Housing affordability is a major issue in the Mad River Valley, and the Town of Warren has been working with Smart Growth Vermont since early 2008 to identify and implement strategies for making housing more affordable. “We don’t want our kids to be priced out of Warren, so we’re doing everything we can to reduce the cost of housing,” said Warren Zoning Administrator Miron Malboeuf.

With help from Smart Growth Vermont, Warren recently secured village center designation from the Vermont Downtown Program for the civic and commercial heart of Warren Village. Thanks to this designation, owners of income producing properties in the village are now eligible to apply for state historic tax credits to help make improvements to their buildings. Village center designation also sets the stage for the construction of well-designed, moderately priced new homes in Warren.

Communities with designated village centers are eligible to apply to the Vermont Neighborhoods program, a separate state initiative that offers financial and regulatory incentives for the construction of compact new residential neighborhoods. Smart Growth Vermont will assist with Warren's application to the Vermont Neighborhoods Program later this year.

These designations are just part of a broad-based approach to affordability that includes streamlined permitting processes, smaller minimum lot sizes in the village, and provisions for compact, mixed use development projects.

For the Price of A Cup of Coffee A Day...

You can now become a sustaining member of Smart Growth Vermont. Many of us spend at least $2 a week on coffee. Why not consider pledging $5 or more each month to Smart Growth Vermont and see your dollars at work in Vermont communities? The first 50 people who pledge $5 or more a month will receive a recycled Smart Growth Vermont mug! Go to the Donate online page now.

Smart Growth Vermont Presents to West Brattleboro Association

On April 30, Smart Growth Vermont's Executive Director, Noelle MacKay, lead a discussion in West Brattleboro on the benefits of careful stewardship of a community’s character, resources and growth as it relates to the West Brattleboro Association’s Master Plan.

One of the primary goals of the evening was to discuss how West Brattleboro’s Master Plan can be implemented in ways that maintain the area’s village atmosphere while creating a self-sustaining town that is economically vital and pedestrian friendly.

For more information about the trainings or resources that Smart Growth Vermont can provide, visit the How We Can Help section of our website.

Volunteer Spotlight: Chris Robbins

Chris Robbins has dedicated several years to Smart Growth Vermont as a volunteer, documenting and illustrating the relationship between density and design in traditional Vermont neighborhoods. Over time, this ambitious project has expanded to four communities of varying sizes: Bristol, Vergennes, Orwell, and Burlington. Chris is now developing a major new section of our website that will explain how good design and compact layout make Vermont's traditional neighborhoods such great places to live.

Chris feels the initiative will help community members and planning officials make well informed decisions about future land use and development. Her previous experiences in relevant writing, photography, interpreting maps and records from towns have proven to be handy tools for this project.

While living in Northfield, Minnesota, Chris worked for the Cannon River Watershed Partnership as a river advocate, where she organized conferences on what can be done to improve water quality. She also served as a volunteer on the town’s planning commission to plan for compatible growth in a historically and culturally rich community.

For the past five years, Chris has lived in Middlebury with her husband. Thank you, Chris, for your work showcasing what is great about Vermont's communities!

There is still time to participate in this week's Way to Go! Commuter Challenge. Join Smart Growth Vermont and other fellow Vermonters in our commitment to using alternative methods of transportation for daily commutes. Visit Way To Go VT! to find out more about the week's activities and other businesses and organizations participating in this year's challenge.

Join us on June 3rd from 10 a.m.-3:30 p.m. at the Capitol Plaza Hotel & Conference Center in Montpelier to envision and transform Vermont's system for transporting the public. A diverse group of stakeholders have joined forces to identify common values and principles to guide the ongoing development of Vermont’s system for transporting the public; generate a list of action items to improve our system of transporting the public; and identify opportunities for continued work among interested groups to advance state, federal, and local policy. Learn more.

Also, check out Upcoming Events on our website! You'll find information about conferences, lectures and presentations on a wide variety of topics.

Smart Growth in Action: Employee Incentives for Alternative Transportation

Bicycle commuter in Burlington.

