VITAL COMMUNITIES
$500 Mini Grants for Towns and Schools!
The VTrans Public Transit Section offers grants to municipalities and schools to assist
in building a statewide outreach and advocacy network for the Go! Vermont Program. Selectboards, school groups, and volunteer committees (such as town energy committees) are a logical partner in this effort as they bring local credibility, energy, and innovation to the ongoing effort to expand the reach of the Go Vermont Program. VTrans will provide a $500 grant to participating municipal energy committee or volunteer group including K-12 school engagement. Learn more!
Smart Commute Home Edition
Our Smart Commute Home Edition program worked with towns to lower residents’ transportation costs. Modeled after our successful workplace-based program, Home Edition followed a simple process to evaluate opportunities and develop tailored recommendations like new park-and-ride lots, improved marketing of carpool and bus resources, better telecommuting opportunities, electric vehicle charging stations, and more.
Smart Commute created a tailored commuting program designed to meet the needs of participating towns. Starting with a short survey of town residents, we established baseline data on commuting habits, developed a sustainable commuting plan, and worked with town officials and volunteers to implement it.
Participating Towns
2014 Smart Commute Bradford Action Plan
2014 Smart Commute Hartford Action Plan
2015 Smart Commute Hartland Action Plan
2014 Smart Commute Norwich Action Plan
2015 Smart Commute Royalton Action Plan
2015 Smart Commute Sharon Action Plan
2014 Smart Commute Windsor Action Plan
2016 Smart Commute Action Plan for Sustainable Woodstock
A Dozen Strategies from Vital Communities’ Smart Commute Home Edition
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Promote Go! Vermont, New Hampshire Rideshare & Your Local Transit Company
A lot of people simply don’t know about these resources. Use social media, town “listserv” or Front Porch Forum, newspapers to get the word out and build enthusiasm. Table at sports games, the dump, town meeting, etc. Don’t forget about the emergency ride home programs available to Upper Valley residents.
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Explore feasibility of vanpool and host a community vanpool informational party to form vanpools in your area (this works best at a large workplace)
Enterprise Rideshare provides vanpools in Vermont and New Hampshire. See their website to sign up and check for vanpools in your area.Go! Vermont offers a $700 per month subsidy for vans serving Vermont residents and workers. For more information, contact Ross MacDonald at the Go! Vermont Program of the Vermont Agency of Transportation at Ross.MacDonald@state.vt.us.
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Improve Park-and-Ride
Possible improvements: improve walk/bike access, waiting helter, lighting and safety, add EV stations. If improvements have been made recently, make sure there is adequate signage and information about transit and carpool options. Publicize any improvements so people know about them!
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Promote Way to Go! at district schools (Vermont)
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Organize Bike, Walk, and Roll Day at district schools
Use our toolkit, with the goal of making the event ongoing.
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Sign up for a consultation with vBike (Vermont)
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Include specifics about multi-modal transportation in town plan update
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Familiarize your local planners and developers with the Mobility Checklist
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Coordinate with regional efforts to improve volunteer driver programs
Check with transit company, senior centers, community centers, faith groups.
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Install level II electric vehicle charging stations
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Apply for a grant!
E-mail Bethany@VitalCommunities.org to learn about how towns in Vermont qualify for $500 mini grants from VTrans.
Winner of the Planning Project of the Year Award from the NH Planners Association in 2008! This checklist helps developers, planners, and town boards understand how to “think beyond the car” and integrate biking, walking, and transit into their plan development. It was created with the help of the Upper Valley’s professional planning community and revised in 2014.
Resources for Towns
White River Junction Downtown Parking Study Final Report (2017)
This study for the Town of Hartford, Vermont, was produced by Vital Communities and RSG to examine parking constraints and options in the town’s burgeoning historic downtown.
A Look at the Municipal Vehicle Registration Fee (2015)
This study examines an optional $5 vehicle registration fee used by over a dozen New Hampshire municipalities to build local transportation improvement funds. Authorized under RSA 261:153 VI, the optional fee allows municipalities to establish local transportation improvement funds for projects as diverse as basic road maintenance, sidewalk construction, and public transit. The study concludes that many towns are seeing significant benefits from the optional fee and more are interested in adopting the optional program.
Mobility Checklist (2014)
Winner of the Planning Project of the Year Award from the NH Planners Association in 2008! This checklist helps developers, planners, and town boards understand how to “think beyond the car” and integrate biking, walking, and transit into their plan development. It was created with the help of the Upper Valley’s professional planning community and revised in 2014.
Managing Transportation Demand in the NH Route 120 Corridor: Policy, Finance, and Governance Options (2012)
This study examines how a commute trip reduction ordinance, parking revenue, and a corridor management authority could improve transportation options in the Route 120 corridor.
A Widening Gap (2007)
This study advocates for increased funding for transit services in New Hampshire and Vermont.
Operational Impact Study of Advance Transit Fixed-Route Bus Network (2005)
The “Operational Impact Study” examines the positive contribution of Advance Transit to maintaining clean air in the Upper Valley.
East Central Vermont Sustainability Consortium
Vital Communities is proud to be part of the East Central Vermont Sustainability Consortium, a three-year effort to plan for the future needs of Orange and Windsor Counties, Vermont.
Success Stories
Your Bus in Real-Time.
Not sure when and where to catch Advance Transit or if the bus is on time? Download the Advance Transit Real Time App or check the Where’s My Bus? f [...]
