State denies Thetford road funding request — Tucker Hill Road to remain in disrepair for another year

Vermont towns have never been self-sufficient in their ability to maintain their roads. Back in the 1850s, when compulsory citizen labor to maintain "local paths" was replaced by monetary tax payments, small rural tax bases immediately proved inadequate to pay the high expenses of bridges and heavy equipment. In 1915 a state law was passed to reimburse towns for 25% of bridge building costs. This support grew steadily up till the present. In 1927 the mass destruction of road and bridge infrastructure by the worst natural disaster in Vermont modern history, the Great Flood, demanded huge infusions of state and federal money to rebuild the transportation system. The upgraded roads and bridges that resulted ended any notions that towns could ever afford their upkeep.

Today Vermont towns like Thetford are at the mercy of outside funding to keep their roads, bridges, and culverts in good shape. The state provides a certain level of non-competitive funding based on a town's certified mileage of Class 1, 2, and 3  highways, in what are called highway block grants. Because the cost of road paving has soared in recent years, the average block grant doesn't cover even one mile of road paving. Basic resurfacing over an existing, prepared base in 2026 costs between $1-2.5 million per mile of two-lane, rural road, according to Bitumen Calculators. This calculation includes mix, labor, equipment, traffic control, and site preparation.

There are also competitive grants, both state and federal, that are very hard to get.

Tucker Hill Road is one of two important connector roads across the Ompompanoosuc River that divides the town. In addition to use by Thetford residents, it routes traffic from Strafford towards I-91 and handles approximately 700-900 vehicle-trips per day. The other connector road is Academy Road. For several years now residents, and bicyclists in particular have complained about Tucker Hill's growing array of cracks and potholes. The Thetford DPW has dutifully filled these, but the patches are generally short-lived.

There’s another source of funding, the Vermont Municipal Roads General Permit. Under the MRGP Tucker Hill Road is classified as a "hydrologically connected road" because its stormwater runoff drains into nearby streams, rivers, or wetlands. As such, it qualifies for a special type of state funding from the "Grants-in-Aid" program that was established to reduce the sediment and pollution entering Vermont’s water bodies from roads. Grants-in-Aid funding reimburses 80% of a town's documented construction expenses for a qualifying road.

Town manager Brian Story informed the VT Agency of Transportation, well ahead of the May 2026 deadline, of Thetford's intent to apply for Grants-in-Aid funding to resurface part of Tucker Hill Road. He was notified in June that the state would not fully fund the paving grant application. The promise at the time was for 75% funding. 

However, at the beginning of September he was informed that due to funding cuts there would be no money at all for Thetford in 2026. The Town will have to re-apply for 2027. That means another winter over which the road will further deteriorate and become more expensive to fix in the future.

The statewide deficit in transportation revenue is hitting home, and it's not breaking news. In January a shortfall of funds threatened to derail $150 Million in road and bridge projects. Analysts observe that the state revenue that pays for transportation fell short by $33 Million from where it should be if Vermont wishes to qualify for maximal federal matching dollars. Federal funds make up 51% of Vermont’s transportation funding in 2026, and to qualify, Vermont must provide a "match" — 17% state funds for 83% federal funds. A match deficit of $33 Million means losing $163 Million in federal funds.

In July the forecasted Transportation Fund revenue was downgraded.

The finger of blame points at several issues. Roads are funded in part by a tax on gasoline. However, improved fuel efficiency and a growing number of electric vehicles has diminished this revenue. Vermont demographics don't help either, and the revenue from taxes on new vehicle purchases and vehicle registrations has slowed. In 2023 the looming shortfall in this revenue stream prompted the DMV to raise almost every fee by 19.8%, the index of inflation. This was designed to generate an extra $20.5 million per year. However in 2025 revenue was lower than before by $3.25 million and in 2026 it is 4.6% behind what it was the previous year. Bucking the predictions, Vermonters are keeping their vehicles for longer and buying fewer new ones.

Last year lawmakers made an effort to boost the transportation fund by stopping their decades-long practice of taking $20 million from transportation and putting it toward the support of VT State Police patrols In early 2026 it was proposed to redirect to transportation an approximate $50 million in purchase and use tax usually allocated to the education budget. However, that would have had the effect of adding even more to the already steep 12% increase in education property tax.

Further limiting the Town’s ability to repair Tucker Hill Road is the rising cost of construction. Since the start of the pandemic, highway construction and road material costs have risen in Vermont by about 60-62%, while post-pandemic inflation has increased costs by a further 10%. In addition the price of asphalt and its binders is tied to the global price of petroleum - something that has become volatile and has spiked dramatically. 

As a result road maintenance is being scaled back and fewer miles are being paved by the state. Many towns are forced to delay road projects too. Across Vermont an estimated 38% of major roads are rated as being in "poor" or "very poor" condition. Tucker Hill would probably be rated lower than "very poor."  If this state of affairs continues, and there seems to be no easy way out, studies project that by 2030 60% of Vermont roads will fall into these categories of disrepair.

Photo Credit: Li Shen