The Vital Communities Transportation Program works with employers, municipalities, school districts, and regional planning commissions to improve transportation options and reduce reliance on driving alone.

Getting Around

The Upper Valley offers great commuting opportunities with transit, carpools, biking, walking, and telecommuting.

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Communities

We work with towns, schools, and community organizations to lower residents’ transportation costs.

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Workplaces

Smart Commute helps Upper Valley employers lower the costs of commuting to work.

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VTEN

The Vermont Transportation Efficiency Network (VTEN) is a group of providers, planners, and advocates who gather to reduce the costs and environmental impacts of our transportation system.

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Commuter
Calculator

Toolkit
For Town
Volunteers

Toolkit

In Vermont and New Hampshire, transportation is the largest single source of greenhouse gases.

This toolkit is for community volunteers who would like to locally tackle the climate impacts of our car-centered transportation system.

What's Happening

2nd Annual Curb The Car Day – Friday, May 17!

On May 17, 2019 the rest of the country is celebrating National Bike to Work Day, but here in the Upper Valley we’ll be taking it a step further [...]

Dazzlingly Reflective, 80’s Style

We love pairing style with nighttime visibility, so we've ordered REFLECTIVE SLAP BRACELETS to reward people who bike or walk to Flavors of the Valley [...]

Get your bike, boots, or shoes ready!

Get your bike, boots, or shoes ready! From our friends at Local Motion comes the Winter Edition of Vermont's Bike-Walk Challenge, February 1 to 8! Sim [...]

Donuts & Hogwarts: A Transit Travel Training Case Study

One thing a group of Millennial cartoonists doesn’t need is help using a smartphone app – especially an intuitive one that shows the real-time loc [...]

Buses are FREE Thursday for Dump the Pump Day!

Join people around the Upper Valley and nationwide and take the bus Thursday, June 21 for the 13th annual Dump the Pump Day. Stagecoach and Connectic [...]

Y’all Curbed the Car!

On Friday, May 18, the Upper Valley celebrated its newest holiday: Curb the Car Day. Riffing off National Bike to Work Day, Curb the Car Day embra [...]

Featuring Your Friends & Neighbors!

Recognize anyone? Thanks to some dedicated bus riders with bright smiles and great stories, we've put together this poster series promoting Advance Tr [...]

About the Upper Valley Transportation Management Association (UVTMA)

The Vital Communities Transportation Program convenes the Upper Valley Transportation Management Association (UVTMA), a membership-ba [...]

Remembering Shawn Donovan

With great sadness we announce that Lebanon resident Shawn M. Donovan, one of the co-founders of the Upper Valley Transportation Management Associ [...]

Need Transportation in the Upper Valley?

This fall, Vital Communities' Transportation Program collaborated with Go! Vermont to develop a one-page guide to transportation in the Upper Valley, [...]

Upper Valley Transportation Management Association (UVTMA)

We convene the Upper Valley Transportation Management Association (UVTMA), a membership-based group of workplaces, transportation providers, municipalities, and planners. Dues-paying members are eligible for customized programs and services for their town or workplace.

Join us to help solve the transportation challenges affecting the Upper Valley. E-mail Bethany to learn more about becoming a UVTMA member.

UVTMA Steering Committee

Dartmouth-Hitchcock: Tom Carlson
Norwich Energy Committee: Susan Hardy
Lebanon: Rebecca Owens
Hartford: Matt Osborn
Dartmouth College: Patrick O’Neill
Lebanon Area Chamber of Commerce: vacant

Lyme: Daniel Brand
New England Transportation Institute: Matthew Coogan
Plainfield: Betsy Rybeck Lynd
Hanover Bicycle/Pedestrian Committee: Scot Drysdale
Co-op Food Stores: Allan Reetz
City of Lebanon Planning Board: Sarah Welsch

Advance Transit: Van Chesnut
Resource Systems Group: Ben Swanson
At Large: Patricia Higgins
Hypertherm: John Rooney
vBike, Hartland Energy Committee & Upper Valley Sierra Club: Karl Kemnitzer

