[{"_1":2,"_87":-5,"_88":-5},"loaderData",{"_3":4,"_26":27},"root",{"_5":6,"_17":10,"_18":19,"_20":21,"_22":10,"_23":-5,"_24":-5,"_25":10},"user",{"_7":8,"_9":10,"_11":10,"_12":-5,"_13":-5,"_14":15,"_16":-5},"roles",[],"isAuthenticated",false,"isPremium","planName","subscriptionStatus","featureFlags",{},"insightsBudget","isDevelopmentHost","userPreferences",{},"recaptchaSiteKey","6LcvOJcUAAAAAHsB-gPGfGktcRlKpH7OTIU_dMTD","isImpersonating","impersonation","affiliateStatus","isFreedomPortal","routes/v2/article/layout",{"_28":29,"_30":31},"notFound",true,"relatedArticles",[32,75],{"_33":34,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":40,"_41":42,"_43":44,"_45":46,"_47":48,"_49":50,"_51":52,"_53":54,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":60,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":66,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":72,"_73":56,"_74":56},"mediaId",6117029,"mediaKeyId","2731067-44463d1846b8005bdaf1e6cc73f1c1c1","parentId",2731067,"title","Senate committee favors keeping DMV authority to require $29 road‑test deposit pending new system","audioSeconds",550,"startMs",4679900,"endMs",5230005,"viewUrl","/Search/View?dp=1&key=2731067-44463d1846b8005bdaf1e6cc73f1c1c1&start=4679&end=5230","thumbnailUrl","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/2731067-44463d1846b8005bdaf1e6cc73f1c1c1/thumbnail_4679900.jpg","articleUrl","/articles/6117029/Vermont/Senate-committee-favors-keeping-DMV-authority-to-require-29-roadtest-deposit-pending-new-system","mediaUrl","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6117029-1c3c278d35597445080d8637423cc504/orig.mp4?Expires=1770929779&Signature=QathIbbb-5kYefnZQTCbKTtOzntSPKYhYpDjuW1YUK3iRK45uce-UY3mgU2v5AF5N7B4R0zhaNej0OXLYEZoahKZRlx~k~iaN8NFJaicf6ACToreGVm1A2KnIqNUrOqt71RKbjX-yPG4wWWHNwPMTXf965NdgY2G8LUfDbRiwkku9zHG6mpsaMcJbJAbNnzpvTVniLyEJvGrPnBDAbO9s7K2~p5o19p6faKrShX0rqZil9RMOuUefFvlJHbuOP1bFEDD-2gvj5uDQF3Qa~03scb9OC0u6PswoXA8KfZNod4eZul9JNtdoh3qyexMGQEf~Kg9PuGG1n5lUQJvdhe0Og__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","author","","date","2025-03-22T00:42:57.947Z","article","Senator Thomas Chitenden (Chittenden County) asked the committee on March 21 to restore language in S.123 that preserves the Department of Motor Vehicles’ authority to require a $29 reservation or deposit for scheduled road tests, saying the fee would discourage duplicate bookings and no‑shows.

\"There was a concern that this is potentially sacrificing $120,000 in revenue,\" Senator Chitenden said while summarizing the amendment; he noted the committee’s estimate of about 3,200 no‑shows last year and an illustrative revenue figure if the fee were collected on duplicates.

Andrew Collier, commissioner of the Department of Motor Vehicles, told the committee the agency did not view the fee as a revenue generator but as a means to reduce duplicate bookings and missed appointments. \"We're not looking at this as any sort of revenue generator,\" Collier said. He added that the DMV plans to limit users to one slot per applicant when the agency’s new licensing system is launched and that the department will retain discretion to waive the deposit for good cause.

The amendment preserves the $29 authority, permits the agency to establish a process to apply the deposit (including waivers for good cause), and includes flexibility on an implementation date tied to the DMV’s new computer system. Committee members discussed feasible start dates: Collier said a January‑timeframe implementation was realistic, and sponsors agreed to language that allows the authority to be implemented earlier but no later than July 1, 2026. The committee completed a favorable straw poll and requested a formal draft 3.1 of the amendment for the record and subsequent action.

