Green Mountain Transit to transfer Central Vermont operations to Tri-Valley Transit; Northfield commuter remains fare-free

Green Mountain Transit (GMT) briefed the Northfield Select Board Feb. 24 on the status of local public transit and its funding request for FY27. Monica White, director of Central Vermont services for GMT, told the board that GMT’s Central Vermont public transit operations will transfer under Tri-Valley Transit effective July 1, 2026, while the same Berlin-based team will continue operating Northfield services.

“We will…become under the umbrella of Tri Valley Transit,” White said, adding that no service reductions are planned and the FY27 funding request is level funded from prior years. White reported FY25 ridership for the Northfield commuter route at 3,445 boardings; that commuter operates five round trips daily between Northfield and Montpelier, Monday through Friday. She also cited 212 riders on the weekly Northfield community shuttle and 894 rides provided for nonemergency medical and other trips for older and disabled residents.

When asked by a board member whether the Northfield commuter charges a fare, White answered, “fare free.” Audience members asked about seating capacity for a planned community event; White said the buses to be used have seating capacity of roughly 20 passengers depending on the bus type.

White said Tri-Valley Transit’s experience in neighboring counties should strengthen rural service delivery and that GMT has leveraged grants to hire a Washington County volunteer coordinator and a community-relations manager to expand local outreach. Board members thanked her for the update; the funding ask (an article to authorize up to $21,000 for the commuter) will appear on the ballot for voters to decide.

What happens next: the Select Board placed the transit funding request on the Australian ballot. Residents with follow-up questions were directed to GMT for ridership data and operational details.