UVLSRPC: Meghan Butts, Chair
TRORC: Rita Seto
SWCRPC: Jason Rasmussen
Southwestern Community Services: vacant
Stagecoach: Mike Reiderer
Vital Communities: Bethany Fleishman

Calendar

	April 2020
Sun	Mon	Tue	Wed	Thu	Fri	Sat
			1	2	3	4
5 Climate and Community Webinar: Lessons from the Soil #2 Climate and Community Webinar: Lessons from the Soil #2 Starts: 7:30 pm Ends: April 5, 2020 - 10:00 pm Description: Historical Landscape: Learning from the Past Take a deep dive into the history of the Upper Valley to understand its watersheds, landscapes, climates, and inhabitants – and how they affect each other. Use the lessons of the past to envision a just future. Free and open to all. https://vitalcommunities.org/valleyfoodfarm/climate-and-community-resilience-lessons-from-the-soil/ More details... •	6	7	8 LUV Transportation Day - Online LUV Transportation Day - Online Starts: 11:00 am Ends: April 8, 2020 - 9:15 pm More details... Leadership Upper Valley - Transportation & Livable Communities Day Leadership Upper Valley - Transportation & Livable Communities Day Starts: 12:00 am Ends: April 8, 2020 - 11:59 pm Description: This is a Vital Communities Leadership Upper Valley Class of 2020 event. If you'd like to learn more or apply for next year's LUV Class, please contact Rob Schultz at rob@vitalcommunities.org or visit vitalcommunities.org/leadershipuppervalley. LUV alumni are welcome at current year classes with advanced notice. Please contact Rob for details. More details... • •	9	10	11
12	13 Climate and Community Resilience Webinar: Lessons from the Soil #3 Climate and Community Resilience Webinar: Lessons from the Soil #3 Starts: 9:30 pm Ends: April 14, 2020 - 12:00 am Description: Here and Now: Human Impacts The world today has been shaped by human decisions to rearrange Earth’s systems. Learn about how and why the world exists in its current unstable state and explore possibilities to make better decisions in the future. Free and open to all. https://vitalcommunities.org/valleyfoodfarm/climate-and-community-resilience-lessons-from-the-soil/ More details... •	14	15	16	17	18
19	20	21	22	23 UVTMA Monthly Meeting - REMOTE UVTMA Monthly Meeting - REMOTE Starts: 8:00 pm Ends: April 23, 2020 - 9:30 pm Location: By video conference Description: This is the meeting of the Upper Valley Transportation Management Association. For spring 2020 and until further notice, meetings will be held remotely. Join Zoom Meeting https://zoom.us/j/271593187 Meeting ID: 271 593 187 One tap mobile +19294362866,,271593187# US (New York) +13126266799,,271593187# US (Chicago) Dial by your location +1 929 436 2866 US (New York) +1 312 626 6799 US (Chicago) +1 301 715 8592 US +1 346 248 7799 US (Houston) +1 669 900 6833 US (San Jose) +1 253 215 8782 US Meeting ID: 271 593 187 Find your local number: https://zoom.us/u/adi4QNnzvZ More details... •	24	25 Guided Valley Quest: Hurricane Town Forest Guided Valley Quest: Hurricane Town Forest Starts: 5:00 pm Ends: April 25, 2020 - 7:00 pm Location: Hurricane Town Forest, Hartford, VT, USA Description: Join Vital Communities’ Valley Quest Coordinators Beth Roy & Sandy Gmur along with Kevin Tolan, Vermont Center for Ecostudies' Vernal Pool Monitor Coordinator, on a guided exploration of a vernal pool in the Hurricane Town Forest of Hartford. The Sally Salamander Meander will take us on a moderate hike to celebrate spring and all that comes to life at this time of year. This is a great opportunity to complete one of the Quests for the 2020 Super Quest and start the Questing season with an adventure! This guided Quest is appropriate for families and adults, all are welcome. REGISTER: https://hartfordvt.myrec.com/info/activities/program_details.aspx?ProgramID=29865 More details... •
26 Climate and Community Resilience Webinar: Lessons from the Soil #4 Climate and Community Resilience Webinar: Lessons from the Soil #4 Starts: 7:30 pm Ends: April 26, 2020 - 10:00 pm Description: Systems Collapse: Climate and Ecological Crisis The environment is destabilizing, along with societies, economies, and cultures. Understand the collapse through various lenses to explore adaptation and avoid false solutions. Free and open to all. https://vitalcommunities.org/valleyfoodfarm/climate-and-community-resilience-lessons-from-the-soil/ More details... •	27	28	29	30 Business Leaders VIRTUAL Housing Breakfast - Spring 2020 Business Leaders VIRTUAL Housing Breakfast - Spring 2020 Starts: 11:30 am Ends: April 30, 2020 - 1:00 pm Location: Virtual event - details to follow Description: Business Leaders Housing Breakfast - Spring 2020 Thursday, April 30, 7:30 to 9 am. We are a resilient and flexible region! COVID19 precautions have made this a virtual event. Details to follow. Our topic this spring is housing solutions that are being implemented around the Upper Valley. We will hear from people leading efforts in Claremont, Bradford, the Mount Ascutney Hospital 13-town service area, Lebanon, and the four-town group of Sharon, Strafford, Royalton, and Tunbridge. We'll apply what we learn in small-group discussions of action steps employers and employees can take to expand the impact or replicate the projects presented. Please register here. More details... •

