How much can planning decisions actually reduce driving? Our latest research introduces a statistical model that links built environment choices—such as density, transit service, walkability, and land use mix—to vehicle miles traveled (VMT). The findings give planners and policymakers practical, evidence-based tools to evaluate scenarios, understand tradeoffs, and make more informed transportation and land use decisions.
VMT under CEQA continues to evolve as agencies, practitioners, and decision makers work through analysis methods, mitigation feasibility, and defensible evidence. Our new Q&A resource offers practical answers on vehicle miles traveled, SB 743, mitigation program design, implementation, administration, and legal and strategic considerations.
New research shows that reducing driving exposure may be one of the most powerful safety strategies available. The findings connect VMT, mode share, and travel time to fatality rates, reframing demand management as injury prevention.
What do San Francisco’s Van Ness BRT, New York’s congestion pricing, and Arlington’s intersection program have in common? Each pulls all three Safe System levers at once. We call that pattern a safety multiplier.
What does it take for a city to say “yes” without giving up control? This perspective argues for a conditional, public-minded yes, one grounded in clear standards, evidence, and measurable outcomes, with AVs as one example of a much broader governance challenge.