The two states both approved measures that will set VMT reduction goals and create enforcement mechanisms to promote more climate-friendly policies.
Minnesota and California both recently made decisions that will help their states meet the goal of reducing vehicle miles traveled (VMT), reports Rayla Bellis in SSTI. Minnesota's Department of Transportation (MnDOT) "made a highly anticipated decision to adopt a number of recommendations from the state’s Sustainable Transportation Advisory Council (STAC) made in December 2020, including setting a preliminary statewide goal for a 20% VMT reduction statewide and per capita by 2050," with the final figure to be determined after a public input process. "MnDOT also plans to develop an approach for estimating program and project VMT outcomes by assessing both induced demand from adding lanes and reduced demand from increasing walking access, as well as evaluating the accuracy of travel demand forecasting methods."
On the West Coast, the California State Transportation Agency (CalSTA) released a draft of its Climate Action Plan for Transportation Infrastructure (CAPTI). The draft "comprises 28 action items, intended to 'help advance a slate of projects that meet climate goals, ensure that these projects are prioritized for state funding, and promote project construction and operations that minimize emission and impacts from climate change.'" In addition to meeting climate goals, CAPTI "also seeks to address the transportation system’s entrenched inequities, such as pollutants that disproportionately affect low-income and minority communities" through a stronger emphasis on equity and a new equity assessment tool.
FULL STORY: Minnesota and California move toward reducing VMT to address climate change
California's 'Climate Action Plan for Transportation Infrastructure'
The newly released Climate Action Plan for Transportation Infrastructure shifts the state's transportation priorities to focus on clean energy and livability.
San Diego County Weighs VMT Proposal
San Diego County could tax developers based on projected vehicle miles traveled as part of a new CEQA requirement that replaces Level of Service with VMT.
Study: D.C. Region Must Take Aggressive Steps To Reach Climate Goal
To achieve its stated emissions reduction goal, the Greater Washington area must sharply reduce driving and speed up the adoption of electric vehicles.
Pennsylvania Mall Conversion Bill Passes House
If passed, the bill would promote the adaptive reuse of defunct commercial buildings.
Planning for Accessibility: Proximity is More Important than Mobility
Accessibility-based planning minimizes the distance that people must travel to reach desired services and activities. Measured this way, increased density can provide more total benefits than increased speeds.
World's Largest Wildlife Overpass In the Works in Los Angeles County
Caltrans will soon close half of the 101 Freeway in order to continue construction of the Wallis Annenberg Wildlife Crossing near Agoura Hills in Los Angeles County.
Eviction Looms for Low-Income Tenants as Rent Debt Rises
Nonprofit housing operators across the country face almost $10 billion in rent debt.
Brightline West Breaks Ground
The high-speed rail line will link Las Vegas and the Los Angeles area.
Colorado Bans No-Fault Evictions
In most cases, landlords must provide a just cause for evicting tenants.
City of Costa Mesa
Licking County
Barrett Planning Group LLC
HUD's Office of Policy Development and Research
Mpact Transit + Community
HUD's Office of Policy Development and Research
Tufts University, Department of Urban and Environmental Policy & Planning
City of Universal City TX
ULI Northwest Arkansas
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