TABLE OF CONTENTS Executive Summary .................................................................................................................................................. ES-1 Introduction ........................................................................................................................................................ ES-1 Vermont’s Existing Transit System ................................................................................................................. ES-1 Critical Themes and Challenges ....................................................................................................................... ES-1 Needs Assessment ............................................................................................................................................. ES-2 Policy Plan Recommendations ......................................................................................................................... ES-3 1. Introduction ............................................................................................................................................................... 1 Role of the PTPP ...................................................................................................................................................... 1 Current State Policy .................................................................................................................................................. 1 Role of the Human Service Transportation Coordination Plan ........................................................................ 2 Summary of Outreach Process ............................................................................................................................... 3 2. The State of Public Transit in Vermont ................................................................................................................ 4 Overview of the Transit Network .......................................................................................................................... 4 Ridership and Cost Trends ...................................................................................................................................... 8 Vermont’s E&D Transportation Program .......................................................................................................... 10 Rail and Ferry Transportation ............................................................................................................................... 12 Go Vermont ............................................................................................................................................................ 12 Transit Program ...................................................................................................................................................... 13 Prior Studies ............................................................................................................................................................. 19 Best Practices ........................................................................................................................................................... 20 3. Critical Themes and Challenges ............................................................................................................................ 26 Aging Population .................................................................................................................................................... 26 Economic Trends and Opportunities .................................................................................................................. 30 Technology and Information ................................................................................................................................ 34 Public Awareness .................................................................................................................................................... 38 Land Use and Housing Location .......................................................................................................................... 43 4. Needs Assessment .................................................................................................................................................. 52 Methodology ............................................................................................................................................................ 52 Data Gathering and Outreach .............................................................................................................................. 54 Common Themes from Regional Analysis ......................................................................................................... 63 Resources to Meet Needs ...................................................................................................................................... 64 Future Scenarios and Ridership ............................................................................................................................ 65 5. Policy Plan Recommendations .............................................................................................................................. 68 Updates to State Policy .......................................................................................................................................... 68 Performance Measurement Enhancement .......................................................................................................... 72 Criteria for Feasibility of New Services ............................................................................................................... 74 Recommended Initiatives ...................................................................................................................................... 76 6. Implementation Plan .............................................................................................................................................. 92 Immediate Term (First Year) ................................................................................................................................ 92 Short Term (Year 2 through 4) ............................................................................................................................. 94 Long Term (Year 5 through 10) ........................................................................................................................... 96 Summary Tables: Implementation Plan and HSTCP Projects ......................................................................... 97 i LIST OF FIGURES Figure 1: Vermont’s Public Transportation Routes and Demand Response Service Areas ................................. 5 Figure 2: Statewide Ridership 2014–2018 .................................................................................................................... 8 Figure 3: Statewide Total Costs 2014–2018 ................................................................................................................. 8 Figure 4: Statewide Cost per Trip 2014–2018 ............................................................................................................. 9 Figure 5: Transit Ridership by Service Category in SFY 2018 .................................................................................. 9 Figure 6: Operating Costs by Service Category in SFY 2018 .................................................................................. 10 Figure 7: E&D Trips by Mode in SFY 2018 ............................................................................................................. 11 Figure 8: E&D Trips by Mode in SFY 2018 ............................................................................................................. 11 Figure 9: Number of individuals by age category in 2000, 2010, and 2017, in Vermont. ................................... 26 Figure 10: Percent of population by age group by county in Vermont in 2017 ................................................... 27 Figure 11: Change in Jobs by County 2007– 2017 ................................................................................................... 31 Figure 12: Change in Vermont Jobs by Sector 2007– 2017 .................................................................................... 33 Figure 13: Vermont Urban Area and Clusters (2010) .............................................................................................. 47 Figure 14: Desired Improvements to Transit ............................................................................................................ 58 Figure 15: Desired Improvements to Transit Breakdown by Mode Choice ........................................................ 59 Figure 16: Desired Transit Improvements Urban-Rural Breakdown .................................................................... 60 Figure 17: Statewide Policy Preferences ..................................................................................................................... 69 Figure 18: Chittenden County vs. Rest of Vermont Policy Preferences ............................................................... 70 LIST OF TABLES Table 1: Fiscal Year 2019 Federal and State Funding by Category and Source .................................................. 15 Table 2: Population and density in comparison states. ..........................................................................................