Vital Communities News

Climate & Community Resilience Spring Series

Climate and Community Resilience: Lessons from the Soil Spring Community Webinar Series to Unpack What Creating Our Future Looks Like What is good for the soil is good for our communities. Deep healthy soil governs flood resilience, ...more

Public Investment AFTER Covid19

How can we know which uses of our public funds are the most productive in a recovery? Join this free webinar at 1 pm March 31 by Joe Minicozzi of Urban 3 to learn how ...more

Five Inspiring Stories

On March 18, Vital Communities held a webinar featuring five inspiring stories from energy committees across the Upper Valley. Stories included: Electric charging stations in Bethel An Upper Valley eBike lending library Energy saving window ...more

13th Annual Roundtable - September 15

You're Invited! The 13th Annual Upper Valley Energy Committee Roundtable will be held Tuesday, September 15, 5-8 pm in West Lebanon! This annual gathering of local energy volunteers is open to all, whether you serve on an ...more

Upper Valley Farm to School Forum: Trauma & Nutrition

Event Postponed We will be rescheduling the forum to the late spring or next fall Upper Valley Farm to School Forum: Trauma & Nutrition March 19 4:30-7pm Sharon Elementary School 75 VT Route 132, Sharon, VT 05065 Join the Upper Valley ...more

Climate and Community Resilience: Lessons from the Soil

Renewable Energy Funding for Farms and Small Businesses

Get the information you need to move forward with a renewable energy or energy efficiency project in Vermont or New Hampshire. Join Ken Yearman, Rural Development Energy Coordinator for Vermont and New Hampshire; a farmer ...more

13th Annual Energy Committee Roundtable - March 18

You're Invited! The 13th Annual Upper Valley Energy Committee Roundtable is Wednesday, March 18, 5-8 pm in West Lebanon! This annual gathering of local energy volunteers is open to all, whether you serve on an energy committee, ...more

Renewable Energy Funding for Small Businesses

Improve Your Small Business Digital Marketing Presence!

Calling all Upper Valley farms and small businesses! Could your business benefit from professional consulting services to improve your marketing? With Rural Development funding, Local First is hosting free marketing workshops AND providing an opportunity ...more

TLC Upper Valley Success!

