Vehicle Miles Traveled Background
Improving air quality and reducing greenhouse gas emissions begins with reducing the need to drive—and the VMT Mitigation Program offers a long-term, transformative strategy to achieve this. As a regional funding mechanism, the program goes beyond short-term efforts by leveraging monetary contributions from new developments to construct transportation infrastructure that reduces dependence on single-occupancy vehicles. Investments in transit, bicycle, pedestrian, and carpool networks will not only reduce emissions but also reimagine the region’s transportation system to better connect communities and enhance daily commutes.
History of VMT and SB 743
Senate Bill 743 was passed by the California legislature and changes how an environmental review is conducted for a project under the California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA). CEQA applies to both land use projects, like housing development, and transportation projects, like widening the road. Before SB 743, vehicle delay was the metric that determined whether a project had an impact on transportation under CEQA. While this is an easy metric to understand, it only captured the inconvenience caused to drivers and did not capture multimodal impacts. Additionally, it often encouraged development to mitigate its impacts by building more roadways. SB 743 shifted the focus to the amount that people drive as measured by VMT.
Understanding VMT
VMT stands for "Vehicle Miles Traveled." It's a metric used in transportation planning to quantify the amount of travel in miles for all vehicles in a specific region over a set period. VMT is an important metric for assessing travel demand, understanding travel behavior, and planning infrastructure needs. It helps policymakers and planners evaluate the impact of transportation projects, design efficient road networks, and develop strategies to reduce congestion and improve air quality. Lowering VMT is a goal to promote sustainable and eco-friendly transportation systems.