 2014 Ways of Caring Volunteering Newsletter for a variety of different volunteer options.

Route 802 Selected to Produce the "Official Vermont State App" and Travel Planner
Following a rigorous selection process, Route 802 has been chosen to develop Vermont's official tourism mobile app, VisitVT, for the Vermont Chamber of Commerce and Vermont Department of Tourism and Marketing.
 
 
Bicycling & Walking in the US: 2014 Benchmarking Report
The Alliance for Biking and Walking has released a report that includes data from all 50 states and the 51 largest US cities that address bicycling and walking levels and demographics, safety, policies and provisions, funding, staffing levels, infrastructure, bike-transit integration, education and encouragement activities, and public health indicators.
 
Governor's Dashboard - Version 1.0
This Dashboard is intended to provide access to relevant information about the state summarized into topic areas. Clicking on the options (Jobs, Housing, Income, Public Safety, etc.) will bring you to pages that include a topic summary and specific statistics that show how the state is doing in relation to the nation, other states and over time.

 

 
New & Improved Vermont Information Planning Center Website
The Vermont Planning Information Center is a clearing house of information for planning commissions, zoning boards, development review boards, their staff, and all others involved in land planning and regulation in Vermont.
 
American Red Cross
Giving BloodHours: Monday-Friday, 9am-6pm; Saturday, 7:30am-1pm
 
Call or go online to schedule an appointment today.



Summer is in full bloom, and wildlife encounters are on the rise. Last month, in just one week's time, different CCRPC staff reported seeing a family of newborn woodcocks, an otter, a moose, a peregrine falcon, an owl, and a bald eagle - all incredible sightings!

 

In recent years, CCRPC staff has deepened the organization's involvement in wildlife and transportation planning, particularly with regards to safety (human and wildlife) at wildlife crossings of roadways. During that same time, a citizen science effort was also underway in several rural Chittenden County towns, which got both volunteers and local policy makers excited about the potential to affect local policies that would strengthen protection of wildlife habitat. The CCRPC reached out to these communities to create a pilot project in partnership with the Vermont Department of Fish and Wildlife and the Vermont Natural Resources Council.

 

With funding from an ECOS Grant, the team contracted with Arrowwood Environmental to complete a natural resource inventory in the towns of Richmond, Bolton, Huntington and Jericho that would complement existing citizen science. Through public meetings, residents identified other areas of special interest in each community and described the value of their "sense of place." Taken together, the science and local values will now be used to inform and update local policies that will ultimately protect wildlife habitat and other significant natural communities, inform transportation management and maintenance decisions, and proactively plan for local and regional impacts as a result of climate change. A panel of representatives, including Jericho Town Planner Jennifer Murray, Richmond Conservation Commission member Jon Kart, VNRC General Counsel/Forest and Wildlife Program Director Jamey Fidel, Arrowwood Environmental consultant Michael Lew-Smith, and CCRPC Senior Transportation Planner Bryan Davis, will present the project at the Northeastern Transportation and Wildlife Conference this September in Burlington.

 

Longer days and more time spent outdoors serve as great reminders of how we can co-exist and accommodate wildlife even as we work to infill our areas planned for growth.

 

Best regards,

 

Michele Boomhower

Assistant/MPO Director

Chittenden County RPC

CCRPC 2014 Annual Meeting Summary

Election of Officers
At the CCRPC's 2014 Annual Meeting on June 18, the motion carried unanimously to elect the following CCRPC Board members for fiscal year 2015: Andy Montroll, Chair; Chris Roy, Vice Chair; Debra Kobus, Secretary/Treasurer; John Zicconi, At-Large for Towns over 5,000; Andrea Morgante, At-Large for Towns under 5,000; and Lou Mossey, Immediate Past Chair. Thank you to Lou Mossey for his work as Chair the last two years and to Marc Landry for his seven years of service on the merged RPC and former MPO Executive Committee -- and congratulations to the new officers!

