Details:

Creators:
Fang, Kevin ; Volker, Jamey
Fang, Kevin ; Volker, Jamey Less -
Corporate Creators:
University of California, Davis. Institute of Transportation Studies
Corporate Contributors:
National Center for Sustainable Transportation (NCST)
Subject/TRT Terms:
[+]
Emissions Reduction Exhaust Gases Greenhouse Gases Vehicle Miles Of Travel Vehicle Miles Traveled
Resource Type:
Tech Report
Geographical Coverage:
California ; United States
California ; United States Less -
Corporate Publisher:
National Center for Sustainable Transportation (NCST) (UTC)
Abstract:
Traditional evaluation of the transportation system focuses on automobile traffic flow and

congestion reduction. However, this paradigm is shifting. In an effort to combat global warming

and reduce greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions, a number of cities, regions, and states across the

United States have begun to deemphasize vehicle delay metrics such as automobile Level of

Service (LOS). In their place, policymakers are considering alternative transportation impact

metrics that more closely approximate the true environmental impacts of driving. One metric

increasingly coming into use is the total amount of driving or Vehicle Miles Traveled (VMT).

Since passing the seminal Global Warming Solutions Act (AB 32) in 2006, California has enacted

two major laws over the past decade that are spurring efforts to reduce VMT: Senate Bill 375

(2008) and SB 743 (2013). SB 375 addresses regional GHG emissions reductions from passenger

travel. For each region in the State with a metropolitan planning organization (MPO), the law

requires the California Air Resources Board (ARB) to set and regularly update per capita GHG

emissions reduction targets for 2020 and 2035. To achieve those targets, SB 375 requires each

MPO to adopt a “sustainable communities strategy” (SCS) as part of its regional transportation

plan. VMT reductions are a key strategy in SCSs.

Senate Bill 743 (2013) directs the Governor’s Office of Planning and Research (OPR) to revise

the guidelines for determining the significance of transportation impacts during analyses

conducted under the California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA). SB 743 requires a

replacement metric that will “promote the reduction of greenhouse gas emissions, the

development of multimodal transportation networks, and a diversity of land uses.” It mandates that “automobile delay, as described solely by [LOS] shall not be considered a significant impact on the environment” under CEQA, except in “locations specifically identified in the guidelines, if any.” VMT is OPR’s currently recommended replacement metric (OPR, 2016).


Format:
PDF
Collection(s):
US Transportation Collection University Transportation Centers
Main Document Checksum:
[+]
urn:sha256:c65b18f934d94c81a76c638bee3e2566be2e6c961434006ab0e441f1af22dfd7
Download URL:
https://rosap.ntl.bts.gov/view/dot/32254/dot_32254_DS1.pdf
File Type:

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