Code of Vermont Rules › Agency 14 - AGENCY OF TRANSPORTATION › Sub-Agency 010 - TRANSPORTATION BOARD › Chapter 008 - RULE FOR PUBLIC TRANSIT SUBSIDY PROGRAMS › Section 14 010 008 - RULE FOR PUBLIC TRANSIT SUBSIDY PROGRAMS

Current through June, 2024
Section 7.10
			 PURPOSE
The purpose of this rule is to define the policy, procedure and
				criteria adopted by the Agency of Transportation in accordance with 24 V.S.A.,
				Chapter 126, Subchapter 2, Public Transit for apportioning State funds
				appropriated to the Agency of Transportation for subsidy support to public
				transit services in all areas of the State and for apportioning Federal funds
				made available to the Agency of Transportation by the United States Department
				of Transportation through 49 U.S.C., § 1614, SECTION 18 Formula Grant
				Program For Areas Other Than Urbanized Areas of the Urban Mass Transportation
				Act of 1964, as amended, for subsidy support to public transit services in
				rural areas of the state. An enterprise conducting public transit services is
				eligible for subsidy support when enterprise income attributable to public
				transit operations falls short of enterprise expenses attributable to public
				transit operations. The rule encompasses definitions, eligible categories of
				assistance, prerequisites of eligibility, apportionment policy, apportionment
				mechanism and general application procedures.
Section 7.20 DEFINITIONS
Annual Passengers: Verifiable number of passengers developed by
				public transit services as defined in this rule during the most recent twelve
				month period preceding an application for assistance; does not include
				passengers developed by single-ride taxi, charter or exclusive school bus
				transportation.
Charter Service: Transportation service provided in a vehicle
				licensed to render that service and engaged at a specified price, rate or fee
				for a specific period of time, usually on a reservation or contractual
				basis.
Demonstrable Need: The annual financial deficit resulting from
				public transit operations over the period of a twelve month fiscal year
				calculated as follows:
Demonstrable Need = All Expenses Attributable to Public Transit
				Services-(All Income Attributable to Public Transit Services + Unencumbered
				Cash Assets).
Dial-A-Ride: Transportation operation designed to carry
				multiple passengers on a collective ride basis from their origins to specific
				destinations (generally door-to-door) either on an [advance (e.g. 24 hour)
				reservation] ad hoc or subscription basis.
Existing Projects: Public transit systems that have received
				State or Federal DOT operating subsidy support for public transportation
				services during the 12 month period preceding an application for continuing
				assistance.
Fixed Route Service: Public transit service operated over a set
				route or network of routes on a regular schedule.
Formula Funding: Funding made available to the state through
				Section 18 of the Urban Mass Transportation Act of 1964, as amended.
Jitney Service: Transportation service operated over a fixed
				route on a flexible schedule, picking up and discharging passengers on
				demand.
Local Match: Non-Federal cash and in-kind contributions
				provided by grantees, sub-grantees or third parties in satisfying cost sharing
				and matching requirements of the United States Department of
				Transportation.
Local Public Body: For purposes of this rule a unit of
				government constituted in accordance with Vermont law as a municipality,
				regional transportation authority or regional transportation district.
Net Deficit: Attributable costs minus attributable revenue for
				an eligible expense category during a fiscal period.
New Public Transit Service: Any eligible public transit service
				not previously provided.
New Projects: Public transit systems in the initial stage of
				service implementation and not previously receiving State or Federal DOT
				operating subsidy.
Non-Profit Public Transit System: A domestic corporation
				organized in accordance with 11 V.S.A., Chapter 19 having the majority of its
				governing board appointed by the legislative body of the municipality or
				municipalities served, and a function of providing a public transit service or
				a foreign nonprofit corporation located in a state which borders Vermont and
				provides public transit services in both Vermont and bordering state.
Paratransit: Transportation services, provided through flexible
				scheduling or routing in small vehicles, including ridesharing, dial-a-ride,
				jitney, airport limousine, subscription and route-deviated bus services.
Population Served: Latest U.S. Bureau of Census population
				figures or most recent Vermont Department of Health population figures for a
				community served by local public transit services.
Public Transit Service: Any fixed route, paratransit,
				transportation brokerage, user-side subsidy, and/or ride-referral/ride match
				program which is available to any person upon payment of the proper fare, and
				which is promoted to be available to all members of the public, including those
				with special needs. "Public" in this sense refers to the access to, not
				ownership of, the service. Specifically excluded from this definition are
				services which are reserved for the private or exclusive use of one individual,
				group or group of individuals such as single-ride taxi, charter and exclusive
				school bus transportation.
Public Transit System:
(A) a transportation authority as provided by
			 No. 122 of the Acts of 1973;
(B) a
			 transit authority or transit district as provided by 24 V.S.A., Chapter
			 127;
(C) any municipal transit
			 system, or any nonprofit public transit system.
Regional Passenger Transportation Development Plan: A plan
				prepared by a regional working group and, as proposed or as amended, by
				regional planning commissions to determine the direction of public transit
				services for a five-year period.
Ride-Referral/Ride-Match Services: A non fare telephone based
				service for arranging rides.
Ridesharing: A form of transportation in which more than one
				person shares in the use of the vehicle, such as a bus, van or automobile, to
				make a trip.
Route Deviation: A hybrid transportation service under which
				vehicles may deviate from a fixed route, upon request, to provide demand
				responsive service within the immediate vicinity of the fixed route.
Rural Public Transit Services: Local public transit projects
				and services outside the designated urban area which are eligible for Federal
				Section 18 Formula fund assistance.
Shared-Ride: Service in which individuals cannot reserve a trip
				for their own private use.
State Revenue Funding: State funding authorized by the
				Legislature as grant assistance for Public Transit Services delivered by public
				transit systems.
Subscription Bus: A service in which routes and schedules are
				prearranged to meet the specific travel needs of riders who request the service
				in advance; the level of service is generally higher than that of regular
				passenger bus service (fewer stops, shorter travel time, and greater
				convenience).
Transportation Brokerage: Matching the most appropriate
				services and providers to individual markets.
User-Side Subsidy: A direct subsidy to transportation users
				which allows them to select the service they prefer.