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VTrans Better Roads Program

Rachel Beauregard, Project Supervisor June 2017

VTrans and the Better Roads Program

• VTrans’ Strategic Goals and Agency-wide Objectives• Preserve, maintain and operate the transportation system in a cost effective and environmentally responsible manner.

• Minimize the environmental impacts of the transportation system

• History• Program’s 20th year• 5th year at VTrans, previously at Northern VT RC&D

• Funding• Approx. $3 million in funding (up from $300k 2 years ago)• Approximately 225 projects each year

• Grants• Category A – Road Erosion Inventory & Budget Plan ($8,000)• Category B – Correction of a Road Related Erosion Problem OR Stormwater Mitigation/Retrofits ($20,000)• Category C – Bank Stabilization ($40,000)• Category D – Culvert Upgrade/Replacement ($40,000)

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Better Roads Program Goals and Guiding Principles• Goals

• Promote the use of erosion control and maintenance techniques to:• Save money on maintenance• Provide lasting fixes to erosion issues• Enhance and protect water quality

• Guiding Principles• Get water off the road quickly• Stabilize and revegetate disturbed areas• Divert runoff/sediment from surface waters• Save money by decreasing maintenance and repairs• Good maintenance and infrastructure reduces

susceptibility to flash flood damage

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It takes a village

Community support and collaboration with funding and permitting agencies

is essential for a successful project!

VTrans Better Roads

Program

ANR DEC

Regional Planning

Commissions

VTrans Maintenance

Districts

Vermont League of Cities and

TownsNatural Resource

Conservation Districts

Municipalities

Road Foremen Selectboards

Town Managers

Community Members

Local volunteer groups &

organizations

VTrans Hydraulics

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Best Management Practices(BMP’s)

Better Roads Manual

http://vtrans.vermont.gov/sites/aot/files/highway/2009%20Better%20Backroads%20Manual.pdf6

Ditch Installation ProjectsBefore & After

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Groton, VT Eden, VT

Ditch Installation BMP’s

• Diagrams are ideal, adjust according to field conditions.

• Vegetative measures wherever possible.

• Seed and mulch at the end of each day.• Recommend hydroseed if possible.

• Work from the top of the hill down to the bottom.

• Size stone depends on the flow through the ditch at any given point.

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Bank Stabilization

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• Vegetated if possible, stone as a last resort.• Plant selection makes a huge difference!

• Vigorous growers.• Strong, long, aggressive roots.• Above ground growth shouldn’t be large/heavy.

• Emphasize chinking and using appropriately sized stone.

• Consider drainage.

• Trees provide structure.• Pay attention to roots when cutting. If you’re under

the crown of the tree then you’re into the roots.• Trees may be holding a wet hill together.

• Permits usually required! Plan ahead!

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Bank Stabilization BMP’s

Culverts: Replacement, Upgrade, Inlet/Outlet Stabilization

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Culvert BMP’s

• Importance of hydraulic study• VTrans does these for towns for culverts over 36”

• Bed profile• Streams will make their own smooth bed profile if you don’t

make it!

• Compaction & cover• One of the biggest reasons plastic culverts fail• Poor compaction is a recipe for disaster

• Headers & footers• Prevent high velocity erosion before it starts• Many different options depending on your budget

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Green Stormwater Infrastructure

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• Newer practice for many road foremen• Start small and provide education• Will be incorporated into new manual• Consider maintenance on dirt roads

• Pretreatment is key!

Remember, there’s NEVER just one solution to a problem!

• Cost• Maintenance• Safety• Community perception & support• Importance of education & training

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Case Study: Charlotte, VT East Thompson’s Point Rd.

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Background• Surrounding area

• Thorp Brook watershed• Neighboring farm (Mack Farm)

• Problems• Overall sediment problem

• Nitrogen• Phosphorus• TSS

• Farm field erosion• Overwhelmed ditches• Sharp bend in swale• Undersized culvert

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Options, options, options!

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• Look at the whole road• Surrounding land use• Crown• Ditches• Culverts• Treatment area

• Options• Winter sand use & testing

• Maintains integrity of road surface material

• Grass vs. stone lined ditch• Check dams• Turnouts• Realignment

• Stormwater treatment• Settling ponds• Bioretention

• Crown• Culvert replacement• Alterations to surrounding

land use

Solutions

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Realigned swale Reshaped grass swale Upsized culvert & stabilized access

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Solutions

Stone lined swale and check dams Bioretention Town constructing project

Community Collaboration

• Town constructed

• Hired engineer for design and construction support (Milone & MacBroom)

• Mack Farm donated land & agreed to provide buffer

• Lewis Creek Association – Ahead of the Storm

• VTrans Better Roads

• VT ANR

• VT Nature Conservancy

• VT Land Trust

• US NRCS

Total Project cost (w/o engineering) ~$35,00020

Questions?

VTrans Better Roads Websitehttp://vtrans.vermont.gov/highway/better-roads

Rachel Beauregard, Project Supervisor

Rachel.Beauregard@Vermont.gov

(802) 828-5608

Linda Blasch, Program Coordinator

Linda.Blasch@Vermont.gov

(802) 498-7216

Alan May, Program Coordinator

Alan.May@Vermont.gov

(802) 828-4595

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