Earlier this month, the CCRPC and VTrans received a $981,780 grant under the Federal Highway Administration's Accelerated Innovation Deployment (AID) demonstration program. This grant will be used to improve traffic flow in our region by accelerating the adoption of innovative technologies, including the development of Bluetooth-based traffic monitoring systems along high-volume traffic corridors in Chittenden County.

The Bluetooth traffic monitoring devices will be placed in areas such as I-89 at exits 12, 14, 16 and 17, as well as along VT 289 near Susie Wilson Road, and will relay real-time information about volume and speed of traffic to the transportation operations center in Montpelier. Not only will the information collected by the devices help address safety and congestion in the moment, it will also provide planning information for long-term traffic solutions.

This is just one of several projects we are working on with VTrans and our municipalities to explore new, innovative traffic information and adaptive signal control measures that will improve traffic flow for residents, businesses, and visitors in the most cost-effective measure possible. We will be sure to provide updates as these projects evolve in the coming months.

Best regards,

Charlie Baker

Executive Director

CCRPC's Eleni Churchill has been promoted to Transportation Program Manager, overseeing the organization's transportation efforts. Following 12 years of service with VTrans, Eleni joined the CCRPC in 2007 as a Senior Transportation Engineer, where she has managed the regional and local corridors and circulation program, as well as multiple scoping and technical assistance projects. Eleni joins Regina Mahony, who was promoted to Planning Program Manager in February, overseeing the organization's planning (non-transportation) efforts.

Charlie Baker, CCRPC Executive Director, Martha Maksym, United Way of Chittenden County Executive Director, and Tom Torti, President and CEO of the Lake Champlain Regional Chamber of Commerce, speak to the accomplishments, trends, and high-priority actions highlighted in the ECOS Plan 2014 Annual Report and Online Scorecard. [Watch the TV Show]

The FY16 Sidewalk Program is designed to improve and expand the region's sidewalk infrastructure through reimbursable grants. Applications due: April 24. [Download the Application]

CATMA has changed its name to Chittenden Area Transportation Management Association. This change reflects CATMA's expanded service area from the Campus Area to Chittenden County in offering employers a managed commuter program that has proven to influence people's travel choices and reduce single occupant vehicles. [View CATMA's New Website]

Are you ready to reclaim your ride this spring? Way to Go! Week has a whole new look and website to help you track your trips better. Sign up as a team or an individual and get ready for this year's 2-week smart trip challenge!

Seven vehicle fleets in New England were selected as Northern Stars for their efforts in cutting carbon emissions, reducing the use of petroleum, and promoting and utilizing alternative fuels to power their vehicles. The Vermont Clean Cities Coalition presented the award to the UVM Transportation Services which manages the campus' bus fleet. The University was chosen because of its commitment to alternative fuels and transportation options. [Learn More]

VTrans is recruiting for an AOT Planning Coordinator II position. Interested candidates are encouraged to apply through the state job recruitment website.

This month there will be a new release of the website that hosts inventory data for town maintained bridges and culverts. VTCulverts, also known as the Vermont Online Bridge and Culvert Inventory Tool, has an updated interface and some new features. Users can now see the database and the map on the same screen to make in the field data entry easier. A new feature to assist in prioritizing structure replacement has also been added. Using road importance ranking and bankfull width information, a Road Foreman, Public Works Director or Town Official can easily see which structures might benefit from replacement before others. There will be an opportunity to learn more about these new features on April 29th when CCRPC staff and VT Local Roads host a training at VTrans District 5 offices. Contact Pam Brangan for more information.

The Community Rides Volunteer Driver Program is a network of volunteer drivers managed through individual regional public transportation providers to offer cost-effective transportation to community members in need of a ride. [Learn More]

LaunchVT is a community initiative powered by the Lake Champlain Regional Chamber of Commerce to provide entrepreneurs with an opportunity to get exposure, education, and real experience to start their business. LaunchVT's selected contestants have gone through several months of preparation for their final pitch to the judging board on May 7. [Learn More]

Under Act 148 of the Universal Recycling Law, starting on July 1 every residence and business will be required to separate recyclable metal, glass, plastic and paper from trash. Also beginning July 1, municipalities will have to provide recycling containers along with trash cans in public places and transfer stations. [Learn More]

