Beaumont joins WRCOG's voluntary VMT exchange program to create mitigation revenue for local projects
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Summary
Council approved participation in a voluntary Vehicle Miles Traveled exchange run by the Western Riverside Council of Governments (WRCOG). The program lets jurisdictions nominate VMT‑reducing projects that outside parties can buy credits from, with revenue returning to the originating jurisdiction.
The Beaumont City Council voted unanimously Dec. 16 to join a voluntary regional Vehicle Miles Traveled (VMT) exchange program organized by the Western Riverside Council of Governments (WRCOG).
WRCOG Deputy Executive Director Chris Gray and Project Manager Chris Zheng told the council the program is optional and designed to help local jurisdictions address CEQA VMT mitigation requirements by creating a marketplace of VMT‑reducing projects. Jurisdictions provide a project list (for example, bike lanes, transit improvements, mobility programs and scalable transit passes); developers or other buyers can purchase credits tied to those projects and funds then flow back to the jurisdiction that listed the projects.
Gray emphasized that joining does not obligate the city to require development projects to use the program and said WRCOG's consultants would handle the technical VMT calculations if Beaumont supplies project descriptions. Councilmembers asked whether projects need to be fully funded or can be partially funded; WRCOG said some project types (notably transit passes) are scalable while others need to be entered as fully funded elements; larger projects can be split into fundable segments.
Council approved the participation agreement by roll call. The staff memo recommended the agreement to give the city access to an additional funding option for projects that reduce VMT and to position Beaumont to meet likely Caltrans and CEQA requirements on projects such as Oak Valley Parkway.
