VPTA activities last year demonstrated a renewed spirit and new direction for the Association and its members. The revitalized Rural Transit Assistance Program focused on improving the performance of public transit from the customer’s viewpoint. Training programs designed to be delivered by Vermont transit professionals in-state emphasized safety and service.

The year also saw a major expansion in the transit community’s ability to serve special populations of elderly and disabled Vermonters. Working in concert with advocates for the elderly and disabled, VPTA urged the Agency of Transportation to address the need for adequate funding for the program known as 5310. This effort resulted in a doubling of the size of the program in Governor Dean’s Budget for FY00 and the addition of $500,000 by the Legislature to insure statewide equity in service delivery. Funding was thereby increased from $790,000 in FY99 to $1,500,000 in FY00.

VPTA, with the support of the Agency of Transportation, prepared and submitted an application for the Federal Transit Administration’s Access to Jobs Program. The competitive grant application resulted in the award of $1.1 Million in Federal funds to the State of Vermont. The grant will be matched by a similar amount in funds from a variety of Federal Human Service programs including Temporary Assistance to Needy Families (TANF).