Lawmakers discuss requiring transit agencies to meet with schools; VTrans recommends study and pilots over mandates

Representative White used the Jan. 29 House Transportation hearing to press a possible bill requirement that public transit agencies meet semiannually with school officials to look for operational efficiencies.

"I think we're trying to shift from, cars dominating because it's the easiest and most convenient mode of transportation in our state," Representative White said, arguing that structured conversations with schools could help expand shared transportation options.

Ross McDonald, VTrans public transit program manager, told the committee he and agency staff appreciate the intent of such language but worry a hard mandate could produce perfunctory meetings that yield little operational change. McDonald pointed to past efforts such as the Transportation for Vermonters work, which provided useful case studies but often showed timing, days of service and cost barriers that made broad replication difficult.

"I am a little concerned about folks being required to have the discussion and say, 'well, we looked at our service maps ... and we don't see this working,' but we had to meet," McDonald said, suggesting alternatives: require agencies to document consideration of schools in new‑service (new‑start or CMAQ) applications, or pilot coordinated approaches in specific regions such as the Mad River Valley.

Dan Currier said transit agencies routinely work with schools when a public transit route makes operational sense and that published service must remain open to the public to comply with Federal Transit Administration rules; he encouraged case‑study approaches and local pilots before imposing a statewide meeting mandate.

The committee did not vote on any legislative language at the hearing. VTrans offered to follow up with targeted pilots or application‑level requirements as an alternative to an across‑the‑board statutory mandate.