Why it matters: Committee members said the deposit could reduce wasted appointment capacity and that the DMV’s new booking system should prevent duplicate bookings. The agency committed to limit multiple bookings and to apply waivers for legitimate no‑shows.

Key details

- Fee amount: $29 reservation/deposit for road‑test appointments, as discussed in S.123 language.

- No‑show counts and estimated revenue: Committee testimony referenced roughly 3,200 no‑shows last year and an illustrative maximum revenue figure near $120,000 if the deposit were collected for all no‑shows; Collier cautioned that the DMV does not plan the fee as a revenue source.

- Implementation and waivers: Commissioner Collier said the DMV will restrict applicants to one booking slot in the new system and that staff will retain discretion to waive forfeiture for \"good cause\" (illness, emergency, etc.). The committee agreed that the authority may be implemented earlier but set a firm no‑later‑than date of July 1, 2026, to allow the DMV time to deploy its new system.

- Committee action: The panel conducted a favorable straw poll to accept the amendment with the revised implementation timing and asked sponsors to submit a draft 3.1 amendment for the committee record.

Ending

The DMV will provide the committee with a draft amendment (3.1) reflecting the agreed changes and continue coordinating implementation timing while completing its new licensing system.","mediaType","Video","parentTitle","Senate Transportation - 2025-03-21 - 9:15AM","oneSentenceSummary","The Senate Transportation hearing on March 21 included an amendment to S.123 that preserves DMV authority to charge a $29 reservation/deposit for driver road‑tests to discourage duplicate bookings; the committee gave a favorable straw poll and asked for a draft amendment (3.1).","taxTitle","Senate Transportation, SENATE, Committees, Legislative , Vermont","taxId",51841,"location","Vermont","headline","shortSummary",{"_33":76,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":77,"_41":78,"_43":79,"_45":80,"_47":81,"_49":82,"_51":83,"_53":84,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":85,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":86,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":72,"_73":56,"_74":56},6117033,"Vermont transportation officials outline $160M-plus bridge program, flag cost increases and flood repairs",2840,19895,2860190,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=2731067-44463d1846b8005bdaf1e6cc73f1c1c1&start=19&end=2860","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/2731067-44463d1846b8005bdaf1e6cc73f1c1c1/thumbnail_19895.jpg","/articles/6117033/Vermont/Vermont-transportation-officials-outline-160M-plus-bridge-program-flag-cost-increases-and-flood-repairs","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6117033-3ad3503715b5c8349258027e1e2fc407/orig.mp4?Expires=1770929779&Signature=CLBDkPYF0xooVOksXeZthfhmyFvA1ZjYCP~w7KaqVirow7iTZ5yP~LD74byXB9gg7s0EVz8N5W3ze84LUT32YuJEL82H-qGSLkwYPmSw8DnqhqMG4vwnZjFZ3vv2hYcRKhcgej1jofYUlZECEalSjS0j7c9ZUtSuHBUczJU6w0IA~vjgyxgeJWIFnpITyfacVk20ilpTJbUWt7t~7XZrdrokhQx4lDCnf8KKU~i2-O0eS1tiF-XE3SMULap4BiClYHJnGehHHQ7AXwZXHZh~NGWjqN~br~Lb5j5I6bSyZR2nWrA-qf-9sZkspNxq1I17C5JZh~ZztsYEMmGAUlmKSw__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","Carolyn Koda, P.E., the structures program manager, told the Senate Transportation Committee on March 21 that the agency’s Structures and Hydraulics group manages preservation, rehabilitation and new-construction work for the state’s bridges, large culverts and retaining walls.

Koda said the FY26 program for bridges totals roughly $161 million across three subprograms — interstate, state highway and town highway bridges — and includes emergency-repair work from the 2023–24 floods. \"Right now, we were just over a hundred and 60,000,000 in fiscal year 25, and the share of our program is about a hundred and 60,000,000 total in 2026,\" Koda said.

