Filling up on regular unleaded gasoline is no longer $20 or so dollars (depending on tank size) like it was a little over a half-decade ago. As a result, Vermonter's are feeling the weight on their wallets. Vermont residents are spending 60% more on liquid fuels than they were 5 years ago, a percent equivalent to $800 million. Even more, gas prices are expected to hit $4 a gallon by mid summer. With little relief in sight at the gas pump, people and businesses in the state are cutting their discretionary spending and looking to alternatives. Marble Valley Regional Transit District, a public-transit service in the Rutland region, has seen ridership increase as much as 35% on some routes in the past year. Furthermore, companies like Casella are adopting new limits on idling time. [Source: Rutland Herald]
Not on Vermont shores, but will the state feel the impacts of the new ethanol plant planned for the Port of Albany? Regardless of recent criticism of the fuel, ethanol plants continue to pop up. Albany Renewable Energy's plant, to be located along 20 acres of waterfront property in New York, is among one of these pop ups. The $350 million plant plans to create 600,000 tons of cargo and bring 350 barges in and out of the Port of Albany a year. At present, no barges enter this port. The plant is set to be completed by late 2009 early 2010. [Source: 
Ellen Atkinson, community outreach director for Marble Valley Regional Transit District, says people are now more willing to leave their houses 20 minutes earlier to avoid driving their cars. Consequently, ridership is booming and at least one new service is being added. A midday bus service from Rutland to Middlebury will hit the streets April 15th. Marble Valley Regional Transit and Addison County Transit Resources will connect in Brandon leaving Middlebury at 11:20 a.m. and Rutland at 11:30 a.m. to bring passengers north to south or vice versa. The decision to install this new route came after a survey of riders showed that 60% would like to see a midday service. Increased ridership on several routes throughout the state also helped in the decision making, and will likely be a factor in the development of new strategic plans. [Sources: 
Pedestrians in the town of Richmond may be facing a brighter future. A Vermont Transportation Enhancement grant awarded to the town is helping to revive a streetscape project that if successful will level the playing field for pedestrians, motorists, and bicyclists. The $31,000 project hopes to bring aesthetic balance, along with commercial and transportation needs to the village center. Project leader, Erik Sandblom, a civil engineer and Kathleen Ryan, a landscape architect on the design team are working diligently on different revived streetscape options. The construction of one of these options could begin as early as next year. For more information visit 
Vermont roads are in rough condition this year after a winter that just won't seem to disappear. Governor Douglas says an emergency fix-up program is necessary. Consequently, the governor's administration is now on the hunt for an extra $3 million for the program the governor has named "Operation Smooth Ride". Neal Lunderville, Secretary of Transportation, announced today that he has found a way to free up this sum by taking money from the town highway emergency fund, a bike and ped fund, as well as borrowing from next year's allocation for road-leveling work. Nevertheless, some lawmakers are weary of where this $3 million is coming from, but don't disagree that paving and repair is necessary. The most recent pavement report deemed 21% of the state roads in very poor condition. A smoother ride would mean less congestion, which in theory would mean less green house gas emissions. [Source: 
Arguments by the general manager of Mountain Transit Inc. of Milton, John Sharrow, to allow school buses to idle longer were unconvincing to lawmakers. A law passed in 2007 that bans school buses from idling on school grounds was initiated by Browns River Middle School students in Jericho. The students pushed the point that idling creates an unhealthy environment. The rules that govern the bus drivers say that a bus may not idle on school grounds for more than 5 minutes in a 60 minute time period. Sharrow's main argument was that, under these rules, bus cabins cannot warm up and that no consideration is being given to the driver and individuals in the bus. [Source: