Fairfield transportation planner Tina explains VMT and California policy shift

Tina, a transportation planner for the City of Fairfield, said vehicles miles traveled (VMT) is a measurement tool local planners use to track travel and emissions and to guide land-use decisions.

"VMT or vehicles miles traveled measures the total number of miles traveled by a vehicle within a specific time period," Tina said, defining the metric that planners use to estimate travel demand and related environmental effects.

Tina said California has changed how it assesses project impacts under Senate Bill 743, moving the focus away from congestion to environmental and emissions impacts. She said the state ties its greenhouse gas reduction goals to efforts to reduce VMT and that this policy direction influences local planning priorities. Tina summarized the policy shift by saying it "shifted the focus of assessing project impacts from a congestion level to an environmental or emissions level."

Locally, Tina said that emphasis on emissions reduction "drives the city's focus on developing walkable and complete streets and transit oriented development to support public health, quality of life, sustainability and economic vitality." She described walking, biking and transit as the main strategies encouraged by the state-level change and as approaches the city is prioritizing in planning.

Tina closed the segment with a brief sign-off for her series: "See you next time on Tina's traffic tips."