Go! Vermont

Community Resources

Create a transportation-friendly community

Engaging your community in a dialogue about efficient transportation helps everyone get around easier, saves money, and helps residents, businesses, and leaders create connections that make Vermont such a great place to live and work. Go! Vermont can act as a valuable partner that can facilitate these important conversations and provide planning and promotional resources to help ideas become reality.

Call 800-685-RIDE (7433) or e-mail us to see how we can help!

Mobility Guide

Active Transportation

LOCAL MOTION

  • Vermont’s statewide advocate for active transportation, vibrant communities, and safe streets.
  • Founded in 1999.
  • Provides on-the-ground advocacy, community organizing, project-specific technical assistance, workshops and classes for all ages, and bike-friendly resources for businesses and communities.
  • Cost to VTrans for program of $75,000 per year for ongoing operations. www.localmotion.org
  • Community resources to help identify transportation options to improve access.
  • Vbike

VTRANS BIKE/PED

BIKESHARE

  •  A bikeshare program is a public or membership-based transportation service that provides people with convenient access to bicycles for short-term use. The goal is to make bikes available for quick, flexible trips—often to supplement public transit, reduce car dependency, or encourage active, sustainable travel.

WALK TO SHOP

  • Cost: $50,000 to startup and $100,000 in capital; $100,000 for ongoing operations.
  • Serves transit service areas, downtowns, and villages across Vermont.
  • Revenue from the sale of trolleys covers a portion of the project costs.
  • Funding from the State of Vermont, regional grants, corporate sponsorships, and cash and in-kind contributions from partners and volunteers.
  • Resource for public education and community engagement, walking, 15 min-neighborhoods. www.netzerovt.org/walk-to-shop/

MOBILITY AND TRANSPORTATION INNOVATION (MTI) GRANT PROGRAM

This program is designed to support innovative strategies and projects that improve mobility and access to services for transit-dependent Vermonters, reduce the use of single occupancy vehicles, and reduce greenhouse gas emissions. www.vtrans.vermont.gov/public-transit/mti

GO! VERMONT Trip Planner

Use Vermont Trip Planner to find rides for your daily commute, to the doctor’s, or even your favorite ski resort. Don’t want to drive? No problem! Our trip planner will also show you transit, biking, and walking directions. www.connectingcommuters.org/travel-apps/trip-planner

Cost: $10,000 to start up & $60,000 for ongoing maintenance. Free carpool matching for anyone who is a Go! Vermont member. From October 31, 2024 – October 31, 2025, Vermont had 11,573 recorded carpool trips. Funding from FHWA Road and Bridge Funding.

Passenger Transportation

PUBLIC TRANSIT PLANNING THROUGH GO! VERMONT

  • Cost: $10,000 to start up & $15,000 for ongoing operation.
  • Transit Royale: free to download and create an account for any Vermont resident.
  • All public transit routes are available to search and ride.
  • June 2024: 10,203 riders opened the transit app to search for a bus route.
  • Funding from VTrans FTA 5311 Formula and State funding at a (50/50 share) to cover operation subsidy. www.connectingcommuters.org/travel-apps/transit-bus-app

MICROTRANSIT

  • Cost: $250,000 to start up and $200,000 in capital; $250,000 ongoing operating and $50,000 ongoing maintenance costs.
  • Public Transit Operators: Green Mountain Transit, Tri-Valley Transit, Southeast Vermont Transit, Green Mountain Community Network, Rural Community Transit.
    • Microtransit should connect well to existing fixed route public transit services.
  • Serves Montpelier, Middlebury, Manchester, Morrisville, Windsor, Brattleboro.
    • Towns/villages with existing underperforming fixed-route public transit or towns/villages with no public transit and a large transit dependent population and/or destination (Example Hospital).
  • Creates revenue through rider fare.
  • Funding from VTrans FTA 5311 Formula and State funding at a (50/50 share).

UVM UNLIMITED ACCESS PROGRAM

Green Mountain Transit Unlimited Access Program Fare-Free Transit for Students, Faculty, and Staff . The Unlimited Access Program provides fare-free local bus service to eligible students, faculty, and staff at the University of Vermont, Champlain College, and Saint Michael’s College. GMT invites all qualifying individuals to skip the parking pass, save on gas, and take full advantage of this convenient, sustainable way to get around. Just swipe your campus ID or activate your mobile pass in the Ride Ready by GMT app and ride for free.

