State Government

Scott urges Legislature budget $150 million for matching funds for critical roads, bridges, water projects

“Crumbling infrastructure will not heal itself”

VT Agency of Transportation photo of Brattleboro bridge construction

Governor Phil Scott, Secretaries Julie Moore and Joe Flynn, and community leaders February 23 highlighted the importance of securing the $150 million dollars in federal match funding, proposed in the Governor’s fiscal year 2024 budget request, to support critical infrastructure projects for communities across the state.

“In order to get the highest return for Vermont and take full advantage of recently passed federal programs, it’s critical that we ensure we have the state matching funds required,” said Governor Scott. “Our economists predict the significant revenue windfalls that resulted from federal pandemic aid to start tapering off, so it’s imperative we reserve this funding now, guaranteeing we have access to critical funds that will support hundreds of communities and benefit hundreds of thousands of Vermonters.”

Katie Buckley from the Vermont League of Cities and Towns and Rutland Mayor Davis Allaire joined the Governor to voice their support for ensuring Vermont sets aside the funding needed to take full advantage of federal opportunities.

“Crumbling infrastructure will not heal itself. New infrastructure to meet our housing crisis and climate initiatives and make us safer and more resilient will not just magically appear. All of it is necessary,” said Katie Buckley of the Vermont League of Cities and Towns. “If we do it now, Vermonters win. If we do it later, Vermonters lose. We will put this work off and onto the backs of our taxpayers, with a growing price tag, and we push Vermont into a deeper crisis of affordability. Our towns, cities and villages are waiting for the State to do deliver the federal dollars so they can do their part to make transformational changes in their communities. We are grateful to the Governor and his Administration for working so hard bring these dollars forward to ensure this happens.”

“Good government is also about anticipating needs and being proactive, and having a degree of certainty helps people plan,” said David Allaire, mayor of Rutland. “That’s why I think it makes all kinds of sense for the State to set money aside now – while we have it in surpluses – to ensure we can take full advantage of federal funds in the years to come – when we don’t know if state coffers will be as full.”

During the Agency of Transportation’s budgetary process, an analysis determined the Agency would need an additional $79 million from fiscal year 2024 through 2026 to make full use of eligible opportunities for the State to secure federal funding through the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law. With this $79 million investment, the State could secure a minimum of $341.5 million in federal aid for eligible planned transportation infrastructure projects.

“The Governor’s recommended budget presents a use of one-time General Funds surplus to make vital transportation infrastructure investments possible,” said Transportation Secretary Joe Flynn. “On top of all the benefits of securing this funding while we have the one-time money available, it would allow us to lock in projects now, which has tremendous value. Given the reality of the inflationary factor in the construction sector, any project delayed now would almost certainly cost more later, so acting now is critical.”

Investing this money now ensures the state can secure at least four federal dollars for every one State dollar, and can help prevent future project delays, which would have a cascading effect. For example, according to the Agency of Transportation, delaying a FY 24 project to FY 25 would require additional FY 25 projects to be delayed, creating more delays in FY 26, all of which could result in an estimated potential project impact of up to $655.5 million.

This match funding will support 223 projects, including 74 paving projects, 46 roadway projects, 16 bicycle and pedestrian projects, 10 rest area projects, 10 interstate bridge projects, 40 state highway bridge projects, 17 town highway bridge projects, 1 rail project, 1 aviation project, and 10 public transit projects. If the funding is not secured this year, these projects could have scheduling impacts and delays, and the State will face difficult decisions in the future to secure funding.

For water projects, Vermont is eligible to receive an infusion of nearly $320 million in State revolving loan funds as part of the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law. The State Revolving Fund program is an Environmental Protection Agency partnership that provides communities grants and low-cost financing for a wide range of water quality infrastructure projects.

The State would need to provide $27 million in State match funds to receive its full allotment. 

