REGIONAL NOTES
December 2019
Quick Links
Are you interested in a specific topic?

Click on a category below to be brought right to that section.
Table of Contents
 
CCRPC Calendar of Events

All events held at the CCRPC unless otherwise noted. 


DECEMBER

-CANCELED-  12/18, 6:00pm: CCRPC Board Meeting

12/25: CCRPC Office Closed

JANUARY

1/1: CCRPC Office Closed

1/7, 9:00am: Transportation Advisory Committee Meeting

1/7, 11:00am: Clean Water Advisory Committee Meeting

1/7, 12:30pm:
Clean Water Advisory Committee MS-4 Sub-Committee Meeting

1/8, 5:45pm: CCRPC Executive Committee Meeting

1/14, 9:00am: Local Emergency Planning Committee Meeting (LEPC-1)

1/15, 6:00pm: CCRPC Board Meeting; Public Forum on FY21 UPWP; Public Hearing on Proposed Major TIP Amendment

 

United Way of Northwest Vermont Volunteer Opportunities

United Way can connect you with hundreds of ways to give your time and make a difference in your community.

 
CCRPC  Board of Directors FY20 Membership

Bolton: Sharon Murray

Buel's Gore: Garret Mott

Burlington: Andy Montroll

Charlotte: Jim Donovan

Colchester: Jacqueline Murphy

Essex: Jeff Carr

Essex Junction: Dan Kerin

Hinesburg: Michael Bissonette

Huntington: Barbara Elliott

Jericho: Catherine McMains

Milton: Tony Micklus

Richmond: Bard Hill

Shelburne: John Zicconi

St. George: Jeff Pillsbury

So. Burlington: Chris Shaw

Underhill: Brian Bigelow

Westford: Allison Hope

Williston: Chris Roy

Winooski: Mike O'Brien (Chair)

For more information,  click here.
 
CCRPC Staff

Charlie Baker, Executive Director

Dan Albrecht, Senior Planner

Pam Brangan, GISP, GIS Data & IT Manager

Jason Charest, PE, Senior Transportation Planning Engineer

Eleni Churchill, Transportation Program Manager

Forest Cohen, Senior Business Manager

Bryan Davis, AICP, Senior Transportation Planner

Marshall Distel, Transportation Planner

Chris Dubin, Transportation Planner

Christine Forde, AICP, Senior Transportation Planner

Amy Irvin Witham, Business Office Associate

Regina Mahony, AICP, Planning Program Manager

Melanie Needle, Senior Planner

Sai Sarepalli, PE, Transportation Planning Engineer

Emma Vaughn, Communications Manager

For bios and contact information,  click here.
 
Good afternoon,
 
On December 10th, we held our annual Chittenden County Municipal Legislative Breakfast to serve as a forum for municipal representatives and legislators to connect on a few important topics for the upcoming legislative session. This event was well attended and yielded some useful discussion.
 
To recap, we addressed: smart growth, housing, Act 250 and permit system changes, water quality funding, transportation, the I-89 2050 Study, the Transportation Climate Initiative, population health, workforce, mental health and substance use, and regional and municipal planning. Following a presentation, the discussion focused on what can be done at the municipal, regional, and State level to make improvements to our systems and progress toward our goals. View the full presentation and corresponding data handout on our website here.
 
We also offered to help legislators with obtaining expert municipal testimony, data, or mapping on any of those topics or others that come before the legislature. Please let us know how we can help.
 
As we look toward 2020 and reflect on the many ways we all work collectively to improve our communities, we'd like to thank each of you for staying in touch and involved with the CCRPC throughout the year.

Wishing you a happy and healthy holiday season from all of us at the CCRPC!
 
Best regards,

Charlie Baker
Executive Director, CCRPC
 
Of Note
CCRPC FY21 Annual Work Program (UPWP) Request for Projects ( Applications Due January 17) & Public Forum ( January 15)
The CCRPC is beginning the process of creating the FY2021 Unified Planning Work Program (UPWP), our annual work program that describes our activities and specifies the deliverables for the next year (July 1, 2020-June 30, 2021). The deadline for receipt of completed submissions is Friday, January 17. A public forum will be held on Wednesday, January 15.  Learn More »  
 
Transportation
Implementing ECOS Strategy 2
Williston Park & Ride Major TIP Amendment
The CCRPC will hold a public hearing on Wednesday, January 15, 2020 at 6:00 p.m. at its offices at 110 W. Canal St; Suite 202, Winooski, Vermont to consider a Major Amendment to the FY2020-2023 Transportation Improvement Program (TIP) for the Williston Park & Ride. The Amendment is to add an additional $2.2 million to this project scheduled for construction in 2020. Additional information on this amendment can be found at www.ccrpcvt.org/tip/ or by contacting Christine Forde at 846-4490, ext. *13.
Call for Proposals/Awards: 2020 Vermont Walk/Bike Summit
Submit your proposal to present at the 2020 Vermont Walk/Bike Summit, to be held on May 8 in Middlebury. To submit a proposal, please complete the online form by Feb. 7. The Conference Planning Committee will make selections by Feb. 21 and you will be notified soon after. Contact the Conference Committee with any questions at [email protected]. Also, submit your award nomination for a Volunteer Advocate, Walk/Bike Professional, or Notable project. Nominations are due by Feb. 7 to [email protected].
South Burlington Kimball Bridge Update
The Kimball Avenue bridge connecting to Marshall Avenue is closed for repairs and traffic is detoured. The projected completion date is early January 2020, barring any weather-related impacts.
Winooski Avenue Transportation Study Updates
This transportation corridor study of the entire Winooski Avenue corridor in Burlington is well underway. View the latest presentation and materials from a November public meeting, use a 3D tool to view draft alternative concepts, view public comments and more at the  project webpage »  
VPR's Brave Little State: How Can Vermonters Drive Less?
More than 43% of Vermont's greenhouse gas emissions comes from transportation, more than any other economic sector. In this episode of Brave Little State, VPR examines public transportation, commuting, passenger rail and more.  Learn More »
Burlington Airport Expansion will Expedite TSA Screening
A $10 million, 18,000-square-foot expansion to speed up security screening capacity is one of several infrastructure projects planned for Burlington International Airport. The airport has two TSA stations that can process 200 people per hour each. The expanded, centralized facility will allow the airport to process 600 people per hour.   Learn More »
Way to Go! to School is Back for 2019/2020
Way to Go! to School is an award-winning, incentive-based program that encourages everyone to make smart travel choices to school (i.e., walk, bike, carpool and take the bus).  Learn More &Sign Up » 
Transportation Project News & Updates
For a full list of transportation projects, visit the CCRPC Transportation Advisory Committee website; a full project list is provided in every TAC agenda and is updated regularly. View the latest TAC agenda »
 