DOOR-TO-DOOR TRANSPORTATION

VPTA

Gopher

  • Cost: $317,810 to start up and $235,258 in capital; $157,523 ongoing operating and $2,309 ongoing maintenance costs.
  • Serves Washington County and neighboring towns in Orange County.
    • Part of the larger transportation ecosystem-subcontractor to Green Mountain Transit in Washington County, provides solutions to gaps that exist with current public transit options.
    • Service area contains two cities (Montpelier and Barre) and one large town (Waterbury). All other towns in the service area can be characterized as rural.
    • Pockets of poverty within service area: City of Barre (24.1% poverty rate), Waterbury (18% poverty rate), and Northfield (15.5% poverty rate).
  • Aims to meet rural Vermonter’s everyday transportation needs by providing convenient door-to-door rides to and from work, appointments, shopping, and social and recreational activities.
  • The Mobility For All services are intended to provide subsidized rides for individuals that are low-income and have limited or no access to transportation.
  • No fares for Mobility For All Trips. Market rate ($10 booking fee + $2.50/mile) is an option for folks who don’t qualify for Mobility For All.

Pilot program: 80% subsidized from Global: State of Vermont funding. Referring agencies are asked to assist with 20% matching funds to help sustain program.

Further funding from State of Vermont public transportation program, foundation grants, individual donations, service contracts, and market-based rides. www.gophervt.org

Free Wheelin’

  • Cost: $33,000 to start up and $50,000 for ongoing operation.
  • Serves Mad River Valley (4 towns): Waitsfield, Warren, Fayston, and Moretown.
    • In 2022, provided 100 rides per month on average.
    • Seniors of the Valley members depend on them to get to and from medical appointments, social gatherings, grocery stores, the post office, beauty salon, and more. They are proud to be able to support seniors with this critical and free transportation service, as well as offering rides to non-senior Valley residents who don’t have transportation.
    • All of Vermont, plus travel to Dartmouth-Hitchcock.
    • Complements existing dial-a-ride services in Washington County.
  • Funding through donations from sponsors, users or the service, and the greater community. Ongoing funding from Mad River Valley Senior Citizens, Mad River Valley Community Fund, Mad River Valley Interfaith Council, donations, and grants.
  • Free Wheelin’ is operated by Mad River Seniors, a 501(c)3 Organization. www.mrvfreewheelin.org

Special Services Transportation Agency (SSTA)

  • Founded in 1982.
  • Many individuals have difficulty using conventional modes of transportation, such as cars and buses because of a physical or mental disability. For these people, SSTA’s service may be the only transportation that they can use.
  • SSTA currently has more than 50 vehicles in its fleet. Thirty are lift equipped for wheelchairs, providing an average of 600 to 700 rides per day.
  • The organization currently employs over 70 full and part-time employees.
  • Provides coordinated transportation service to many human service agencies. A few examples are the Visiting Nurse Association’s Adult Day Programs, Champlain Senior Center (an important meal site for many of Burlington’s older adults), Howard Community Health Services, and Age Well.
    • Complements existing dial-a-ride services in Chittenden County.
  • The transportation SSTA provides clients an opportunity for social interaction, job training and employment, medical services, and therapy.
  • Revenue from rider fare: punch card ticketing system, credit card, cash, money orders, and personal checks.
  • Funding from rider fare, donations, Medicaid. www.sstarides.org

Neighborhood Connections

  • Cost: $220,000 to start up and $80,000 in capital; $153,000 ongoing operating and $10,000 ongoing maintenance costs.
  • Serves Andover, Chester, and Weston in Windsor County; Jamaica, Londonderry, and Windham in Windham County; and Landgrove, Peru, and Winhall in Bennington County.
    • Highly rural; majority demand-response single riders.
  • Founded in 2021.
  • Revenue from MTI; exploring O&D funding thru subcontract with SEVT; exploring private hospital & school contracts.
  • Funding through AOT, Towns in Service Area, Private grantors, private donors.
  • Resource for SEVT, AOT. www.ncvermont.org

Rideshare

GO! VERMONT CARPOOL MATCHING

Free carpool matching for anyone who is a Go! Vermont member.

Cost: $10,000 to start up and $60,000 for ongoing maintenance.

From October 31, 2024 – October 31, 2025, Vermont had 11,573 recorded carpool trips. Funding from FHWA Road and Bridge Funding. www.connectingcommuters.org/information-and-schedules/ridesharing/carpool

VANPOOL/COMMUTE WITH ENTERPRISE

  • Spends $90,000 on ongoing operating costs.
  • As of December 2025, Vermont had 19 operating vanpools.
  • Go! Vermont provides a 50% subsidy for the first three months and then a 50% subsidy for each month after.
    • Funding through VTrans FTA 5311 Formula and State funding at a (50/50 share) to cover operation subsidy.
  • Vanpool riders pay a fare to ride in the van. This fare covers the remaining operating costs after the Go! Vermont subsidy. www.connectingcommuters.org/information-and-schedules/ ridesharing/commuterco-opvt
  • The Flex option is tailored to meet the needs of individuals who don’t always commute to work every day (e.g. hybrid work schedules). Riders can subscribe and coordinate their participation through an app, allowing some to join only on the days they need to the locations they need. You pay only for the days that you commute and can be updated each month. All costs, including fuel and insurance, are included in your individual monthly rate.
  • Concerned About Last Minute Travel Changes? Never Worry with Guaranteed Ride Home. Go! Vermont pays for charges up to $70 (up to twice a month, or a total of 4 times per year).

