The Metropolitan Planning Organization, which sets road, bridges, mass transit and maintenance priorities in Chittenden County, holds hearings every year as it decides how to spend transportation money. Most of the money comes from the federal government. Executive Director Peter Plumeau said he is pleased the plan includes money for a wide variety of projects, not just new highways. For instance, the plan has 27 projects to maintain or add funding for public transit.
Large shares go to highway and bridge maintenance.
The Circumferential Highway promises to be the most contentious topic of the public hearing, as it has been in the past. The Vermont Transportation Alliance, a group opposed to large highway projects such as the Circ, has said some of its members will attend the Wednesday meeting to try to discourage it. Circ supporters said the highway has already been the subject of dozens of studies. It is designed to move traffic in towns of Williston, Essex and Colchester, which ring Burlington. Many of the large projects, such as Shelburne Road and the Circumferential Highway, have seen frequent delays and could suffer more setbacks.