Economy
Implementing ECOS Strategy 1
CEDO & Resource Provide Construction 101 Four-Week Program
CEDO and Resource have teamed up to provide a four-week intensive program designed to equip you with the skills necessary for an entry-level job in carpentry and construction. Students will learn from Monday through Friday, 9 am - 4 pm starting on February 3, 2020, at the South End Joinery, ReSOURCE's woodshop on Pine Street in Burlington, VT Learn More »
UVM Program on Sustainable Innovation Aims to Help Students Change the World
The SI-MBA program was recently recognized as the  best "green" MBA in the country by the Princeton Review. It placed fourth in the world on the 2019 Better World MBA rankings compiled by Toronto-based sustainable business magazine Corporate Knights.  The program is in its sixth year. It offers a 12-month curriculum that focuses on how to integrate sustainability missions into corporate planning and government policy Learn More »
Chittenden County Brownfields Program Accepting Applications
If you own or wish to develop a property that is contaminated or suspected to be contaminated, please apply. To get started, read the information on different types of assistance and fill out and send us a site nomination/assistance request form. Learn More »
 
Energy & Natural Resources
Implementing ECOS Strategies 3 & 4
DeltaClimeVT Energy 2020 Program Accepting Applications
The Vermont Sustainable Jobs Fund opened the application period for the DeltaClimeVT Energy 2020 program, which will be focused on reducing energy use and greenhouse gas emissions in buildings, and enabling better integration of distributed energy resources and smart building technologies. They are seeking innovative, early-stage, energy entrepreneurs for the business accelerator to be held in Burlington, Vermont. Applications are due Feb. 16, 2020.  
Caring for Natural Resources Part 2: Taking Action in Your Community, January 28 & February 4
This sequel to Vermont's Ecology and Environment helps participants choose locally appropriate land use planning strategies for conserving natural resources. It uses case studies and exercises to show how taking action can work in real life. The overall goal is to build understanding of what you can do, how to work with different people in your community, how to choose methods to protect natural resources, and how to make results happen!  Suggested donation of $25 to benefit the Association of Vermont Conservation Commissions. For more information and to register, contact
White Paper: Vermont's Total Energy Burden by Town
Understanding energy burden, the ratio of energy spending expressed as a percentage of household income, is a powerful way to gauge the impact of energy costs on Vermonters. Energy costs are a significant burden on many Vermont households, competing with other priorities such as housing, healthcare, and food. Energy burden data can inform state energy programs to ensure households with high energy burdens have access to programs that can reduce energy costs and burden.  Read Efficiency Vermont Director Rebecca Foster's blog post  on the importance of understanding energy burden .  
Electric Vehicle Ownership on the Rise in Vermont
In general, EV ownership in Vermont is on the rise. Just over 1,000 electric vehicles were registered in Vermont in October 2015. As of July,   The Vermont Department of Motor Vehicles  has over 3,200 EVs registered in state. Chittenden and Washington County have the highest EV ownership, with 78 and 70 EVs per 10,000 people, respectively. Addison County ownership is at 52 EVs per 10,000 people.
 
Quality of Place
Implementing ECOS Strategy 2
Downtown Transportation Fund Grants Due March 9
The Downtown Transportation Fund (DTF) is a financing tool which assists municipalities in paying for transportation-related capital improvements within or serving a Designated DowntownThis year the DTF has an additional $179,000 in funding from the Agency of Natural Resources, Clean Water Initiative. DTF projects may apply for up to $100,000 of "add on" clean water funding for eligible storm water implementation projects. Learn More »
Front Porch Forum Launches Mobile App
Front Porch Forum is a free community-building service in Vermont and parts of New York. Choose your option for reading your neighborhood forum: email, web, or their new mobile app. Download the FPF mobile app from the Apple® and Google Play® app stores. Learn More »
 
Emergency Management
Implementing ECOS Strategy 2
Emergency Preparedness Increases
Vermonters between the ages of 18 and 35 have a higher level of emergency preparedness than previous generations as a result of technology, according to a recent study that surveyed young adults in New England. The study advocates for further research into implementing the use of technology for emergency preparedness education. Learn More »
 
Social Community
Implementing ECOS Strategy 2
The Burlington Community Justice Center (CJC), which is a part of the Community and Economic Development Office, recently launched its new website.  Learn More »
 
If you have any questions, feedback, or suggested content for upcoming issues, please contact Emma Vaughn, Communications Manager: [email protected] or (802) 846-4490 x *21.