STATE RESOURCES AND PROGRAMS

The following State agencies have technical and financial assistance programs that could be applied to planning and implementation projects at interstate interchange areas.

Department of Housing and Community Affairs (DHCA):

• Municipal Planning Grant Program
  
• Community Development Block Grant Program

Agency of Transportation (VTrans)

• Transportation s Enhancement Grant
• Scenic Byways Programs

Funding for the acquisition of land, or interests in land including the purchase of development and conservation easements is available on a competitive basis through the Vermont Housing & Conservation Trust Fund, administered by the Vermont Housing & Conservation Board and to a more limited extent through VTrans Transportation Enhancements Grant Program. Often these funds must be leveraged with municipal and private sources, accessed through organizations such as the Vermont Land Trust, the Trust for Public Land and other community land trusts.

Local and regional plans, policies, and regulations for interchange area development may also be considered and may play an important role under several other state regulatory and financing programs including, but not limited to:

• Act 250
  
• State highway access permits (VTrans)
  
• The State Transportation Improvement Program (STIP), for funding transportation projects (VTrans)
  
• Transportation Project Development (VTrans)
  
• Transportation facility siting (VTrans)
  
• Park and Rides (VTrans)
  
• State Revolving Loan Fund (RLF), for funding water and sewer infrastructure (ANR)
  
• Air Pollution Control Permits (ANR)
  
• Wetlands permits (ANR)
  
• Storm water permits (ANR)
  
• Vermont Downtown Program, for development incentives and infrastructure financing in designated downtowns, villages and emerging town centers (DHCA)

Such programs benefit from the guidance provided by clearly stated plan policies and regulations at the local level, and from ongoing communication and cooperation to ensure that public policies, regulations and financing programs are coordinated and consistently applied at all levels of government.

Addressing interchange development issues in a coordinated, public manner before an individual project is proposed that requires state and local permits, or public financing can help prevent conflicts later in the process, and further local and state goals and objectives.