Notes on the Charlotte Community Transportation Forum

Feb. 19, 2008 

Background

An email discussion began circulating a few months ago, involving members of the Conservation and Planning commissions, Town Planner Dean Bloch,  and other interested people. A small meeting was held to consider the planning process, and it was determined that the first step would be to involve town citizens in an open discussion of their transportation needs and preferences.
 

With steeply rising fuel costs, concern for climate change, and road congestion, many communities are now looking at more sustainable transportation options. Our neighboring town of Hinesburg has begun an ambitious planning process, and they have contacted us to collaborate. In Burlington, a new nonprofit is forming to begin a car sharing project.
 

Regional planning groups (Vermont and Chittenden County) are looking at rural transportation issues. Representatives attended the forum and provided encouragement and valuable information.  

Range of Options (results of brainstorming) 

Public transit options are more viable if schedules are flexible (e.g. mid-day trips, more frequent trips so that missing a bus doesn’t produce an hour long wait for the next)

CCTA (bus) connection to Shelburne route (involves expensive town membership in CCTA)

Shuttle van connection to Shelburne CCTA stops

Shuttle from ferry dock to CCTA stop in Charlotte or Shelburne

CCTA Rideshare program

SSTA- Special Services Transit

Private shuttle/taxi service such as a new one in Hinesburg (“On the Go”)

Volunteer driver program

Voucher program—town provides funds to subsidize, encourage public transit use

Local employers (e.g. NRG) are starting to provide transportation for employees

Hire school buses during non-school-commute times

Collaborate with “Rt. 7 corridor” towns beyond Charlotte—especially Ferrisburg and Vergennes—to provide public transit or ridesharing

Provide bike rack at Citgo station (or other future bus stops)

“Smart Jitney”—coordinated carpooling using GPS/cellphone technology

Commuter rail system—a comprehensive plan to link Burlington to towns south and east, and also to Amtrak in Rutland. (e.g. state is exploring “western corridor” project to facilitate rail transport)

Horse-drawn vehicles

Scooters

More walking trails and sidewalks

Participate in new Green Mountain CarShare program

REDUCE THE NEED TO TRAVEL:  Teleconferencing in place of meetings, more efficient (cooperative) ways to do errands

CHANGE SOCIALLY APPROVED HABITS:  Start by getting influential & respected members of the community to use transportation options and then publicize their participation; make it “cool” to replace private car use with public or shared transit

  

Tasks to Achieve 

Short Term
 

Begin regular email discussion and meetings

Survey of town residents to assess potential ridership for various option

            Local (e.g. CSLN) effort supported by regional planning professionals

Better publicity for existing transportation options (e.g. Middlebury link bus, Rideshare):

            Town website

            Front Porch Forum

            Regular feature in local newspapers

Meet with Hinesburg officials/citizens to learn from their project, find ways to collaborate

 

Long Term 

Assess various options and begin to develop the most feasible ones

Work out arrangement with CCTA for service to Charlotte

Work out cross-county collaboration (i.e. Addison County)

Explore public policy implications; advocate for more support for public transportation (military budget can be seen as a massive subsidy to cost of fossil fuel;  more efficient transportation could be subsidized instead)