PROJECT UPDATE: The NextGen Service Plan project has been suspended for Central VT and Lamoille County. GMT is currently working with partner organizations on a study that could change the transportation landscape in Central VT. Please check back for updates; the new launch date is TBD. If you have any questions, please contact GMT at feedback@ridegmt.com.
Timeline
Rural Implementation:
| Lamoille & Washington Counties | |
| Public Meetings | July 2019 |
| Close of Public Comment | July 12, 2019 |
| Board Approval | July 16, 2019 |
| Start of New Service | September 2019 |
Public Meetings
Join GMT as we move toward the final phase of NextGen implementation in Central VT. We will discuss new route/schedule structure, the elimination of deviation service, and the implementation of complimentary door-to-door paratransit service. Whether you are a current bus rider, or you’re new to public transit… we encourage you to join us and learn more!
If you are unable to attend the public meetings below but would like to make a comment, please email feedback@ridegmt.com by July 12th.
Public Meeting and Outreach Event dates:
| July 2, 2019 | 4:00-6:00PM | Central VT Medical Center, Conference Room 1, 130 Fisher Road, Berlin |
| July 3, 2019 | 11:00AM-1:00PM | Morristown Town Hall, Municipal Building, 43 Portland Street, Morristown |
| July 5, 2019 | 12:00PM-2:00PM | Stowe Town Hall, Memorial Hall, 67 Main Street, Stowe |
| July 9, 2019 | 12:00PM-3:00PM | Berlin Mall, 282 Berlin Mall Rd, Berlin |
| July 10, 2019 | 5:00-7:00PM | Hunger Mtn. Coop, Community Rm, 623 Stone Cutters Way, Montpelier |
For those who cannot attend but wish to provide comments, please email feedback@ridegmt.com or call (802) 864-2282. Free transportation to and from GMT Public Meetings is available within the GMT service area.
To make advance arrangements, please call GMT’s Customer Service Representatives at (802) 864-2282. For more information, please visit RideGMT.com
Lamoille County Summary of Changes
| Lamoille County |
| More Passenger Friendly; Simpler, More Consistent, Easier to Use System |
| Increased connectivity |
| Morrisville and Waterbury Combination of Morrisville Shopping Shuttle and Route 100 |
| Waterbury and Montpelier Addition of Midday Waterbury Commuter Waterbury Commuter service to the Waterbury P&R Elimination of low ridership AM variant |
| Better Commuter Schedules |
| Timepoint surveys open here |
Route-by-Route Changes:
Route 100 Commuter:
- Addition of Mid-day Trip
- Additional AM/PM service between Morrisville and Stowe
Route 102 Morrisville Loop:
- Loss of 1 trip per day
- Current Schedule; 8:00AM – 10:20AM, 1:10PM – 2:55PM
- Proposed Schedule; 10:15AM – 12:00PM, 1:50PM – 3:35PM
Route 103 Morrisville Shopping Shuttle
- Service provided by Route 100 Commuter, with Stowe Family Practice service by request
Maps:
Capital District Summary of Changes
| Capital District |
| More Passenger Friendly; Simpler, More Consistent, Easier to Use System |
| Easy to Use Real-time Vehicle Location (“Transit” App) |
| Better Service Single seat service from Barre to National Life Continuation (improved!) service to CCV and the Pool Addition of Fixed Route Service to Hannaford in Barre Increased service to Hospital Hill area with 2 buses available for drop offs/pick ups ¼ of every hour Bidirectional service on Airport Road |
| Better Commuter Schedules Addition of Barre LINK Express |
| Timepoint surveys open here |
| Complimentary ADA Paratransit Service (see “Paratransit” tab below) |
Route-by-Route Changes:
Route 88 Capital Shuttle:
- Eliminated, service provided by extension of City Route
Route 92 Montpelier Circulator:
- Eliminate mid-day gap in service
- Simplified routing, service to Northern Montpelier provided by extension of Montpelier Hospital Hill Route
- Uni-directional scenario versus Bi-directional scenario (see “Montpelier Circulator Scenarios” tab below)
Route 89 City Commuter & Route 80: City Route Mid-day:
- The route would be extended to serve National Life in Montpelier
- All trips would serve Price Chopper
- 45 minute headways all day (Currently 30m peak headways 75m off peak)
- Southern extension to South Barre Hannaford
Route 87 Northfield Community Shuttle:
- Service to Berlin Shaw’s in addition to the Mall
Hospital Hill Service:
Route 81: Barre Hospital Hill & Route 82: Montpelier Hospital Hill:
- Routes will be combined
- Northern extension to CCV/Pool
Hospital Hill Area of Service:
- Buses will approach the Hospital Hill area from Montpelier on the Southbound leg of the trip and from Barre on the Northbound leg
- Upon entering the area of service the buses will act as an on-demand service for 15 minutes before continuing on the route
- You will be able to travel from both Montpelier and Barre to anywhere in the Hospital Hill region
Commuter Service:
Route 83: Waterbury Commuter:
- Shift service onto the highway from Middlesex to Montpelier
- Add service to Waterbury P&R
Route 86: Montpelier LINK
- Adjust schedule to better balance loads based on Commuter Surveys
Route 93: Northfield Commuter
- Discontinue mid-day trip
- Adjust schedule times based on Commuter Surveys
Map:
Montpelier Circulator Scenarios
Montpelier Circulator Scenario 1: Loop Service
- Reduced service to National Life with removal of Capital Shuttle Service
- From 20m headways -> up to 45 minutes
- Circuitous loop service
Montpelier Circulator Scenario 2: Bi-Directional Service
- Reduced service to National Life with removal of Capital Shuttle Service
- From 20m headways -> up to 30 minutes
- Efficient Bi-directional service
- Loss of service to Freedom Drive, 3 Prospect, Montpelier Senior Center, and Hunger Mountain Co-op
Paratransit
What is Paratransit?
Green Mountain Transit (GMT) provides several different types of paratransit services in Central Vermont
Medicaid: GMT is a Medicaid transportation provider through a contract with the State of Vermont. GMT provides and coordinates transportation services to eligible individuals for medically necessary and approved trips.
E&D: GMT offers special transportation services for individuals within GMT service regions who are 60 years of age or older and/or individuals with disabilities. Services include transportation for non-Medicaid medical appointments, meal sites, senior centers, shopping and pharmacy trips, radiation and dialysis treatment and general daily needs. These services are made possible through the State of Vermont Elderly and Disabled grant. Enrollment is limited with services based on available funds.
Complementary ADA paratransit service is for people who are functionally unable to use GMT’s fixed route service some or all of the time due to a disability.
“Fixed route service,” refers to GMT buses that run on fixed schedules in the greater Montpelier area. ADA paratransit service provides pick-ups and drop-offs to any location not more than ¾ mile from the fixed routes, during the same days and hours as the fixed routes. ADA service does not apply to GMT’s commuter or LINK routes.
What is changing?
The proposed NextGen changes will only affect Complementary ADA services. Whereas previously buses would deviate from the route, this change in service means that passengers will be picked up within in the same service area as our deviated fixed route, but won’t be picked up by a bus. An accessible vehicle will instead pick them up, with a driver that will provide door-to-door transportation.
This service will be limited to passengers who are eligible for paratransit services, as compared to our current deviation services that are available to any member of the public. This will be determined through a comprehensive ADA Paratransit eligibility process. This will make it a more convenient service, not just for eligible paratransit passengers, but also for individuals that rely on the bus, as it will no longer need to deviate, creating a more reliable, streamlined, and efficient service.
Eligibility is based on passengers’ current functional ability to ride GMT buses. It is not based on a passengers age, trip purpose, financial resources, ability to drive, name of disability or medical diagnosis, or not having bus service where a passenger lives.
Passenger Facing Technology Improvements
GMT is moving forward with passenger facing technology improvements:
- New AVL app to improve real-time bus location reliability, available now.
- GMT is currently exploring a mobile ticketing pilot program; this would allow passengers the ability to purchase fares on their phone. Available in Chittenden County now, updates coming to Lamoille and Washington Counties.