VANPOOL/COMMUTE WITH ENTERPRISE

  • Serves Burlington, South Burlington, and Winooski.
  • Revenue captured through Membership and Tier-based pricing.
  • Cost of Carshare program to VTrans $30,000 per year for ongoing operating costs. www.carsharevt.org

Public Transit and School Bus Service

Advance Transit

Green Mountain Express

Grance Christian School is served by 3 routes, including:

Mount Anthony Union Middle School is served by 2 routes, including:

MICRO TRANSIT – MANCHESTER EXPRESS – THE GREEN MOUNTAIN EXPRESS REQUEST

Green Mountain Transit

Neighborhood Trippers Neighborhood Specials is open to the public. Seven routes operate on school days only.

Burlington High School is served by 5 routes, including:

Essex High School is served by 2 routes, including:

Montpelier High School is served by MyRide by GMT.

Public Transit and School Bus Service

Marble Valley Regional Transit District (The Bus)

  • CITY FIXED WEST ROUTE Public Transportation | The Bus Stops at Rutland Middle School, Northwest Primary School, and Mt. St. Joseph Academy in Rutland City.
  • MIDDLEBURY ROUTE Public Transportation | The Bus Stops at Otter Valley Union High School in Brandon
  • PROCTOR ROUTE Public Transportation | The Bus Stops at Proctor Junior Senior High School
  • FAIR HAVEN ROUTE Public Transportation | The Bus Stops at West Rutland School

Rural Community Transportation

  • US 2 Commuter – Rural Community Transportation | Request stop at Twinfield HS

Southeast Vermont Transit (The MOOver)

  • Wilmington – Readsboro – The Moover | Stops at Twin Valley Middle High School
  • Wilmington – Brattleboro – The Moover | Stops at Brattleboro Union High School and Marlboro Elementary School.
  • Windsor Microtransit – The Moover | Request stop at Windsor High School

Transit District (The Bus)

  • Middlebury WEEKDAY – Tri-Valley Transit | EZ Trip Middlebury is available by reservation. Additionally, Middlebury Hannaford serves a deviated-fixed bus schedule every 30 minutes.
  • Tri-Town Shuttle – Tri-Valley Transit | Stops including at Bridge charter school in Middlebury and deviation range of up to ½ mile from scheduled stops, including access to Vergennes Union High School, Champlain Valley Christian School in Vergennes, Mt Abraham Middle/High School in Bristol, and Beeman Elementary School in New Haven.
  • Snow Bowl Shuttle – Tri-Valley Transit | Stops at North Branch charter school in Ripton
  • 89er South – Tri-Valley Transit | Stops at White River Valley High school So. Royalton and The Sharon Academy in Sharon
  • Randolph Area Circulator – Tri-Valley Transit | Stops at Randolph Union High School in Randolph
  • Bradford Area Circulator – Tri-Valley Transit | Stops at Oxbow High School in Bradford
  • Strafford Extension – Tri-Valley Transit | Stops at The Sharon Academy in Sharon and White River Valley High School in South Royalton

Future of Rural Transit

  • Network Action Team | Energy Action Network looked at the process school districts, and transit agencies could take to develop a combined Public Transit and School Bus Service.

Connect people to the places they live

The Vermont Transportation Efficiency Network (VTEN)

This network of transportation professionals is available to advise you of opportunities, experiences and success stories. They provide transportation data, surveys that towns can use to find out more about their current system, valuable annual conferences, and more.

Promoting efficient transportation

There are a number of ways you can get involved! Post materials in public spaces, promote the Way to Go! Challenge, identify volunteers, collect data via survey, provide materials or handouts at farmers markets, town meetings, and energy fairs.

Looking for more ideas?

  • Visit our Promotional Resources page to download informational handouts, program posters, ads, logos and more.

Mobility and Transportation Innovation (MTI) Grant Program

This program is designed to support innovative strategies and projects that improve both mobility and access to services for transit-dependent Vermonters, reduce the use of single occupancy vehicles, and reduce greenhouse gas emissions.  Find out more by visiting Mobility and Transportation Innovations (MTI) Grant Program | Agency of Transportation (vermont.gov)

Go! Vermont November 29, 2016