Join the movement.
We have strength in numbers!
Whether you or a loved one depends on transit or you wish our system served you better, your story matters.
Just once or every day - riders directly improve service and funding!
Vermont’s lawmakers need to hear from you: meet in person, or just send an email.
Vermonters cannot afford to lose public transit - yet our transit system has been chronically underfunded, limiting Vermonters’ ability to get to where they need to go.
Whether taking the bus across town or a shared ride system through the valley, transit is essential in communities large and small - yet without dedicated, sustainable funding, our local economy and communities will be stuck in place.
That is why we are launching the Ride Public campaign: to recognize public transit as a core feature of an accessible, affordable, and healthy and uplift the importance of transit in communities across the state.
The good news? Public transit provides a 5-to-1 return on investment, proving itself as an enduring, cost-effective tool supporting businesses, workforce access, and community viability. The bad news? Vermont’s transit system is at a breaking point.
Public transit is a smart investment for Vermont, with wide-ranging impacts on Vermont’s economy, environment, and quality of life.
Workforce and Economy. Transit is crucial for employers, especially in key industries struggling with recruiting. Cuts to transit services undermine employee reliability and local businesses.
Affordability. Transportation is typically the second-highest household expense. The lack of accessible transit makes it difficult for many to achieve their household needs.
Accessibility. Older adults who no longer drive, young adults without a license, and others with no or limited car access due to disability, income, or choice, rely on transit to get to where they need to go.
Environment. Transit is increasingly important to reducing climate and environmental pollution by giving people alternatives to single occupancy vehicles to get where they need to go.
Smart Growth. Transit promotes the state’s goals of compact, mixed-use development and strong local economies.
And the need for transit is only growing.
Vermont now has the second-oldest population in the nation; many older Vermonters no longer drive, with thousands relying on public transit every year to maintain independence. At the same time, transit is essential for the workforce that supports them - particularly caregivers who rely on consistent, affordable transportation to get to work.
Failing to stabilize transit affects everyone. Businesses struggle to find workers. Communities lose residents - especially younger people - who want to live in a more accessible, affordable place. Older Vermonters lose independence. Families face higher costs. Traffic increases, putting more pressure on already strained infrastructure. And our ability to reduce climate pollution falls further out of reach.
We must recognize public transit as what it is: foundational infrastructure that supports affordability, economic vitality, and resilience.
We hope you’ll add your voice to the Ride Public campaign and join us in support of a transportation system
that works for all Vermonters.
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Vermont's transit system is facing a structural funding crisis.
Demand for transit is growing among seniors, workers, students, people with disabilities, and rural residents, while operating costs continue to increase and traditional transportation revenues decline.
Without sustainable funding, communities risk losing service that connects people to jobs, healthcare, education, and essential services.
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Every Vermonter can rely on affordable transportation options regardless of age, income, or where they live. Public transit is recognized as:
Essential public infrastructure for Vermonters who are older or disabled
An economic development tool that supports visitors and local businesses
A workforce solution
A climate investment
An affordability strategy
A lifeline for rural communities
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Long-term: Secure sustainable, long-term state funding for public transit.
Educate Vermonters and policymakers to understand transit as essential statewide infrastructure, not an optional social service.
Empower riders and community members committed to making transit funding a key legislative issue.
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The Ride Public campaign is an initiative of the Transportation for Vermonters coalition, in partnership with various organizations, institutions, elected officials and municipal leaders.
Want to get involved? We’d love to hear from you! Shoot us a message: transportation4vt@gmail.com
Upcoming Events Calendar
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GMT Bus Week
September 14-19, 2026
GMT held its first-ever Bus Week, and we can’t wait for next year!
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Ride Public Campaign Launch
September 22, 2026 | 10:00 AM
Downtown Transit Center, Burlington, VT
Join us for the official launch of the Ride Public Campaign! We’ll be joined by the Mayors of Burlington and Winooski, along with speakers highlighting the need to invest in strong transit for all.
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Week Without Driving
October 1-8, 2026 | Wherever you are <3
What would change in your life if driving wasn’t an option? Join us in participating in the national Week Without Driving.
Resources
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Published by AARP-Vermont in December, 2025. https://www.aarp.org/content/dam/aarp/politics/advocacy/states/transit-funding-fact-sheets.pdf
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The Report on Funding Sources for Public Transit Nonfederal Match was conducted on behalf of the Vermont Public Transportation Association in 2023, and describes potential solutions to the “impending fiscal crisis” - https://legislature.vermont.gov/assets/Legislative-Reports/NFM-Study-Executive-Summary-Final.pdf
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The Chittenden County Regional Planning Commission commissioned a report in 2021 assessing potential alternatives to Vermont’s current funding structure, along the principle of “we all pay a little” - https://studiesandreports.ccrpcvt.org/wp-content/uploads/2021/12/Transit_Funding_Report_Dec2021.pdf