VITAL COMMUNITIES
Explore taking the bus to work or school
The Upper Valley enjoys one of the best rural transit systems in the country. With several companies offering service to major workplaces in the area, it’s easier than you might think to find a bus to take to work. If you live and work in the central towns of the Upper Valley (Hartford, Lebanon, etc.), give Advance Transit a try – it’s free! Real-time bus tracking system and trip planner available at AdvanceTransit.com!
Commuting from further away? Stagecoach and Connecticut River Transit offer pick-ups as far away as Springfield, Bradford, Montpelier, and Wells River. Southwestern Community Services offers community bus service in Claremont, Newport, and Charlestown.
Find your route on Google Transit or the new Go! Vermont Trip Planner (in pilot phase so submit your feedback!)
- Advance Transit (Canaan, Enfield, Hanover, Hartford, Lebanon, Norwich)
- Stagecoach (I-89 and I-91 north of Advance Transit in Vermont)
- Connecticut River Transit (I-91 south of Advance Transit in Vermont)
- Southwestern Community Services (serving Claremont, Charlestown, and Newport)
- Vermont Translines (daily trip between Rutland and Upper Valley)
- Dartmouth Coach (service from Hanover, Lebanon, and New London to Boston and New York City)
- Greyhound (national intercity bus service)
- Amtrak (national intercity train service)
- Google Transit (a handy tool to map out trips)
Get Around the Upper Valley
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 [...]
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, [...]
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 [...]
Attention, Vermont Schools: It’s WAY TO GO! Time
This year's statewide Way to Go! School Challenge is September 25 - October 6. It’s a great way for schools to battle carbon pollution head-on!
[...]
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 [...]
Everyday Bicycling Workshop is a Success
Last month, we led two successful Everyday Bicycling workshops at the Windsor Public Library in collaboration with Burlington-based Local Motion. [...]
Vital Communities Program News
From the State House to the Farm House
Calling all Vermont Farmers! You're invited to the second annual From the State House to the Farmhouse event on Sunday September 22nd from 1-4 pm and talk one-on-one with your legislators and influence policy. Across the state ...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
Chime In: 9/18 Hartford Hearing on Affordable Housing in Vermont
Concerned about the need for more affordable housing in both Windsor County and Vermont? Join a discussion with local business leaders, affordable housing advocates, and community members on the challenges facing Vermont and the possible local ...more
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
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
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
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
