The Vermont House passed a massive transportation spending package, advancing two pieces of legislation that together invest $866 million in Vermont’s bridges, roads and public transit and significantly expand electric vehicle incentives and infrastructure.
The bulk of the state’s transportation funding for next next will travel via H.736, the annual transportation bill, but the omnibus state appropriations bill — H.740, aka the Big Bill — also carries some key transportation funding. Both received initial approval from House lawmakers Thursday and a final OK Friday, and now head to the Senate.
Like the rest of the state budget, appropriations for transportation this year are significantly boosted by the federal government’s historic investment in the state. Vermont is receiving more than $2 billion from the infrastructure deal passed by Congress in November.
“The total budget investment this year is an incredible record-breaking amount,” House Transportation Committee chair Rep. Diane Lanpher, D-Vergennes, told her colleagues during a debrief on the House floor Wednesday, adding that this year’s transportation spending is more than $100 million over last year’s.
Over 40% of Vermont’s carbon emissions come from transportation, and the transportation packages are perhaps most notable for their significant investments in electrification. Lawmakers are investing $22 million to cut the cost of buying electric vehicles, as well as $19 million for electric charging infrastructure to make it more practical for Vermonters to get around in them.
A smaller line item — just $1.4 million — will maintain zero-fare transit in urban areas through next year. (Zero-fare transit in rural areas was already covered.)
“This is the most significant investment in clean transportation, far and away, that Vermont has ever made. That is an enormous deal. It cannot be overstated,” said Ben Edgerly Walsh, the Climate & Energy Program Director at VPIRG. “It’s not enough. But it’s a huge step in the right direction.”
Boosted by federal aid, the state is setting more ambitious goals for deploying charging stations along its highways. The bill would require stations within one mile of every interstate highway exit (closer than the state’s current goal of five miles). A little over $6 million is being set aside to install the stations along roadways.
Separately, $10 million is earmarked for grants to pay for charging stations at workplaces and multi-unit dwellings. And another $3 million would pay for stations at state parks and fishing access areas.
Incentives to consumers to buy electric vehicles would also get a $22 million influx. That includes $12 million for plug-in electric car incentives, $2 million for Drive Electric Vermont, $3 million for MileageSmart, $3 million for replace your ride incentives, $1 million for electric bikes and $1 million for electric snowmobiles and ATVs.
Federal cash is also amplifying traditional transportation spending. The paving budget would grow by a third to $158 million next year. State highway bridges would get $58 million, up 17%. Bike and pedestrian facilities will get close to $20 million, an increase of 18%.