VT DEC Commissioner David Mears Gives Keynote on Lake Champlain Clean-Up Effort

Vermont Department of Environmental Conservation Commissioner David Mears gave a presentation on the latest developments in the state's ongoing effort to work with the Environmental Protection Agency to implement a new phosphorus reduction plan for Lake Champlain. Thank you to Commissioner Mears for this valuable and timely presentation. [Watch the Presentation]

 

Leadership for People of Color Program Graduates Honored

Certificates of achievement were given to graduates of the Leadership for People of Color program, led by Sara Martinez de Osaba and supported by the CCRPC. The graduates completed a nine-month leadership training program sponsored by CCRPC, VT Department of Health, Fletcher Allen, and United Way of Chittenden County with guest presenters from local, regional and state agencies and organizations. Congratulations to Sara for her leadership in coordinating this program, and to the 19 graduates!

From L to R: James Ajith, Jeanine Bunzigiye, Chol Dhoor, Maryan Maalin, Isha Mohamed, Sara Martinez de Osaba. Graduates not pictured: Infinite Culcleasure, Isra Kassim, Indra J. Acharya, Jeetan Khadka, Noor Ibrahim, Noor Bulle, Puspa Luitel, Fatuma Hassan, Zeinab Bulle, Hassan Dayo, Jacques Okuka, Faiza Mohamed, Durga Dulal, Mohamed Abdi
Of Note

2014 ECOS Annual Report Underway
The ECOS Partnership is kicking off the update to the ECOS Annual Report this summer. The ECOS Annual Report is a compilation of over 80 indicators and accomplishments that show the progress being made in Chittenden County in the areas of the Economy, Environment, Quality of Place, and Community. A majority of the data is sourced from our regional, local, and state partners and assembled through the ECOS lens to help track our collective impact and guide our actions. We look forward to working with our partners on this data collection effort. The 2014 ECOS Annual Report will be released in January 2015. [Learn More]

CCRPC Hires Nine Summer Interns

CCRPC has hired nine interns for the summer, all current students from the University of Vermont. Their majors include Engineering, Environmental Studies, and Geography. They are currently working on various inventories in Milton, South Burlington, Jericho, Underhill, and Charlotte. They are also working on traffic data collection for various studies like Plan BTV South End, Winooski Avenue Corridor Study, and Milton Rt. 7 corridor study, among others.

 

New State Accountability Program Signed into Law

The latest in Vermont's long line of state government accountability programs was officially adopted on June 11. Governor Peter Shumlin signed S.293 into law in Montpelier. He and the bill's data-driven supporters say they're optimistic that conditions are ripe for this system to stick. [Learn More]

Transportation News
Implementing ECOS Strategy 2

Two Vermont Studies Seek to Decrease Collisions, Increase Wildlife Connectivity
People love seeing wildlife, except when it's a half-ton moose standing in the middle of a highway, caught in the glare of headlights. Deer-related automotive collisions alone resulted in $3.8 billion dollars in insurance damage claims nationally last year. Now, two Vermont studies seek to decrease collisions while increasing wildlife connectivity. The research is being conducted through a unique Staying Connected partnership between VTrans and the state's Fish and Wildlife Department, along with private engineering firm McFarland Johnson, as well as the Vermont chapter of the Nature Conservancy, and UVM's Transportation Research Center. [Learn More]

Neighbor Rides Community Transportation
1 out of every 5 seniors aged 65 and older no longer drives, yet over 80% of suburban and rural Chittenden County elders have limited transit access. Want to help them with their transportation needs? Volunteer drivers use their personal vehicles to take seniors and people with disabilities to medical appointments, grocery stores and life-enriching activities throughout Chittenden County. [Learn More & Volunteer]

New ECOS in Action episode: Winooski Gateways Project

CCRPC Senior Planner Regina Mahony speaks with host Mike Cohen about the Winooski Gateways project, which is focused on the overall character -- land use, building form, and transportation -- of East Allen St. (Rt. 15), Main St. (Rt. 7), and Mallets Bay Ave. [Watch the Show]

 

