UPWP Public Comments ~ 2007

UPWP Public Ideas, Comments, & Results ~ 2007

Num: Idea: Funding
Decision: Comments:
1 Intervale Road, Burlington - scope and get enhancement ready Yes - LM Technical Assist Offer Burlington access to locally managed funds to advance project
2 Develop innovative incentives to promote increased density. (keep young in Vt) In part CCRPC will be funded to look at land use issues as they relate to our futures initiative, this can include incentives.
3 Climate Change - generate transportation solutions, improve transit & mode choices, increase messaging to public regarding air quality, collaborate with other organizations on marketing, increase SR2S Yes Through a host of programs, inc. Environmental program, SR2S, TDM and sitting on Gov. Climate Change Commission
4 Find solution to bike ped difficulties at Exit 14 jug handle Not yet Working this year to identify and prioritize all "gaps" in bike ped system, then will advance most important.
5 Help to turn Colchester Avenue more into a multi modal corridor and less focused on traffic In process by others Corridor analysis recently complete within Burlington to address concern. Work on shuttle improvements in place.
6 Perform research on county wide transferable development rights In part Again, CCRPC may look at issue as part of futures initiative funding
7 Increase CCTA service for working people who have not other means to get to work. Not yet Through innovative finance initiative we must first find a way to pay for increased CCTA services. This will be the focus for this year.
8 Increase funding for TLC and SR2S In Part Propose to create addition to SR2S due to requests. TLC has not seen demand sufficient to warrant increase
9 Engage in School Restructuring process, by adding transportation focus to process Work with others Working with Champlain Initiative to work on connecting regional planning initiatives. Will raise issue there.
10 Develop releastic alternative to transportation funding Yes Innovative Finance initiative proposes to do this.
11 Encourage CCTA to reestablish bus stops that have been lost over the years Refer Will refer this item to CCTA for consideration
12 Focus on increased public transportation as a priority In part Will start with finance issues through innovative finance as mechanism to drive issue.
13 Build new transportation hub in Burlington Refer Burlington is currently considering new hub
14 Encourage CCTA to provide sensitivity training to drivers towards medical riders Refer Will refer this item to CCTA for consideration
15 Stabilize location of bus stop at Champlain Mill Refer Will refer this item to CCTA for consideration
16 Restore bus stops on Riverside Avenue Refer Will refer this item to CCTA for consideration
17 Develop a rideshare plan including outreach and lots In part A plan for the development of lots exists, scoping for one of these lots is included each year as well as smaller analysis for local muni lots. This year will look at exit 16
18 Monitor air pollution in county and by individuals in county. Manage info between counties In part Will begin 18 month process of building a new Tmodel that is day based so that we will be able to model impacts of air quality. Also training staff on running EPA approved air quality models.
19 Introduce air quality criteria similar to level of service criteria when evaluating projects and investments In part As with previous, building towards such actions. If fall out of attainment, will be required to do such analysis. Goal is to build capactiy to avoid falling out of attainment by having analysis tools and then applying them.
20 Identify and implement incentives to not use gas In part Through increased programming for TDM, creation of TMA in Burlington, and innovative finance initiative will begin down this path. However, have not specifically suggested incentives as yet.
21 Set county goals for CO2 reduction plan In part May become viable component of environmental program and modeling effort - will consider
22 Feasibility study for low / non gas cars to come on line in Vermont In part Considering funding for locally managed funding for a flex car proposal should institutions and or Burlington determine need and wish to further analyze.
23 Provide enhanced mapping of natural areas and buildout areas to inform the transfer of development rights plan In part Providing funding to CCRPC to update and upgrade mapping as necessary.
24 Develop process to look at towns options to gain greater flexibility in VTrans design standards In part Expect this to become a plank for action out of our innovative finance workshop in June of 2007 - if so, will then become a focus for that initiative in FY08
25 Add Colchester Schools to SR2S program In part Creating SR2S "lite" program to work with schools that are not formally in the states program.
26 Improve Pine Street Sidewalks in Burlington to support SR2S Refer Will refer to Burlington both for consideration in their capital planning and for possible application to the state SR2S infrastructure program that will soon be announced.
27 Include Edmunds in SR2S program In part Creating SR2S "lite" program to work with schools that are not formally in the states program.
28 Include Orchard School in SR2S program In part Creating SR2S "lite" program to work with schools that are not formally in the states program.
29 Evaluate merging of School Bus system with CCTA service Not yet We've not heard of a serious dialogue of a community with CCTA for such a merger. If emerges, MPO would likely assist in consideration.
30 Provide training and service to towns with dirt roads to understand how best to maintain them Yes Local communities seek a forum where Road Foreman can engage with each other, Local Roads and the MPO. The Forum will be created and staffed by the MPO.