EPA is making grant money available for New England communities to reduce environmental risks, protect and improve human health and improve the quality of life. EPA New England's Healthy Communities Grant Program is currently accepting initial proposals for projects that will benefit one or more New England community. [Learn More]

There is good reason to go solar ASAP, since federal and state incentives - including the federal 30% investment tax credit - will be significantly reduced (or unavailable) in 2016. Investing in solar energy is a great way for municipalities to reduce energy costs, support local jobs, and reduce greenhouse gas emissions. [Learn More] | Check out this Community Solar Project in Richmond

Vermont updated both the residential and commercial building energy codes on March 1, 2015. The final versions of Vermont's updated codes -- the Residential Building Energy Standards and Commercial Building Energy Standards -- are posted on the Vermont Public Service Department website.

The Vermont Department of Housing and Community Development posted a revised second draft of its proposed 2015-2019 HUD Consolidated Plan and 2015 Action Plan on March 26. The document and information about the plan are available here. Written comments on the proposed plan will be accepted until 4:30pm on April 27, and should be addressed to Arthur Hamlin: arthur.hamlin@state.vt.us.

With funding from the CCRPC and a Municipal Planning Grant from the State of Vermont, the Chamberlin Neighborhood Planning Project has begun. The first meeting of the Neighborhood Planning Committee was held on April 8, and work has begun with our consultant team (led by RSG). [Read the Full Article]

The Vermont Housing & Conservation Board has committed $2.06 million in VHCB funds and $2,007,000 in federal HOME Program funds for the development of 85 new homes in Brattleboro and Milton and to preserve affordability and rehabilitate 151 homes in Colchester, Brattleboro, Randolph and Bennington. [Learn More]

United Way of Chittenden County has been convening a group of organizations that provide services and activities for older adults. The group is conducting a "Healthy Aging Survey" to get feedback on whether today's services and activities are meeting the needs of older adults as well as they could. As the population of those over 60 continues to grow, the time is right to gather information to make changes to ensure our service delivery system addresses what older adults say they want and need. [Learn More & Take the Survey]

This initiative supports collaboration across the education, health care, human service, public, and private sectors to create a comprehensive approach to transforming communities to better support children with high needs. The Promise Communities initiative is a project of Vermont's Early Learning Challenge - Race to the Top Grant; a $36.9 million, federally funded, four-year grant to help build a high-quality and accessible early childhood system in the state so all young children will be ready to succeed in kindergarten and beyond. [Learn More]

Since 2008, Gallup and Healthways have been measuring well-being in the United States. The rankings are based on data from the Well-Being Index, a comprehensive measure of well-being in populations. [Well-Being in Vermont] | [Chittenden County Snapshot]

After Town Meeting each year, every municipality is required to update its LEOP, have it adopted by its legislative body, and submit it to the Regional Planning Commission and the State by May 1. These plans include a wide array of important information related to personnel, facilities, and equipment that would be available to respond in case of emergency. As all Chittenden County municipalities have LEOPs from prior years, the work involved is essentially reviewing and updating these plans with current information. If you need help with your plan, or have a newly adopted plan ready to submit to the State, please contact Lee Krohn in the CCRPC office at lkrohn@ccrpcvt.org or 802.733.7788. Kudos to Charlotte and Richmond, whose plans are already complete and approved by the State!

Severe weather can strike at any time. Are you prepared? The National Preparedness Community has released the new Severe Weather Preparedness Toolkit, available for download. [Learn More]

For questions regarding emergency preparedness, including LEPC 1, please contact Lee Krohn in the CCRPC office.

VTrans is developing an On-Road Bicycle Plan in support of enhancing on-road bicycle improvements on state highways. The plan will assist VTrans in understanding where to focus limited resources toward bicycle improvements and allow better integration into Agency projects. [Learn More]

Theme: Age-Friendly Communities: Possibilities, Challenges, and Social and Economic Benefits. [Learn More] 

Burlington will host the 2015 Downtown and Historic Preservation Conference on Friday, June 5th at Main Street Landing. The conference offers walking tours and education sessions packed with practical ideas and information you can use to help your community thrive. [Learn More & Register]

Save the date for the Vermont League of Cities & Towns' Planning & Zoning Forum. [Learn More]

Save the date for the 2015 APA Getting Ahead of the Future conference in Saratoga Springs, NY. [Learn More]

This year's conference, Leading the Energy REVolution, will be held at the Sheraton in Burlington on October 8th and 9th. [Learn More]