Winooski Gateways Project Update

The Winooski Gateways project kicked off with a very successful charrette week. Over 100 people participated in the meetings, dropped by the studio and came to the Farmers' Market booth. The consultants will take what they've learned from Winooski citizens and stakeholders to shape the illustrative plan and Form-Based Code for the East Allen St., Main St., and Mallet's Bay Ave. Corridors. A public draft is anticipated for release in November. [Learn More]

 

Burlington Transportation Demand Management (TDM) Action Plan

On June 13, CCRPC staff, City of Burlington staff, business community representatives and others kicked off this plan to review current TDM efforts for City employees, examine programs in similar cities, and develop recommendations for a comprehensive TDM program for City employees. The plan will be a model that can be adapted by other local employers. The plan is also being coordinated with related projects in Burlington including the Residential Parking Study and Downtown Parking Study. For more information, contact CCRPC Senior Transportation Planner Bryan Davis.

 

Way to Go! Commuter Challenge Results

Six teams in the 8th annual Way to Go! Commuter Challenge were honored at the State House on June 19 for reducing traffic, pollution, and the cost of commuting. The teams were recognized by the Vermont Agency of Natural Resources Secretary Deborah Markowitz for finding alternative ways to get to work or school for a week this spring. Congratulations to all the individuals and employers who competed in the the annual Way to Go! Commuter Challenge during the week of May 12-16! [Learn More]

 

New Planned Traffic Management System Aims to Streamline Info for DOT & Drivers

Transportation departments in New Hampshire, Vermont and Maine plan to launch a cutting-edge regional traffic management system to streamline information gathering and increase the speed the DOT can share information with motorists. [Learn More]

 

Transportation Project News

Recent Completed Scoping Studies - Final Reports Available
New Transportation Projects Underway
The following new projects are getting underway, and websites for each will be available within the coming months:
  • Regional Intelligent Transportation System (ITS) Plan Update
  • Charlotte Village Area Projects, including: 1.) Intersection of US7/Ferry Road/Church Hill; 2.) Park & Ride Scoping Study; 3.) Sidewalk Scoping Study, Ferry Road from US7 to Greenbush Road
  • Underhill Sidewalk Implementation Project
  • Milton Sidewalk Scoping Studies
  • Hinesburg Sidewalk Scoping Studies
  • Burlington Parking Management Plan
  • Burlington Residential Parking Study
  • Plan BTV South End
If you have questions or would like additional information, please contact Emma Long: [email protected].
Economy

 Implementing ECOS Strategy 1

 

Governor Signs Economic Development Bill

Governor Shumlin held a press conference on June 24 to sign into law S. 220, the jobs bill that passed during the legislative session. The Governor highlighted three primary aspects of the new law: (1) the creation of the Vermont Enterprise Fund, which designates $4.5 million to be used to keep jobs in the state or to bring high-paying jobs into the state; (2) the creation of a program that combines $500,000 from the General Fund and $1 million from Federal funds to provide better options for capital to entrepreneurs that have difficulty with traditional lending options; and (3) the creation of the Vermont Strong Scholar Program, which will provide loan forgiveness for one year of college (or one semester for an associates degree) to students that stay and work in Vermont after graduating. Governor Shumlin emphasized the bi-partisan support for the bill and the hard work that went into putting together a multi-faceted approach to economic development. [Learn More]

 

GBIC Unveils Plan to Save IBM Jobs Should Plant be Sold

The president of the Greater Burlington Industrial Corporation unveiled an action plan in anticipation of the possible sale of the IBM plant in Essex Junction, focused on keeping the jobs that could be lost. [Learn More]

Quality of Place

 Implementing ECOS Strategy 2

 

Vermont Community Foundation Awards More Than $200,000 to 15 Nonprofit Organizations

The Vermont Community Foundation announced that the Innovations and Collaborations grant program awarded $216,000 to 15 nonprofit organizations in Vermont in June. One of a number of competitive grant programs at the Community Foundation, Innovations and Collaborations supports projects that help nonprofits collaborate across sectors and regions to develop common solutions to community needs. [Learn More]

 

