10/7/05-Gov. James Douglas said last week that he wants to tap Vermont’s general fund to pay the state’s share of transportation projects that got a boost with new federal funding.
Douglas is expected to ask leaders of the General Assembly’s financial panels to authorize transferring $5 million, The Associated Press reported. Vermont could use the money to get bridges, highway and rail projects started by next spring.
The move will be an interim one so initial work can being on the various projects.
Once lawmakers return in January 2006 for the regular legislative session, decisions will be made about how to come up with as much as $15 million to be applied toward the state’s share of projects authorized by the federal transportation law approved this year by Congress.
Douglas has rejected suggestions the per-gallon tax on gasoline and diesel fuel be modified to perform more like the sales tax.
He said it would make the fuel tax revenues more volatile that they already are now.

12/14/04-A state committee is recommending cuts in funding for public transportation, bike paths, aviation and railroad improvements to put more money toward road and bridge work.
Vermont currently allocates $33 million annually to pave roads and $49 million to repair bridges, but that is not keeping up with demand because many of the state’s bridges and roads are crumbling, the Rutland Herald reported.
Agency of Transportation officials said an additional $70 million annually is needed to maintain the state’s highway system properly. In response, lawmakers last spring formed the Transportation Infrastructure Committee to investigate how more money could be found.
The nine-member panel – which includes the heads of the House and Senate Transportation committees – recommended this week the state shift more of its annual $360 million transportation budget away from other transit programs to allow more spending on road and bridge repairs.
That means less would go toward funding things such as rest areas, public transportation and other nonmaintenance items.
The committee did not say how much money should be reconfigured or what programs should be slashed, instead leaving that up to the General Assembly.
Lawmakers will reconvene at the Capitol Jan. 5 to begin talks on transportation funding and other issues.