Code of Vermont Rules › Agency 14 - AGENCY OF TRANSPORTATION › Sub-Agency 050 - MOTOR VEHICLES DEPARTMENT › Chapter 015 - VERMONT MUNICIPAL HIGHWAY ASSISTANCE PROGRAM RULES FOR ALLOCATIONS OF TECHNICAL ASSISTANCE › Section 14 050 015 - VERMONT MUNICIPAL HIGHWAY ASSISTANCE PROGRAM RULES FOR ALLOCATIONS OF TECHNICAL ASSISTANCE

Current through June, 2024
1.0.0 Purpose of
			 Rules
These rules are promulgated by the Vermont Agency of
				Transportation, for the purpose of setting out the procedures for the
				administration of the Vermont Municipal Highway Assistance Program (VMHAP). The
				rules include requirements for eligibility and matching, and the procedure to
				be used to approve assistance requests, and to apportion funds if available
				funds are not sufficient to fill all requests for assistance.
1.1.0 Description of Program
The purpose of the Vermont Municipal Highway Assistance Program
				is to assist municipalities to improve the quality of their highway system by
				furnishing technical assistance. The program is authorized and funded by
				Section 22 of Act No. 74 of the Acts of 1989.
At this time, the program consists of a component for
				furnishing technical assistance (Technical Assistance Program - TAP). In the
				future, a second component may be added for supplying grants to be used for
				capital improvements to highways and bridges (Highway Capital Improvement Grant
				Program - HCIGP). This second component is dependent on the appropriation of
				funds by the Vermont General Assembly.
The VMHAP is administered by the Vermont Agency of
				Transportation (VAOT). The program will be managed on a day-to-day basis by a
				Program Manager who is an employee of the VAOT. The Program Manager will
				receive guidance from an Advisory Committee.
The Advisory Committee shall be appointed by the Secretary of
				the Vermont Agency of Transportation and shall consist of one representative
				each from the Vermont Agency of Transportation, the Vermont Department of
				Housing and Community Affairs, the Vermont Local Roads Program, the Vermont
				League of Cities and Towns, the Vermont Association of Planning and Development
				Agencies, the Vermont Municipal Highway Association, and other groups or
				individuals as (s)he may designate. The member representing the VAOT shall be
				the chair of the Committee. The member to represent each of the above
				organizations other than the VAOT shall be recommended to the Secretary of
				Transportation by the secretary/commissioner/governing body of the respective
				organizations.
The function of the Committee is to provide advice and guidance
				to the Program Manager and Secretary.
This program will complement the objectives of the Vermont
				Municipal and Regional Planning and Development Act as amended by the 1988
				Growth Management Act (Act 200).
1.2.0 Definitions and Abbreviations
1.2.1 Advisory Committee - A committee
			 established by the Vermont Secretary of Transportation to provide advice to the
			 Program Manager and the Secretary of Transportation.
1.2.2 Capital Improvement - For the purpose
			 of this program, a capital improvement is defined as an expenditure of $ 5,000
			 or more for an improvement having a useful life of at least five years. An
			 improvement may be an action that helps preserve the structural integrity of a
			 highway or bridge component.
1.2.3
			 Consultant - A firm, corporation, or entity having employees with skills in
			 some or all of the areas of transportation planning, budgeting, surveying,
			 design, construction, and maintenance.
1.2.4 DTA - District Transportation
			 Administrator of the Vermont Agency of Transportation.
1.2.5 HCIP - Highway Capital Improvement
			 Program. A plan for the systematic improvement of highways, over a period of
			 years, showing the work to be accomplished each year, the associated cost, and
			 the proposed method of financing.
1.2.6 Municipality - A town, a city, an
			 incorporated village with highway jurisdiction, or an unorganized town or gore
			 (24 V.S.A. 4303).
1.2.7 Priority
			 consideration - the concurrent review of all applications received before a
			 deadline, so that all applications have an equal chance of receiving a portion
			 of limited available funds.
1.2.8
			 Program Manager - The employee of the VAOT responsible for the administration
			 of the VMHAP.
1.2.9 Program Year -
			 July 1 through June 30.
1.2.10
			 Secretary - The Vermont Secretary of Transportation
1.2.11 TAP - Technical Assistance
			 Program.
1.2.12 VAOT - Vermont
			 Agency of Transportation.
1.2.13
			 VMHAP - Vermont Municipal Highway Assistance Program.
2.0.0 TECHNICAL ASSISTANCE PROGRAM [TAP]
2.1.0 General
This component of the VMHAP consists of two phases; one to
				furnish assistance in the development of a highway capital improvement program
				(TAP - I), and one to provide on-site engineering assistance to solve highway
				and bridge construction and maintenance problems (TAP - II).
The assistance will normally be provided by consultants hired
				and monitored by the Agency of Transportation. At the request of a
				municipality, and with the recommendation of the Advisory Committee and
				approval of the Program Manager, the assistance may be provided by the
				permanent or temporary employees of a regional commission, or by an employee or
				citizen of the municipality. The Advisory Committee and Program Manager shall
				consider, as a minimum, the technical qualifications, experience, and
				availability of any party proposed to provide assistance. As time allows,
				additional assistance may be provided by the VAOT employees assigned to manage
				the program.
2.2.1 General
It is anticipated that funds appropriated for state fiscal year
				1990 (July 1, 1989 - June 30, 1990) will not be sufficient to meet all requests
				for assistance during the first year of the program. Municipalities which
				request but do not receive assistance during the first year of the program will
				receive priority consideration for funds, if any, available in the second year
				of the program.
2.2.2
			 Eligible Tasks
a. Highway and bridge
			 inventory
b. Highway and bridge
			 condition survey
c. Determination
			 of needed improvements
d. Estimate
			 of cost of needed improvements
e.
			 Development of a Highway Capital Improvement Program (HCIP)