§ 10j. Intermodal and multimodal transportation facilities; project planning criteria
(a) Initial Screening/Threshold Requirements. In considering a proposal for an intermodal or multimodal transportation facility, the agency shall take into account the size of the community, the location of the proposed facility, and the presence of a logical combination of transportation modes. An intermodal facility requires the presence of several modes of transportation, and a reasonable need to connect the different modes in a manner not easily done without the presence of a dedicated intermodal facility.
(b) Project Information. The agency shall adopt a policy identifying the basic information to be provided in any application for a proposed intermodal or multimodal facility.
(c) Project Evaluation. Applications will be evaluated based on:
(1) Usage potential (i.e., how many people will be boarding and alighting at this location);
(2) Need for transfer facilities (i.e., how many will be transferring between vehicles or modes, and need to wait for connections);
(3) Modal connections (i.e., do modes actually connect at this location, what are the frequencies, and how many people will be making the connection);
(4) Opportunities for savings resulting from combining facilities (e.g., if railroad and bus stations are in the same building, does that save capital or operating dollars);
(5) Relationship of proposed costs to usage/revenue (annualized capital and operating costs per boarding);
(6) Relationship to 10 V.S.A. chapter 151 (Act No. 250 of 1970, as amended), 22 V.S.A. chapter 14 (historic preservation), 24 V.S.A. chapter 76A (historic downtown development) and the planning goals of 24 V.S.A. § 4302;
(7) Whether the proposed project addresses needs identified in policy or service plans for other modes (i.e., intercity bus, passenger rail, aviation);
(8) Long-term viability from an operations and maintenance perspective; and
(9) Self-sustainability of project funding (i.e., what, if any, level of ongoing subsidy will be needed).
(d) Project Managers. A project manager shall be assigned to each intermodal and multimodal transportation facility project which has received state or federal funding and this assignment shall not delay the construction schedule.
(e) State Funding. It shall be the policy of the state that state funds not be expended on intermodal or multimodal projects that have federal funds specifically designated for them until they enter the construction phase. (Added 1999, No. 156 (Adj. Sess.), § 11, eff. May 29, 2000.)