Businesses throughout the state are establishing employee incentive programs to promote clever methods of transportation for getting to work. National Life Group, CATMA, Merchants Bank, and CCTA are just a handful of businesses that have seen an increase in employee awareness about the benefits of alternative transportation and an interest in alleviating their environmental impact.

One of the two largest companies in Montpelier, National Life Group, has been a visionary model for promoting employee incentives for using alternative methods of transportation. Created in 2007, the program requires employees to fill out a scorecard tracking the number of times each month they walk, bike, carpool, or use public transportation. If employees meet the program’s goals, they are eligible for bike-tune ups, gas cards, and gift certificates specific to the method they choose. Since its inception, the program has reduced over 90,000 average miles driven per month and has over 120 active participants in the smart commuting program.

In efforts to internally promote thoughtful environmental choices, Merchants Bank created a “Green Team.” One of the long-term project goals established by this committee was to develop a commuter incentive program. The result is the Smart Commute Program which uses an employee benefits scorecard, much like the National Life Group model. The program was launched Monday, May 4th, and the company is looking forward to its success.

The Chittenden County Transportation Authority (CCTA) has created the Smart Business program, which allows employers to offer multifaceted commuting benefits to employees by fully or partially purchasing monthly bus vouchers. Local businesses that are already using the program include Healthy Living in South Burlington and Vermont Housing Finance Agency.

The Campus Area Transportation Management Association (CATMA) is a non-profit organization that primarily serves the American Red Cross, Champlain College, Fletcher Allen Health Care and the University of Vermont. CATMA provides many alternative commuter programs to its member
institutions including a Bike-Walk Reward program, Unlimited Access (faculty, staff and students ride CCTA systemwide for free), transit/
bus discounts/subsidies, Confidential Carpool Matching Service,
Emergency Ride Home, monthly drawings to local restaurants, and partnership with Car Share Vermont. These programs have proven success in reducing single occupant vehicles coming into Burlington.

Many other businesses and organizations throughout the state have implemented similar programs to encourage using alternative modes of transportation. If you know of one, take time to thank them for their efforts to reduce carbon emissions.

Community Spotlight: Montpelier

2008 SculptCycle purchased by Montpelier Downtown Community Association as permanent art for Montpelier

The Capital city has long been a model for other statewide communities in developing and implementing innovative, collaborative programs focused on effective downtown development. This month, the community will be celebrating their own annual Way to Go! week through the dedication of individuals and local business employees to use alternative methods of transportation.

A prominent bike culture has blossomed in the past few years in Montpelier and is visible through public art, community initiatives, and annual festivities. One way in which community members have expressed their commitment to creative transportation is the annual Sculptcycle public art initiative. From June to October, visitors and community members can appreciate the one of a kind sculptures crafted from local, recycled bicycle materials throughout the downtown area. Through Sculptcycle, artists and partners aim to promote the economic health of the downtown district by attracting area residents and tourists to the community through the celebration of art.

Other community programs throughout Montpelier, such as FreeRide Montpelier and Montpelier Bike have been formed to provide education, information, workshops for maintaining and crafting bicycles to all and improving conditions for bicyclists in the downtown area. With the help of these community initiatives, Montpelier aspires to become one of the most bicycle-friendly capital cities in the U.S.

Green Mountain Transit Authority’s (GMTA) LINK Express has been an excellent way for commuters to go to and from the Montpelier and Burlington area. Created in 2003, GMTA is a private not-for-profit agency in partnership with the Vermont Agency of Transportation (VTrans) that provides diverse transportation services such as Medicaid transportation, a rideshare program, and shopping shuttles. Additionally, the LINK Express uses an efficient blend of biodiesel in efforts to reduce public transportation service’s impact on the environment.

The City of Montpelier is also developing projects to promote the safety of pedestrians and bicyclists. Organizations are working with VTRANS to establish official bike lanes during the repavement process of Route 2. The city has also spent many years with the towns of Berlin and Barre to solidify the creation of a central Vermont regional bike path to connect all three towns. Community members are actively working on projects for curb extension to make pedestrian crossing safer. An increase in bicycle-minded policies and initiatives are anticipated in the coming years due to an increase in community awareness of bicycles as a primary method of transportation.