31 Develop Carbon footprint of each town, then create contest to improve In part Developing environmental program and goals - will consider as part of the development of that program.
32 Fund "Close the Gaps" campaign for 5 years Yes Draft recommends developing a contract with Local Motion to assist each other in our bike ped efforts
33 Increase Core Town Programs (Technical Assistance and Scoping) As needed We've budgeted funds necessary to meet the needs as we understand them from the communities.
34 Fund Sidewalk Construction to Assist Communities Not here The UPWP cannot fund sidewalk construction. We have a line item in our TIP to provide some funds for this purpose.
35 Increase funding for Park & Ride creation In part As noted previous, we propose to look at exit 16 this year as well as to support reviews of smaller muni lots. Additionally we will participate in the upgrade of the Richmond P & R and are working to see the Williston P & R built.
36 Develop data base for Petroleum related sites in region In part The RPC has the lead on brownfields issues. MPO is participating in their committee process and assisting them as needed.
37 Increase Public Involvement and Outreach Programs Yes Propose new method to fully perform function. Will dedicate internal staff time to effort to work with consultants. Will update public involvement plan, work with local papers to assure citizens know of plans and programs.
38 Assure that data collection is of a level necessary to adequately support the validity of our transportation model Yes Continue with 4 interns for data collection to support model. Have recently bought many new traffic counters to assure good use of data collection resources.
39 Continue efforts in strategic planning to assure organization is focused on important work of the region Yes New organizational structure and bylaw amendments are currently out to communities for review.
40 Continue work on aging in Vermont and other demographic issues that are arising to incporate these issues into our planning efforts Yes continued program as suggested
41 Increase efforts to find methods to increase available funding to support a broader public transportation system in the region Yes Innovative Finance initiative proposes to do this.
42 Support brownfields process by creating a GIS layer of old gas tanks In part The RPC has the lead on brownfields issues. MPO is participating in their committee process and assisting them as needed.
43 Increase rotation for updating signal optimization analysis Yes Though not in UPWP, in our Draft TIP and thus, in our Agency budget, we have suggested doubling funding to actually perform optimization analysis and to continue to increase this effort over time.
44 Continue to search for new methods to fund all transportation solutions in our region Yes Innovative Finance initiative proposes to do this.

Num:	Idea:	Funding Decision:	Comments:
1	Intervale Road, Burlington - scope and get enhancement ready	Yes - LM Technical Assist	Offer Burlington access to locally managed funds to advance project
2	Develop innovative incentives to promote increased density. (keep young in Vt)	In part	CCRPC will be funded to look at land use issues as they relate to our futures initiative, this can include incentives.
3	Climate Change - generate transportation solutions, improve transit & mode choices, increase messaging to public regarding air quality, collaborate with other organizations on marketing, increase SR2S	Yes	Through a host of programs, inc. Environmental program, SR2S, TDM and sitting on Gov. Climate Change Commission
4	Find solution to bike ped difficulties at Exit 14 jug handle	Not yet	Working this year to identify and prioritize all "gaps" in bike ped system, then will advance most important.
5	Help to turn Colchester Avenue more into a multi modal corridor and less focused on traffic	In process by others	Corridor analysis recently complete within Burlington to address concern. Work on shuttle improvements in place.
6	Perform research on county wide transferable development rights	In part	Again, CCRPC may look at issue as part of futures initiative funding
7	Increase CCTA service for working people who have not other means to get to work.	Not yet	Through innovative finance initiative we must first find a way to pay for increased CCTA services. This will be the focus for this year.
8	Increase funding for TLC and SR2S	In Part	Propose to create addition to SR2S due to requests. TLC has not seen demand sufficient to warrant increase
9	Engage in School Restructuring process, by adding transportation focus to process	Work with others	Working with Champlain Initiative to work on connecting regional planning initiatives. Will raise issue there.
10	Develop releastic alternative to transportation funding	Yes	Innovative Finance initiative proposes to do this.
11	Encourage CCTA to reestablish bus stops that have been lost over the years	Refer	Will refer this item to CCTA for consideration
12	Focus on increased public transportation as a priority	In part	Will start with finance issues through innovative finance as mechanism to drive issue.
13	Build new transportation hub in Burlington	Refer	Burlington is currently considering new hub
14	Encourage CCTA to provide sensitivity training to drivers towards medical riders	Refer	Will refer this item to CCTA for consideration
15	Stabilize location of bus stop at Champlain Mill	Refer	Will refer this item to CCTA for consideration
16	Restore bus stops on Riverside Avenue	Refer	Will refer this item to CCTA for consideration
17	Develop a rideshare plan including outreach and lots	In part	A plan for the development of lots exists, scoping for one of these lots is included each year as well as smaller analysis for local muni lots. This year will look at exit 16
18	Monitor air pollution in county and by individuals in county. Manage info between counties	In part	Will begin 18 month process of building a new Tmodel that is day based so that we will be able to model impacts of air quality. Also training staff on running EPA approved air quality models.
