REGIONAL NOTES
September 2019
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CCRPC Calendar of Events

All events held at the CCRPC unless otherwise noted. 


OCTOBER

10/1, 9:00am: Transportation Advisory Committee Meeting

10/1, 11:00am: Clean Water Advisory Committee Meeting

10/1, 12:00pm: [CANCELED]
Clean Water Advisory Committee MS-4 Sub-Committee Meeting

10/2, 5:45pm: CCRPC Executive Committee Meeting

10/8, 9:00am: Local Emergency Planning Committee Meeting (LEPC-1)

10/16, 5:15-6:00pm: CCRPC Board Training

10/16, 6:00pm: CCRPC Board Meeting

 

We Green Up in the Spring. We Button Up in the Fall!

Most Vermonters can now get 50% off weatherization projects (up to $4,000). This fall, you can attend a workshop to learn how weatherization can slash your heating and cooling bills, boost your comfort, and keep you healthy. Or drop by a house tour to see how other Vermonters are upgrading their homes.

 

2019 Chittenden County Traffic Alert Program

Sign up for the weekly Traffic Alert email -- your source for all roadway and construction work in Chittenden County during the 2019 season.

 

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: Vacant

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

Peter Keating, Senior Transportation Planner

Regina Mahony, AICP, Planning Program Manager

Melanie Needle, Senior Planner

Emily Nosse-Leirer, Senior Planner

Sai Sarepalli, PE, Transportation Planning Engineer

Emma Vaughn, Communications Manager

For bios and contact information,  click here.
 
Good afternoon,
 
With the start of another school year, Way to Go! to School has kicked off again as an incentive-based program that encourages everyone to make smart travel choices to school (i.e., walk, bike, carpool and take the bus). Last school year, 75 schools and more than 28,000 faculty, staff and students in Vermont participated in the 2018/19 Way to Go! School Challenge. Schools are battling the growing carbon pollution problem by demonstrating how active/sustainable transportation habits add up to hundreds of thousands of pounds of greenhouse gas emission savings. CCRPC is pleased to sponsor this program along with VTrans to meet our shared transportation and energy goals. To learn more about the program, sign up for this school year and share details with your school or community, visit waytogovt.org.

Best regards,

Charlie Baker
Executive Director, CCRPC
 
Transportation
Implementing ECOS Strategy 2
Winooski East Allen Street Gateway Scoping Study Public Meeting #3: October 7, 6:00pm, Winooski City Hall
A presentation about the study will be given during the City Council meeting and will focus on the Project Advisory Committee's recommended alternatives. A motion for the City Council's consideration to endorse the recommended alternatives will be sought Learn More »
Jeff Speck Speaking Events & Book Signing: October 16 & 17
Local Motion, in partnership with the Chittenden County Regional Planning Commission, AARP, UVM, and the Burlington Business Association, will host an event series on October 16-17th featuring Jeff Speck, an internationally recognized city planner, and author. Speck has devoted his 30-plus year career to designing and advocating for more bike and pedestrian-friendly places Learn More »
2019 Northeast Transportation Safety Conference: October 28 & 29
This conference, held this year in Burlington, brings together engineering, education, and highway safety specialists from across the northeast to focus on a common goal: The reduction of fatalities and injuries on our roadways.  Learn More & Register Now »
Transportation Alternatives Program Grant Solicitation for SFY 2020: Applications Due November 22
VTrans is pleased to announce they are now accepting grant applications for the SFY 2020 Transportation Alternatives Program. This year, Transportation Alternatives Program funding (roughly $2.2 million) is available for all eligible activities as described in the Vermont Transportation Alternatives Fall 2019 Application Guide per the link below.  Applications are due by Friday, November 22, 2019.   Learn More »  
Have You Downloaded the TRANSIT App Yet?
Figuring out when to catch your next bus has never been easier! GMT has signed up with Transit, a real-time urban travel companion. Transit will help you navigate GMT's bus system with accurate real-time predictions, simple trip planning, step-by-step navigation, service disruption notifications, and departure and stop reminders.  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 » 
Sustainable Transportation Vermont Blog Post
CCRPC Transportation Planner Marshall Distel contributed a post to the Sustainable Transportation Vermont blog about how job growth and housing scarcity have added up to a lot more driving for Chittenden County workers. Learn More » 
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
Vermont Tech Jam: October 17
Vermont's fastest-growing and most innovative companies gather under one roof at this career and tech expo. Get career tips and meet dozens of local companies in software development, energy efficiency, robotics and advanced manufacturing.  Learn More »
Women Can Do 2019 Conference: October 17
Women Can Do is Vermont's largest one-day career immersion experience for high school girls and gender non-conforming youth. It features dozens of hands-on workshops and action stations highlighting careers in the skilled trades and STEM (science, technology, engineering, and math) fields. 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
Vermont Climate Strike: Sept. 20-28
The September climate strikes and week of action in Vermont are being organized by a statewide coalition, including organizations and students from a number of schools from around the state.  
REV2019 Conference: Empowering Energy Transformation: October 10 & 11
For more than a decade, the Renewable Energy Vermont Conference has been the leading event for the renewable energy sectors in Northern New England. This annual forum brings together business leaders, system operators, architects, builders, manufacturers, engineers, scientists, policy makers, and regulators. Registration will open soon.  
Natural Shoreland Erosion Control Certification  Training: November 5 & 6
This Certification Course covers shoreland Best Management Practices, including techniques for erosion control, stormwater management, bioengineering and wildlife habitat protection.  
39th National Symposium of the North American Lake Management Society: November 11-15
Vermont is home to more than 800 stunning lakes and ponds, including Lake Champlain, an aquatic gem we are fortunate to share with New York and Quebec. There is no better place to celebrate the partnership between local knowledge and scientific innovation than this lake that unites three borders.  
 