UVM Offers Local Government Administration Course

This course will explore instruments professional public sector CEOs use to further policy objectives by providing insight into the skills professional managers need to successfully implement change within a political environment. Students will explore the inherent tensions between effective management practices and democratic principles. Topics will include: management practices, municipal law, budgeting, finance, human resource management, risk management and intergovernmental relations. [Learn More]

Energy & Natural Resources

 Implementing ECOS Strategy 4

 

House Passes Welch Legislation Advancing Energy Efficiency in Schools

On June 23, the U.S. House of Representatives passed Congressman Peter Welch's bipartisan legislation to encourage schools administrators to make cost-saving energy efficiency upgrades. The Streamlining Energy Efficiency for Schools Act, modeled after Vermont's school-based energy efficiency efforts, is the second Welch-authored energy efficiency bill to pass the House this year. [Learn More]

 

Shoreland Protection Act Effective July 1

This year, the Vermont General Assembly passed a law that regulates activities within 250 feet of the mean water level of any lake greater than 10 acres in size. The Shoreland Protection Act becomes effective July 1st of this year. The Lakes and Ponds Program of the Vermont Department of Environmental Conservation will be administering the Act, and is preparing guidance programs and creating a website. [Learn More]

 

Vermont Municipalities and New Energy Efficient Construction

Two new resources are available from Efficiency Vermont and the Energy Code Assistance Center to help municipalities encourage their residents to build more energy efficient homes: The Municipal Guide to Vermont Energy Codes & Above-Code Programs, and a Q&A piece, Enhancing the Role of Vermont Municipalities in Improving Energy Efficiency in New Construction. [Learn More & Download the Guides]

 

The Weather Channel Highlights Vermont's Island Line Trail

The Weather Channel takes viewers to Vermont's award-winning Island Line Trail in a video as part of its Great Outdoors Program. Each year, nearly 150,000 visitors come from all over the world to experience the Trail. [Watch the Video]


Green Mountain Power offers free public tours to Kingdom Community Wind

Green Mountain Power is offering free public tours of the 21 turbine Kingdom Community Wind project in Lowell, Vermont during June, July and August. This is an opportunity to experience an operating wind farm, and learn how GMP is harnessing the power of wind to generate enough electricity to power 24,000 homes.[Learn More]

 

Contact 

For questions about energy planning, contact Melanie Needle in the CCRPC office.

Emergency Preparedness
Implementing ECOS Strategy 5

Reminder: Important Changes Regarding Vermont's Emergency Relief & Assistance Fund (ERAF)
Following the recovery from Tropical Storm Irene, the State of Vermont modified its standard for managing the State's ERAF. The new standard, which will be effective for any disaster after October 23, 2014, is structured to encourage municipalities to take four basic steps to prepare their their communities before the next disaster. [Letter from Jeb Spaulding]

>> NOTE: The CCRPC is tracking progress within Chittenden County in regards to towns meeting these eligibility requirements. Please contact Dan Albrecht at the CCRPC with any questions.

Contact
For questions regarding Emergency Preparedness, including LEPC 1 or 5, please contact Lee Krohn in the CCRPC office.
Save the Date

Regional Events

 

2014 TRB Tools of the Trade Conference: July 21-23

The CCRPC is the local host for the 2014 Transportation Research Board's conference focusing on small- and medium-sized communities. Join us for 2 � days of presentations, interactive sessions, and panel discussions to enhance your transportation planning practice in small and medium sized communities. [Learn More]

 

Northern New England Chapter American Planning Association Annual Conference: September 11-12

Held at the Stoweflake Resort & Spa in Stowe, this year's theme is big picture planning; planning for big issues and big outcomes. Topics include climate change, transportation/infrastructure, and economic development -- in the New England context. [Learn More]

 

Hunger Free Vermont's 2014 Hike For Hunger: September 27

Enjoy a beautiful morning walk at Catamount Outdoor Family Center; hike either a 1.5- or 3-mile loop; fundraise as an individual or a team with your friends, family, neighbors and colleagues. Contact Monica Taylor for more details. [Learn More]

If you have questions, feedback, or suggested content for upcoming issues, we'd love to hear from you! Please contact us.
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