19	Introduce air quality criteria similar to level of service criteria when evaluating projects and investments	In part	As with previous, building towards such actions. If fall out of attainment, will be required to do such analysis. Goal is to build capactiy to avoid falling out of attainment by having analysis tools and then applying them.
20	Identify and implement incentives to not use gas	In part	Through increased programming for TDM, creation of TMA in Burlington, and innovative finance initiative will begin down this path. However, have not specifically suggested incentives as yet.
21	Set county goals for CO2 reduction plan	In part	May become viable component of environmental program and modeling effort - will consider
22	Feasibility study for low / non gas cars to come on line in Vermont	In part	Considering funding for locally managed funding for a flex car proposal should institutions and or Burlington determine need and wish to further analyze.
23	Provide enhanced mapping of natural areas and buildout areas to inform the transfer of development rights plan	In part	Providing funding to CCRPC to update and upgrade mapping as necessary.
24	Develop process to look at towns options to gain greater flexibility in VTrans design standards	In part	Expect this to become a plank for action out of our innovative finance workshop in June of 2007 - if so, will then become a focus for that initiative in FY08
25	Add Colchester Schools to SR2S program	In part	Creating SR2S "lite" program to work with schools that are not formally in the states program.
26	Improve Pine Street Sidewalks in Burlington to support SR2S	Refer	Will refer to Burlington both for consideration in their capital planning and for possible application to the state SR2S infrastructure program that will soon be announced.
27	Include Edmunds in SR2S program	In part	Creating SR2S "lite" program to work with schools that are not formally in the states program.
28	Include Orchard School in SR2S program	In part	Creating SR2S "lite" program to work with schools that are not formally in the states program.
29	Evaluate merging of School Bus system with CCTA service	Not yet	We've not heard of a serious dialogue of a community with CCTA for such a merger. If emerges, MPO would likely assist in consideration.
30	Provide training and service to towns with dirt roads to understand how best to maintain them	Yes	Local communities seek a forum where Road Foreman can engage with each other, Local Roads and the MPO. The Forum will be created and staffed by the MPO.
31	Develop Carbon footprint of each town, then create contest to improve	In part	Developing environmental program and goals - will consider as part of the development of that program.
32	Fund "Close the Gaps" campaign for 5 years	Yes	Draft recommends developing a contract with Local Motion to assist each other in our bike ped efforts
33	Increase Core Town Programs (Technical Assistance and Scoping)	As needed	We've budgeted funds necessary to meet the needs as we understand them from the communities.
34	Fund Sidewalk Construction to Assist Communities	Not here	The UPWP cannot fund sidewalk construction. We have a line item in our TIP to provide some funds for this purpose.
35	Increase funding for Park & Ride creation	In part	As noted previous, we propose to look at exit 16 this year as well as to support reviews of smaller muni lots. Additionally we will participate in the upgrade of the Richmond P & R and are working to see the Williston P & R built.
36	Develop data base for Petroleum related sites in region	In part	The RPC has the lead on brownfields issues. MPO is participating in their committee process and assisting them as needed.
37	Increase Public Involvement and Outreach Programs	Yes	Propose new method to fully perform function. Will dedicate internal staff time to effort to work with consultants. Will update public involvement plan, work with local papers to assure citizens know of plans and programs.
38	Assure that data collection is of a level necessary to adequately support the validity of our transportation model	Yes	Continue with 4 interns for data collection to support model. Have recently bought many new traffic counters to assure good use of data collection resources.
39	Continue efforts in strategic planning to assure organization is focused on important work of the region	Yes	New organizational structure and bylaw amendments are currently out to communities for review.
40	Continue work on aging in Vermont and other demographic issues that are arising to incporate these issues into our planning efforts	Yes	continued program as suggested
41	Increase efforts to find methods to increase available funding to support a broader public transportation system in the region	Yes	Innovative Finance initiative proposes to do this.
42	Support brownfields process by creating a GIS layer of old gas tanks	In part	The RPC has the lead on brownfields issues. MPO is participating in their committee process and assisting them as needed.
43	Increase rotation for updating signal optimization analysis	Yes	Though not in UPWP, in our Draft TIP and thus, in our Agency budget, we have suggested doubling funding to actually perform optimization analysis and to continue to increase this effort over time.
44	Continue to search for new methods to fund all transportation solutions in our region	Yes	Innovative Finance initiative proposes to do this.