“Water infrastructure is often the most valuable asset a community owns, and therefore requires significant, ongoing investments to properly maintain it,” said Natural Resources Secretary Julie Moore. “Based on Agency projections, there will be roughly $2 billion of investment needed in water infrastructure– drinking water, wastewater, and stormwater – over the next 10 years in Vermont. In order to access these federal funds, Vermont needs to provide $27 million in State match, and the Governor’s FY24 recommended Budget creates a reserve that ensures Vermont will have what’s required.”

The funding will be used to support $155 million to refurbish existing drinking water and wastewater systems to ensure this core infrastructure continues to support vibrant communities; nearly $150 million over the next five years to support lead service line replacement projects across Vermont which will improve drinking water quality; and more than $42 million to address emerging contaminants, like PFAS, by improving drinking water and wastewater treatment.

A list of AOT projects by county can be found by clicking here or in the table below. A list of ANR projects can be found by clicking here. You can watch the press conference by clicking here.

CountyProgramProject NameProject NumberRouteBrief Project Description
Addison CountyPavingADDISONSTP FPAV(75)VT-17Resurface VT17
MIDDLEBURY-HANCOCKSTP FPAV(84)VT-125Resurface VT125
ORWELL-ADDISONSTP PS25(2)VT-22AResurface VT22A
Roadway ProjectsADDISONSTP 0172(10)VT-125VT125 Slope Remediation
CORNWALLSTP 0172(8)VT-125Slope/Roadway Stabilization
MIDDLEBURYSTP 021-1(37)VT-116Scope BR 3 on VT116
ORWELLSTP 017-1(18)VT-22AReconstruct Shoulders, Widen
State Highway BridgesFERRISBURGHBF 019-4(35)US-7Replace BR 139 on US7
GRANVILLEBM20407VT-100Rehab BR 159
VERGENNESBF 017-1(19)VT-22AReplace BR 27 on VT22A
Bike & Pedestrian FacilitiesMIDDLEBURYSTP BP15(8)Exchange StreetConstruct Sidewalk
MIDDLEBURYSTP BP13(11)RT. 73Construct Sidewalk & Curbing
VERGENNESST BP23(9)Triangle Bike LoopWay-Finding Signs
Bennington CountyPavingBENNINGTONSTP PS25(10)VT-67AResurface VT67A
SHAFTSBURY-BENNINGTONSTP PS25(9)VT-67Resurface VT67
State Highway BridgesDORSETBF 019-2(25)US-7Replace Deck, BR 52 on US7
READSBOROBF 0102(16)VT-100Replace BR 25 on VT100
SEARSBURGBF 010-1(50)VT-9Replace BR 20 on VT9
SHAFTSBURYSTP 014-1(6)VT-67Replace BR 1 on VT67
SUNDERLANDBM20102US-7Rehab BR 19-5
Town Highway BridgesBENNINGTONBF 1000(20)VT-9Replace BR 6 on VT9
Bike & Pedestrian FacilitiesBENNINGTONSTP BP15(2)Shared Use PathShared-Use Path
SUNDERLANDST BP23(8)Sunderland Hill RoadConstruct Bike/Ped Shoulder
Caledonia CountyPavingBURKE-BARTONSTP PS26(1)US-5Resurface US5
DANVILLE-ST. JOHNSBURYNH PS23(2)US-2Resurface US2
LYNDON-BURKESTP FPAV(62)US-5Resurface US5
RYEGATE-ST. JOHNSBURYSTP FPAV(65)US-5Resurface US5
ST. JOHNSBURYSTP PS23(3)US-2Resurface US2
Roadway ProjectsCABOT-DANVILLEFEGC F 028-3(26)C/3US-2Reconstruct US 2
GROTONSTP CULV(119)VT-232Replace Culvert on VT232
LYNDONSTP 0113(65)US-5Reconstruct US5
RYEGATEIM 091-2(83)I-91Ledge Work, I-91 NB
Bike & Pedestrian FacilitiesLYNDONVILLEST BP23(6)Elm St.Elm St. Sidewalk