The committee was given a program-level breakdown and project highlights, and members pressed staff for condition and lifecycle metrics rather than dollars alone. \"The dollars don't mean crap to me,\" said one committee member, asking for year‑over‑year work completed and counts of bridges in each condition category. Koda and other staff agreed to provide condition and lifecycle charts showing age, work completed and remaining needs.

Why it matters: Committee members emphasized that the recent influx of federal infrastructure money and flood-driven emergency projects has raised program totals and complicated long-term planning. Members said they want to understand whether the current elevated spending is a temporary spike to address flood damage and IIJA-funded opportunities or a sustained new baseline.

Most important details

- Funding shares: Koda said interstate bridge work is typically 90% federal/10% state; state highway bridges often 80% federal/20% state; town highway bridge projects are generally 80% federal with varying state/local matches (state shares quoted as 15%, 17.5% or 0% in some cases, with local shares of 10%, 5% or 2.5%). Emergency projects tied to the 2023–24 floods were described as funded about 81.08% federal/18.92% state in one example. The FHWA and IIJA were cited as sources of federal funding; FEMA and ARPA funds were also noted in some flood-related projects.

- Program totals and composition: Koda summarized FY26 totals and counts: roughly $45 million for the interstate bridge program (about $42M federal), about $75M in the state highway bridge program (about $61M federal), and about $37M in the town highway bridge program (about $32M federal). For the overall bridges portfolio, staff cited 59 funded projects in the program, 26 emergency projects, and 70 projects funded for construction in the current program snapshot.

- Expanded-cost and bid pressures: Staff identified a set of projects with large cost increases relative to earlier estimates. Examples discussed included Colchester (an Access 17 project) with an increase attributable to inflation and scope refinement, and other projects whose preliminary-plan estimates dated back to 2014 or earlier and therefore looked much larger when rebid in the current market. Koda said some increases reflected updated, refined estimates and recent bid history.

- Project highlights and risks: Staff reviewed notable projects: the Hartford–Lebanon bi‑state interstate bridge share; the Royalton rehabilitation (multi‑year, ~$9M spent this year); a Springfield I‑91 CMGC project; Richmond deck rehabilitation; the Richmond/Westminster projects; the Burlington–Winooski design‑build replacement (noted as having a federal grant but with a funding gap and a current approximate total near $70M); and numerous culvert and small‑structure emergency repairs. Staff warned that design‑build and grant timing create deadlines: federal RAISE/race grant authorization deadlines could require construction authorization by Sept. 30, 2026, or risk losing funds.

- Town highway bridge program: The town program was budgeted at about $38M with 52 projects funded; standard shares for federally eligible town bridges were described as 80% federal, roughly 15% state and 5% local if a temporary bridge is not required, with alternate splits when temporary work is needed.

- Lifecycle and condition tracking requested: Committee members repeatedly asked staff to report the number of bridges by condition categories and age bands (life‑cycle position) rather than dollars alone; staff agreed to provide condition and life‑cycle charts and inspection data (native inspection reports are available on the agency’s online transparency/map tools, staff noted).

Staff cautioned that market conditions, limited contractor capacity in Vermont and ongoing emergency projects from multiple flood events are driving higher costs and single‑bid occurrences on some projects. Committee members asked for a standing briefing on how shifting federal grant awards or lost federal funds would affect the state’s project priorities and bonding decisions.

Ending

Committee members asked the agency to follow up with data showing counts of bridges by condition and age band, and with a clearer dashboard showing which large projects depend on federal grants or deadlines. Koda and staff agreed to provide those charts and more detailed project‑level information to the committee.","Agency staff told the Senate Transportation Committee on March 21 that the FY26 bridges and roadway program will exceed $160 million, driven by federal IIJA funding and a wave of emergency projects from 2023–24 floods; officials described project highlights, cost escalations, and the need to track lifecycle and condition data.","actionData","errors"]

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Senate committee favors keeping DMV authority to require $29 road‑test deposit pending new system

Vermont transportation officials outline $160M-plus bridge program, flag cost increases and flood repairs