The City of Montpelier is on the right track to creating a more walkable, bikeable and public transportation friendly place to live. Way to go!

Congratulations UVM Transportation Center

While Smart Growth Vermont was not one of the four organizations that received a $200,000 grant from the recent Green Mountain Coffee Roasters Climate Change grant round, our partner in our research and implementation initiative, the UVM Transportation Research Center, was. Their proposal, submitted in partnership with the New England Transportation Institute, was awarded to conduct an in-depth analysis of transportation patterns in the rural Northeast to help inform policy-makers on the likely adoption and ultimate effect of different transportation strategies on greenhouse gas emissions levels.

We expect their work will be very beneficial to Smart Growth Vermont as we move forward with our research and implementation project to demonstrate the link between land use, transportation, climate change and energy efficiency. Thanks again to all our supporters who voted for our project and made great comments. We look forward to securing the funding to get our initiative started.

Thank You, Congressman Welch!

Congressman Peter Welch (D-VT) recently signed on to a letter circulated by Congresswoman Schwartz (D-PA) in support of increasing funding for EPA's Smart Growth Office from $3 million to $6 million annually. This was an important and courageous step in these tough budgetary times. A big “thank you” to our Congressman for his ongoing support for smart growth!

Amtrak Ridership Remains Strong, Despite Economy

Ridership and revenue on Vermont’s Amtrak service is higher than the annual projection, saving the state a significant amount of money. In recent months, the Ethan Allen saw a 14 percent increase in ridership and the Vermonter increased by 27 percent.

Amtrak and the Vermont Department of Tourism and Marketing have also announced the “Downtowns by Rail” program. Amtrak Vermonter passengers are now eligible to receive discounted ticket prices for the rest of 2009 when traveling between any two on-route Vermont communities. Nine of the 22 “Designated Downtown” communities are located along the railway and will be offering special lodging and accommodation packages for passengers to showcase Vermont’s charming historical towns. For more information, visit Downtown Vermont by Rail.

The Road Ahead: AARP Survey on Transportation in Vermont

In December the AARP conducted a study of Vermont residents focusing on transportation issues and perceived opinions on their current practices. They found that most Vermonters rely on cars and that, although overall Vermonters get out of their house daily, the unemployed, elderly, and low-income individuals feel they have less access to necessary transportation. Notably, nearly all residents stated they relied on personal vehicles as their primary mode of transportation. With these issues clearly defined, the organization will be establishing necessary policy principles expected in June. The Snelling Center for Government, the Northeast Kingdom Area Agency on Aging, the UVM Transportation Research Center, and the Vermont Center for Independent Living are some of the groups working with AARP to promote driving alternatives. Read the full report.

Research Finds City Sidewalks Key Exercise Equipment For Residents

Researchers at San Diego State University found in a recent study that individuals residing in city neighborhoods with access to sidewalks are twice as likely to get adequate levels of exercise than those who don’t live in such neighborhoods.

The study included international neighborhoods from 11 countries, including the United States, Lithuania, Brazil, Sweden and Japan. Even across cultures, those living in urban locations more often get a significant amount of exercise by walking to stores or transportation stops, have access to low-cost recreation opportunities or ride bicycles to nearby destinations. Results of the study will be published in the June issue of the American Journal of Preventive Medicine. To check on the walkability of your neighborhood, visit Walk Score.

League of American Bicyclists Names 2009 Spring Bicycle Friendly Communities and States

The League of American Bicyclists has announced May as National Bike month! In celebration they have recognized 13 new Bicycle Friendly Communities and three communities received higher standards. Cities, states and communities can receive platinum, gold, silver, and bronze based on a 75-item questionnaire about a region’s commitment to bicyclists across six key areas: legislation, policies and programs, infrastructure, education and encouragement, evaluation and planning, and enforcement. Boulder, Colorado joins Davis, California and Portland, Oregon in the premier recognition of a Platinum Bicycle Friendly Community. Discover your community’s status and other cities around the country.

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E-News May 2009

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Community Update: Warren