Rest AreasLYNDONIM REST(20)I-91Replace Sidewalks
WATERFORDIM REST(21)I-93Replace Sidewalks
WATERFORDIM 093-1(14)I-93Resurface W. C. Parking Lot
Chittenden CountyPavingCOLCHESTER-ESSEXNH PS24(11)VT-15Resurface VT15
COLCHESTER-MILTONSTP PS26(4)US-7Resurface US7
ESSEX-FAIRFAXSTP FPAV(85)VT-128Resurface VT128
HINESBURG-SOUTH BURLINGTONSTP PS25(8)VT-116Resurface VT116
ST. GEORGE-WILLISTONSTP PS26(7)VT-2AResurface VT2A
Roadway ProjectsBURLINGTONBREP(3)RAILYARD ENTERPRISEMultimodal Infrastructure
COLCHESTERSTP 5600(20)Prim Road/West Lakeshore DriveImprove Prim Rd/W. Lakeshore
ESSEXNH SWFR(4)VT-289Stormwater Retrofit
RICHMONDSTP CULV(58)US-2Rehab Culvert on US2
SOUTH BURLINGTONIM SWFR(3)US-7Stormwater Retrofit
WILLISTONSTP 5500(20)US-2Slab Removal
WILLISTONNH CULV(110)VT-2ARehab/Replace VT2A Culvert
Interstate BridgesRICHMONDIM 089-2( )US-2Rehab BR 53N
RICHMONDIM 089-2( )Maj-0209Rehab BR 55S
State Highway BridgesBUEL’S GOREBF 0200(11)VT-17Scoping to Evaluate Alts.
Town Highway BridgesJERICHOBF 0209(10)Maj-0209Scoping For BR 15 on FAS 0209
Bike & Pedestrian FacilitiesBURLINGTONST BP23(3)Birchcliff Parkway Raised WalksRaised Walks
Essex CountyPavingBRIGHTON-NORTONSTP PS25(3)VT-147Resurface VT147
GUILDHALL-BLOOMFIELDSTP FPAV(83)VT-102Resurface VT102
NORTON-CANAANSTP FPAV(71)VT-253Resurface VT114
Roadway ProjectsCANAANSTP CULV(117)VT-114Replace Culvert on VT114
NORTONSTP CULV(118)VT-114Replace Culvert on VT114
State Highway BridgesBLOOMFIELDBF 0271(27)VT-102Scoping to Evaluate Alts.
LUNENBURGBF 028-4(34)US-2Scoping to Evaluate Alts.
NORTONBF 0321(21)VT-114Replace BR 41 on VT114
Franklin CountyPavingFAIRFAX-ST. ALBANSSTP FPAV(66)VT-104Resurface VT104
GEORGIA-FAIRFAXSTP PS26(6)VT-104AResurface VT104A
MONTGOMERY-WESTFIELDSTP PS24(8)VT-242Resurface VT242
SHELDON-ENOSBURGSTP FPAV(68)VT-105Resurface VT105
ST. ALBANS TOWN-SWANTONSTP PS25(7)VT-207Resurface US7
ST. ALBANS-SHELDON

Categories: State Government

5 replies »

  1. The demoprogs, just like their counterparts in DC are much more interested in spending public money on “social infrastructure”…
    Bridges and roads dont vote…people do.

  2. Governor Scott, with what and how are the all those roads and projects going to built and/or fixed? Fossil fuel based products and machinery? How dare you!

    • Ford Motor Company just stopped sales of the governor’s new F150 Lightening EV truck due to faulty batteries. Vermont makes another great investment. They bought another dud to show how great the electric vehicles are and while traveling Vermont in this new wonder of wonders, was abandoned out of juice and unable to get the Gov to his next appointment. Seems the state leadership needs to do more research on everything. They have to learn the hard way while spending the taxpayer’s money on virtue signaling and being woke.

      • Any capitol investment is a grift and the results don’t lie – broadband, solar power, wind power, computer/software upgrades, Kingdom Con, etc. etc.

  3. “ Crumbling infrastructure will not heal itself..”
    LOL…. Stop supporting the corrupt cement industry in build with Vermont stone. They last forever.
    No, the Democrats would allot. Bought and sold.