Implementation
New proposed residential and office/business professional development projects must demonstrate that project daily VMT per service population is equal to or below the established VMT thresholds established for the applicable land use designation identified in Table CI-1 of the Circulation Element. Projects that do not meet these VMT thresholds will be required to implement all feasible mitigation measures to ensure that the VMT targets are met. Detailed feasibility criteria will be developed and will include appropriate economic considerations. The following actions related to the development and implementation of mitigation measures would be undertaken:
Ensure that all feasible on-site VMT mitigation measures are prioritized and implemented prior to the development of off-site mitigation measures.
Develop and adopt a VMT mitigation program (e.g., VMT mitigation fee, bank, or exchange) to offset project-level and cumulative unmitigated VMT impacts from projects with funding allocated toward VMT improvement projects or equivalent GHG emission reduction projects in the County. VMT improvement and VMT reduction activities include but are not limited to bike share, microtransit first/last mile accessibility solutions, microtransit/on-demand rideshare (such as SacRT’s SmaRT Ride), and participation in a Transportation Management Association.
Timeframe: Near term
GHG Reduction Potential: 22,037 MT CO2e per year by 2030
Sector: Vehicles - On-Road
Target Indicator: 15 percent reduction in VMT from forecast new residential and office/business professional development by 2030.
Status of Implementation
Pilot VMT mitigation programs are currently under development by the cities of Los Angeles, San Diego, and San Jose, as well as the San Bernadino County Transportation Authority (SBCTA), the Contra Costa Transportation Authority (CCTA), and the Fresno Council of Governments (COG). Department of Transportation and Planning and Environmental Review staff are studying and monitoring these pilot programs and exploring opportunities to develop a program for the County. Options include applying for grant funding to develop a program for the unincorporated county, developing a VMT program in conjunction with the next General Plan update or Sacramento County Transportation Department Fee/Transit Impact Fee (SCTDF/TIF) roadway fee program major update, or partnering with other agencies (e.g. Sacramento Council of Governments or SACOG) to form a regional program. Until such a program is in place, VMT impacts are evaluated and mitigated on a project-by-project basis.
Updated 10/25/2023
