Park and Ride Program Grant

The Vermont Agency of Transportation administers the Municipal Park and Ride Grant Program to support the development and improvement of small park and ride facilities across Vermont communities. The program is funded through a legislative allocation intended to reduce the number of single occupancy vehicles on roadways, thereby decreasing traffic congestion and vehicle emissions. By encouraging shared transportation options such as carpooling, vanpooling, and transit access, the program aligns with broader state transportation and environmental goals. The purpose of the program is to assist municipalities in establishing or enhancing park and ride facilities that are municipally owned and maintained. Eligible projects must be located on or near a state highway and provide at least ten parking spaces. The facilities must be accessible to commuters year round and maintained by the municipality. The program also emphasizes coordination with public transit providers where routes are available or planned, reinforcing integration with broader transportation systems. Funding is limited to engineering and construction activities associated with the development or improvement of park and ride facilities. Eligible uses include site engineering for permitting, construction of shared use or stand alone facilities, and improvements such as pavement, signage, bus shelters, bike racks, lighting, drainage systems, guardrails, and accessibility features. Maintenance of existing facilities is not eligible, nor are electric vehicle charging stations, which are explicitly excluded from allowable costs. The program requires a local cost share of twenty percent, meaning municipalities must contribute a portion of project costs. Grant awards are distributed in two phases, with an initial payment issued once construction begins and eligible invoices reach at least half of the awarded amount. The remaining funds are disbursed upon project completion and acceptance. The total program funding for this cycle is one hundred fifty thousand dollars, and individual award amounts vary depending on the number and scale of applications received. Eligibility is limited to municipalities that either own the land proposed for development or have secured long term control through a state highway access permit or a minimum twenty year lease if privately owned land is used. Applicants must also ensure the site meets all program requirements, including location, size, and operational criteria. A Certificate of Good Standing is required as part of the application, confirming compliance with relevant state agencies. Applications must be submitted electronically by September 22, 2026. Required materials include a completed application form and a detailed sketch of the proposed project. The program evaluates applications based on a scoring system that considers factors such as proximity to state highways, availability of public transit, lot size, existing informal use, availability of utilities, environmental and permitting complexity, sight distance at entrances, and overall site development complexity. For questions or assistance, applicants may contact the Park and Ride Program Manager via phone or email. Communities that have applied unsuccessfully in prior years are encouraged to reapply. The program does not specify an award announcement timeline or performance period in the available materials, but funding is tied directly to project construction and completion milestones.