Emergency Preparedness
Implementing ECOS Strategy 2
September is National Preparedness Month
National Preparedness Month is recognized each September to promote family and community disaster and emergency planning now and throughout the year. Browse a number of personal, family, school, community and business preparedness resources here.
 
Quality of Place
Implementing ECOS Strategy 2
2020 Municipal Planning Grants: Applications Due October 1
For state fiscal year 2020, the Vermont Department of Housing and Community Development will grant approximately $450,000 to municipalities to promote planning, revitalization, and development activities that maintain Vermont's land use goal of compact settlements separated by rural lands. Learn More »
VLCT Town Fair in Killington: Oct 2 & 3
The Vermont League of Cities and Towns' annual trade show and conference is your chance to learn from and connect with your municipal colleagues who experience many of the same challenges and rewards that you do. Because many local officials serve multiple roles and have a variety of responsibilities, Town Fair 2019's 25 training sessions have been structured to address topics that municipal officials have specifically said are important to them.  Learn More »
AARP Vermont Community Action Grants for BTV Community Projects: Applications Due October 4
As a way to encourage and support grassroots action to make Burlington more livable for all ages, AARP Vermont is once again offering Community Action Grants to provide modest funding and technical support to community groups or individuals. Learn More »
Upcoming Act 171 Webinars: October 2 and 22
Since 2018, Vermont's Act 171 requires that municipalities and regions identify areas that are important as "forest blocks" and "habitat connectors" and plan for development in those areas to minimize forest fragmentation. As town and regional plans come up for revision, many communities are now attempting to create the required maps and write appropriate language. This webinar will provide background, tools, and samples for this implementation process . A link will be available soon. In the meantime, contact  [email protected] with any questions.
State Government Municipal Days: October 23-November 7 (Various Locations)
Join the Agency of Natural Resources for workshops, technical assistance and networking opportunities in five locations throughout the state. New this year, flexible registration is offered at several locations so those who aren't able to attend for a full day still have an opportunity to participate. Learn More »
Working Communities Challenge Offers Funding for Community Projects; Letter of Intent Due November 1
The Federal Reserve Bank of Boston and its Vermont partners are now accepting applications for the Working Communities Challenge, a grant competition designed to support cross-sector teams working collaboratively to build strong, healthy economies and communities in Vermont . A letter of intent is due November 1, and applications are due December 13.  Learn More »
VTCulverts Instructional Videos Now Available
A group of short videos were created to serve as training modules and maximize the benefits of the VTCulverts website. The Modules are available from the VTCulverts website allowing users to be refreshed on basic information anytime. VTCulverts is provided by VTrans and the Vermont Regional Planning Commissions and is your source for Vermont town-maintained bridge and culvert inventories. The intent of the VTCulverts tool is to store town-maintained culvert and bridge inventories completed by the Regional Planning Commissions on behalf of towns. It is our hope that the videos will increase the use of the website by municipalities for capital planning, grant applications and maintenance activities.  Learn More & Watch the Videos »
Building Homes Together Housing Campaign: Homes being built, but affordability lags
The Building Homes Together campaign to encourage housing production in Chittenden County is keeping apace of its overall production goals, but the gap between housing costs and wages is growing, housing leaders announced earlier this month. There were 620 homes developed and ready for occupancy in 2018. Over the first three years of the campaign an average of 758 homes were built each year ahead of the pace needed to meet the campaign's goal of 3,500 homes over five years.  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.