Chittenden County Transportation Authority (CCTA) and Addison County Transit Resources (ACTR) received a grant from the State of Vermont Agency of Transportation to offer new public transportation service for Route 116 communities and businesses. This service is the result of a unique public-private collaboration between the two transportation agencies, NRG Systems, the Town of Hinesburg and the citizen group Hinesburg Rides.

Other entities and municipalities that have offered letters of support for the service include the Cities of Burlington and South Burlington, the Towns of Bristol and Starksboro, the Chittenden County Regional Planning Commission, Vermont Business for Social Responsibility, CATMA and Redstone.

The Route 116 Commuter is an innovative model of service for Hinesburg combining bus service from both directions — Burlington and Middlebury. This plan will create a commuter-oriented schedule for

Hinesburg residents going north to Burlington jobs and Burlington residents traveling south to Hinesburg jobs as well as link Addison County residents in Middlebury, Bristol and Starksboro to Chittenden County via Hinesburg.

Hinesburg Rides, the Town of Hinesburg, and NRG Systems have actively advocated for this corridor bus service for several years. Local residents first voted at Town Meeting 2010 to set aside operating funds, renewing support the following year. NRG Systems has committed local match funds to cover capital costs.

Public hearings to discuss specific route and schedule details and obtain public comments will be held in late February and early March in South Burlington, Hinesburg, Bristol and Middlebury.