Senate draft would add vehicle‑miles‑traveled reduction to VTrans planning standards and definitions

Committee members reviewed sections that would add a definition of vehicle miles traveled (VMT) to Title 19 and incorporate VMT reduction as an objective in transportation planning and project decisions.

Legislative counsel and sponsors described the proposed definition as the estimated sum of miles traveled by motor vehicles within a specific area during a calendar year — language the committee said largely aligns with federal usage. Sponsors and AOT staff discussed whether the definition should be expanded to allow separate tracking by vehicle type (passenger cars, trucks) and whether the agency currently has the capability to disaggregate probe and count data by vehicle class.

AOT representatives described current data collection methods: aggregated probe data (cell‑phone derived travel traces), traditional traffic counts and intercept counts, and some counters that can approximate vehicle class by weight. Agency staff said probe data gives a high‑level picture of travel but typically does not identify vehicle class or in‑state versus out‑of‑state vehicles without additional methods. Committee members suggested the planning language remain policy‑level guidance while acknowledging municipalities or the agency could develop more granular breakouts if needed.

In project planning language, the draft would direct AOT to weigh factors such as historic, scenic and aesthetic values, and to consider opportunities to reduce VMT or greenhouse gas emissions when choosing between improving an existing highway and complete reconstruction. Committee members said this is intended as a trend‑level planning consideration rather than a prescriptive project‑level mandate.

AOT staff and sponsors agreed to continue clarifying definitions and to coordinate with technical staff to determine what vehicle‑type disaggregation, if any, is feasible for planning and permitting use.