Local Investing Success with TLC Upper Valley! The Local Crowd (TLC) Upper Valley is a locally based crowdfunding platform that empowers individuals to invest in the businesses, organizations and initiatives that support vital communities in our ...more

Efficient Heating in Vermont

Check out this newly produced, six-minute YouTube video on Efficient Heating in Vermont, created by Two Rivers Ottauquechee Regional Commission. The video describes the types and benefits of home heating options and describes the current rebates ...more

Fall Guided Quest: Trees of Dartmouth Quest

Join Vital Communities' Valley Quest Coordinator Beth Roy on a guided treasure hunt of the trees of Dartmouth. Celebrate fall as we discover many exotic trees around the Dartmouth College Campus and learn about their ...more

A New Quest to Celebrate the Mascoma River Greenway!

Have you been on the Mascoma River Greenway yet? If not, it is time to check it out. I had a fantastic time follwing the new Quest of the Mascoma River Greenway. I took my ...more

A New Quest in Pomfret, Vermont

Earlier this summer I had the fortune of working with the amazing staff of the Artistree Community Arts Center in Pomfret, Vermont on offering a Questing Camp. Over the week the campers learned about the ...more

Stand in Your Circle of Strength and Lead

Ed. Note: On May 30, Vital Communities honored 12 community leaders who’ve added immeasurably to the vitality of the Upper Valley at its annual Heroes & Leaders Celebration. The following are the event’s keynote remarks ...more

Heroes & Leaders: Creating a Vital Upper Valley

Every spring, Leadership Upper Valley, a program of Vital Communities, hosts the annual Heroes & Leaders Celebration to recognize individuals who make significant contributions to the Upper Valley. In 2019, we are pleased to honor ...more

A Lot Lighter with More Hands: Leadership Upper Valley

On the bright, sunny morning of June 13, Cobb Hill was waking up, and the soon-to-be graduating 2018 Leadership Upper Valley class was just arriving for their final meeting. Before the ceremony at Harpoon Brewery, ...more

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Ana Mejia

Climate Projects Coordinator

Transportation, Energy

802-291-9100 x114

email
phone phone

Transportation, Energy

— Ana Mejia, Climate Projects Coordinator

Ana Mejia is the Climate Projects Coordinator at Vital Communities. She is a Southern California native and first arrived to the Upper Valley in 2018. Ana received her Bachelor’s degree in Geology from Bryn Mawr College in Pennsylvania and her Master’s in Environmental Sciences and Policy from Central European University in Budapest, Hungary, where she wrote her thesis on solar home affordability and energy efficiency programs for low income families. When she is not actively working towards creating sustainable communities, Ana enjoys swimming, cross-country skiing, birding, and trying out new dessert recipes with her KitchenAid mixer.

Bethany Fleishman

Transportation Program Manager

Transportation

802-291-9100 x111

email
phone phone

Transportation

— Bethany Fleishman, Transportation Program Manager

Bethany Fleishman was born at the old Mary Hitchcock hospital in Hanover, N.H., grew up in West Hartford, Vt., and now lives in Hartford Village, where she can see the White River and the trains from her window. She has a biology degree from St. Lawrence University and has worked in public health outreach, as a line cook in San Francisco, a pastry chef in Hanover, and as a member of the Town of Hartford Selectboard. She serves on the board of directors for both Advance Transit and Upper Valley CarShare and is a lifelong bike commuter.

The Vital Communities Transportation Program works with employers, municipalities, school districts, and regional planning commissions to improve transportation options and reduce reliance on driving alone.

Commuter Calculator

In Vermont and New Hampshire, transportation is the largest single source of greenhouse gases.

This toolkit is for community volunteers who would like to locally tackle the climate impacts of our car-centered transportation system.

What's Happening

Upper Valley Transportation Management Association (UVTMA)

UVTMA Steering Committee

UVTMA Members

Greatest Hits

Calendar

April 2020

Photo Gallery

Vital Communities News

Want more information?

Ana Mejia

Transportation, Energy

— Ana Mejia, Climate Projects Coordinator

Bethany Fleishman

Transportation

— Bethany Fleishman, Transportation Program Manager

Commuter
Calculator