Editor’s Note: This story was updated on September 30 at 5:13 pm to correct Goldman’s year.
Green Mountain Transit is implementing a service reduction to potentially cut $3 million of its services and lines, according to an Aug. 27 press release.
There are three potential phases of cuts, the first of which is slated for November 2024, according to the Service Reduction Plan. The plan includes the elimination of the 36 Jeffersonville Commuter. The 10 Williston/Essex route on Saturday and the last five runs of the 11 Airport route on Saturday will also be eliminated in the first phase, according to the plan.
“This difficult decision comes in response to ongoing financial instability that has severely impacted the organization’s ability to maintain current service levels,” the press release stated.
“GMT will work closely with local governments, community organizations, and other stakeholders to mitigate the impact on riders,” the press release states. “The organization is also exploring alternative funding sources and service models to ensure the long-term sustainability of public transit in the region.”
Abby Bleything, UVM’s sustainable transportation program manager, said the University has been in contact with GMT regarding the cuts and reminded them of how many students rely on the bus routes to get to class and work.
“We advocated, instead of doing cuts across the board, to maintain service on their most popular routes,” she said. “[We] expressed some concerns about even pulling back the frequency of the service because they can be quite full.”
GMT’s Unlimited Access program allows UVM students and staff to ride GMT buses for free. The program was created to limit traffic around the University, according to the GMT website.
Senior Abby Goldman said she is concerned about students’ ability to get around Burlington if certain lines are canceled.
“I think the GMT is really important to the UVM student body, especially the 11, the 1 and the 2, because that services Burlington, South Burlington and Winooski,” she said. ”That’s going to be a big change if they do that.”
GMT has been holding public meetings since Sept. 11 to hear comments on the draft reduction plan. The meetings will go into October.
GMT General Manager Clayton Clark said the Vermont-based transportation company had considered the impact the service plan would have on students. The unlimited access agreement will be continued and, ideally, there won’t be significant impacts on the Williston 1 line, he said.
However, Clark said the biggest factors considered are ridership and cost per ride.
The chance of implementing all three phases is low and hopefully won’t be carried out unless GMT loses significant funding or faces a cost increase, Clark said.
Clark said students should come to public meetings because it’s important to know how they may be negatively impacted.
During the 2023-2024 school year, sophomore Nic Malinsky was using GMT at least once a week to go to Target or Winooski or to Church Street, she said.
Malinsky also said the 11 and the 1 were her most frequented lines.
“GMT is one of the only ways that students without cars like myself can really get around the city of Burlington, because while it’s small, it’s not exactly walkable,” she said. “If you can’t get around the city of Burlington, people probably wouldn’t want to come here.”
Sophomore Genevieve Cowl said she feels that GMT’s routes are mostly used by students, and that she uses the Williston route to get to her new job.
“I’m going to need that bus to get to Williston for work,” she said. “I can’t buy an Uber every single day and I don’t have a car.”
GMT’s current next steps are the Oct. 4 meeting in Essex Junction, and the Oct. 9 Zoom meeting to hear more public input on the service change proposal.