Bike to Work Day at Dartmouth College
Bethany and I arrived bright and early at the Hop at Dartmouth College Friday, May 19, to greet employees and students who arrived that morning on two [...]
Dirty Hands, Clean Bikes
I had a lot of fun teaching a Basic Bike Maintenance workshop at the Upper Valley Haven on April 29, ably assisted by Lisa from the Haven!
A doze [...]
Spring Into Bike Riding Season…
...with practical skills training to get you riding more!
What is Everyday Bicycling?
It’s using your bike for those everyday trips that we all ma [...]
Survey Says: Parking and Transportation in White River Junction Are…
Thank you to the more than 500 downtown White River Junction residents, employees, business owners, and visitors who took our survey about parkin [...]
Start a Vanpool in Woodstock!
Looking for a better way to get to work? If you have at least 5 people who share a similar commute and schedule, you can create a vanpool!
Va [...]
Planning the Parking Future of White River Junction
Hartford Awards Grant for White River Junction Parking and Transportation Plan; Vital Communities and RSG to Lead Project
Vital Communities and nei [...]
Advance Transit Releases Real-Time App
An increasingly common tool in urban areas, a real-time transit app has come to the Upper Valley. You can now use an iPhone or Android to see wher [...]
More Bus Service for the Bradford Area and I-91
Exciting new bus service improvements from our partner, Stagecoach Transportation Services!
Expanded RIVER ROUTE (Wells River-Newbury-Bradford-Fa [...]
New Study on Funding Local Transportation
Vital Communities is pleased to release a new study that examines an optional vehicle registration fee used by over a dozen New Hampshire municipaliti [...]
Vital Communities Program News
Welcome Norwich Solar Technologies!
We are proud to welcome Norwich Solar Technologies as a Local First Promoter Sponsor! The White River Junction-based renewable energy company provides end-to-end solar solutions to businesses in Vermont, New Hampshire, and throughout New England. ...more
Have an Idea That Could Use a Lift?
Local Businesses, Farmers,Entrepreneurs, Nonprofits, Community Initiatives: Do you have an incredible project just waiting to happen? Want to grow your organization, our community, and the local economy, but don’t have access to capital? The Local Crowd (TLC) Upper Valley is ...more
Fat Hat Clothing-Keeping it Local for 40 years
Forty years ago Joan Ecker started Fat Hat Clothing Company with free fabric remnants and a treadle sewing machine. Today F.H. Clothing Company is a nationally known family business that designs, produces and sells stylish, ...more
Quest Spotlight: Trees of Hanover Quest
With this amazing stretch of sunny days we've been having, I wanted to get outside and do more Questing! This week, I went out to do the Trees of Hanover Quest. This Quest takes you ...more
Quest Spotlight: Quest for the Kestrel
This month, I wanted to spotlight a Quest on the Super Quest list! If you haven't signed up for the Super Quest yet, there is still time! Register your team, and then find a Quest off ...more
Housing: Regional Challenge—Local Solutions
Housing: Regional Challenge—Local Solutions We live, work, shop, and play across state and town lines, so it makes sense to work together to meet our shared housing challenge. Here is what some towns are doing, and how ...more
New South Royalton Quest!
We are excited to announce the Royalton Historical Quest, a new Valley Quest! This Quest will take you around the green in South Royalton while teaching you about the town’s history. Starting at the White ...more
Celebrate Our Independents!
July is a time to celebrate not only our independence as a nation but the entrepreneurial spirit and freedom that is embodied by our local and independent businesses. Independents Week is an annual opportunity to ...more
Free Power of Produce Clubs for Kids!
Bring the kids to free, drop-in, fun and educational Power of Produce (POP) Clubs between now and August 18. Thirteen area farmers' markets host POP Clubs! Bring kids to the POP Club table where they ...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
12th Annual Roundtable - May 7
You're Invited! The 12th Annual Upper Valley Energy Committee Roundtable is Tuesday, May 7, 5-8 pm in West Lebanon! This annual gathering of local energy volunteers is open to all, whether you serve on an energy committee, wish to ...more
Eat. Meet. Buy. Flavors of the Valley 2019 Vendors are here!
Check out the hottest new vendors and returning favorites! Samples are listed if the vendor has provided sampling information. Vendors will also have many delicious items for sale! April 7, 11 am - 3 pm at Hartford ...more
April Meet-Up Series for Beginning Farmers
We have an exciting project for new farmers in the White River valley portion of our region! The High Meadows Fund is supporting a series of free peer-to-peer gatherings for beginning farmers to build community and learn. ...more
Apply for a Farm to School Mini-Grant!
We are excited to announce the 2019 mini-grant program from Vital Communities' Upper Valley Farm to School Network! Funding is available to both Vermont and New Hampshire schools. Start dreaming up your farm-to-school projects—we want ...more
Seeking Bids from Solar Installers by Nov. 30
Vital Communities is teaming up with Kearsarge Climate Action to launch a Solarize Kearsarge campaign in spring 2019, following on the tails of the upcoming Weatherize Kearsarge campaign launching in January 2019. We are seeking proposals ...more
Lebanon Area Businesses - Join us on Sept. 27
So many small businesses in the Upper Valley are burdened with high energy costs. And not enough time to do anything about it! We've got some good news for you. A group of Lebanon residents are ...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
Staff
Ana Mejia
Climate Projects Coordinator
Transportation, Energy
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
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.
