VITAL COMMUNITIES
COVID-19 Update: Upper Valley bus companies are still running, though with schedule and route adjustments. Please see the following links for updates from each provider:
- Advance Transit
- Tri-Valley Transit (formerly Stagecoach) (FARE-FREE during the pandemic, all riders MUST call ahead to reserve a ride)
- “The Current” / Connecticut River Transit
- Sullivan County Transit / Southwestern Community Services
For more information, see Go! Vermont’s COVID-19 Transportation Updates.
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? Tri-Valley Transit (formerly 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)
- Tri-Valley Transit (formerly Stagecoach) (I-89 and I-91 north of Advance Transit in Vermont)
- Connecticut River Transit (I-91 south of Advance Transit in Vermont)
- Sullivan County Transit (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
Safe Routes to School During Pandemic
School reopening is the big topic right now: how to do it safely, effectively, and efficiently. New requirements for health checks, physical distancin [...]
Lend Your Voice to Local/National Commute Survey
The commutes of many Upper Valley residents have changed significantly due to COVID-19, with many shifting to telecommuting. Now that workplaces are s [...]
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 [...]
Vital Communities Program News
Putting Your Money to Work Locally
More Free "Local Investment" Events starting April 8! "Market forces" got you down? Does it seem like Big Finance keeps putting resources toward things that create more environmental damage and human inequality? Maybe it's time you took ...more
April 8: "Investing in Home Creation"
Investing for Home Creation Thursday, April 8, 5:30 pm https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zUwM8Z2FD3Q The Upper Valley faces a shortage of housing, particularly in the lower-cost sector, that's affecting our ability to be a vibrant, equitable community. This session discussed how even ...more
April 15, 2021: “Putting Your Money to Work Locally: Investing Clubs 101”
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FnLZ7akjtGw Interested in investing locally but don’t want to do it alone? Investment clubs pool money to collectively invest in local businesses and bring a social aspect to the process – they make investment fun! In this ...more
Valley Quests Open May 1—including a Guided Event to a Vernal Pool!
Mark your calendar for Saturday, May 1: It's a big one for Valley Quests! Not only is May 1 Opening Day for Quests—"treasure hunts" that share the natural and cultural history of 160+ special areas in ...more
Flavors of the Valley 2021: The Fun Goes Digital!
Flavors of the Valley, the Upper Valley's favorite local food tasting expo, will not be stopped this year! We're moving it to May, with a month-long digital celebration of spring, our local farms, local food, ...more
Our 2021 Farm-To-School Mini-Grant Recipients!
Ten Upper Valley schools and day care facilities have been awarded $500 mini-grants to support farm-to-school projects this year! These grants are designed to help schools, afterschool programs, or school-related wellness programs with projects related ...more
Braised Pork + Cabbage: A One-Pot Late Winter Farmers Market Meal
Braised Pork & Cabbage: A One-Pot Late Winter Farmers Market Meal Magazines and radio shows are already gushing about springy greens recipes, but if you’re eating seasonally in the Upper Valley, winter food is still on the table. And ...more
Zucchini Chard Cakes
I’ve lost count of the number of times I’ve shared this zucchini chard cake recipe with folks this summer. I was sure that as soon as I mentioned zucchini I would be greeted with a sigh ...more
Creamy Barley Pudding
I always loved rice pudding as a kid, especially when warm off the stove, with a splash of cold milk, some raisins thrown in and cinnamon sprinkled on top. While I could still go for ...more
Have an Idea That Could Use a Lift?
New Hampshire 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 ...more
Free Webinar on Writing Waterway Quests, April 8
Valley Quests are treasure hunts set in special locations around the Upper Valley. Each Quest follows a unique set of clues that teach you about a place’s ecology, wildlife, and history while leading to a ...more
Quest to the Star!
Have you seen the star alight upon Mt. Tom in Woodstock? Wouldn't it be fun to see it up close? You can if you follow the clues of the Mt. Tom Quest. The star traditionally ...more
Neighbors Helping Neighbors Save Energy
This week marks the close of Vital Communities and volunteers’ 2020 Vermont Energy Savings project in seven towns in the Vermont side of the Upper Valley. Vital Communities partnered with Sustainable Woodstock (serving Woodstock, Hartland, ...more
Weatherize Webinar, August 17
Weatherize Webinar with NHSaves Monday, August 17 at Noon Did Covid-19 stop your 2020 weatherization plans in their tracks? NOW is the right time to jump back on the weatherize band wagon. Lower energy bills and cozy ...more
Welcome 31 New Upper Valley Change-makers
Vital Communities celebrated the graduation of the Leadership Upper Valley Class of 2020 on Wednesday, June 10. This event marked the program’s 14th graduating class, as 31 local leaders completed the 10-month program with a ...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
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
