NCHRP Project 08-36
Proposed Research Problem Statement
1. Title
Framework for evaluating the impacts of strategies to reduce vehicle miles traveled for climate
change mitigation.
2. Background
To help mitigate the impacts of climate change, many states have established greenhouse gas
(GHG) reduction goals. For the transportation sector, reducing vehicle miles traveled (VMT) or
the growth rate in VMT will be a critical element of reducing GHG emissions to mitigate climate
change. At the Washington State Department of Transportation (WSDOT), we plan to monitor
changes in VMT through the Highway Performance Monitoring System (HPMS), which will
indicate if VMT is increasing or decreasing, and by how much. However, we don’t have a
framework for evaluating how individual strategies implemented to reduce VMT are performing.
Without a framework for evaluating the impact of strategies that are intended to reduce VMT,
this type of evaluation will occur on an ad hoc basis, likely with little consistency and potentially
therefore providing less reliable information. This framework will be the first step in helping us
to assess the effectiveness of various strategies so federal, state, regional, and local governments
can adjust course over time as they continue working to make progress to reduce GHG emissions
from the transportation sector.
3. Statement of Urgency
Federal, state, regional, and local governments will potentially spend billions of dollars over the
next several decades to implement strategies to help mitigate climate change by reducing VMT.
VMT reduction strategies will likely vary by state and region. Federal, state, regional, and local
governments will have limited financial resources for implementing strategies, and
accountability for the use of these resources will continue to be of paramount importance. We
will need to help ensure that investments that are implemented to reduce VMT are working
effectively. As a first step to begin assessing the effectiveness of strategies, states need to
develop a framework for evaluating the performance of VMT reduction strategies.
4. Project Objective(s)
The project objective is to develop a framework for evaluating the impact of strategies to reduce
VMT at the state and regional levels.
5. Relationship to Existing Body of Knowledge
There is a large body of literature available on strategies to reduce VMT. Recent major studies
include the reports Transportation Role in Reducing U.S. GHG Emissions: Report To Congress
(April, 2010), and Moving Cooler (July, 2009). However, all of the studies that were reviewed
acknowledge that there is considerable uncertainty in the analysis. Therefore, it will important to
monitor the performance of our transportation system so we can refine our strategies we
implement. We do not find any projects specifically focused on a performance monitoring
framework for strategies to reduce VMT.
6. List of Anticipated Work Tasks
Following is a list of anticipated work tasks:
1. Review existing federal, state, or regional transportation system performance monitoring
programs that can serve as examples.
2. Identify what types of projects should be monitored (types, scale, etc.)
3. Identify the framework for measuring the impacts of projects on VMT:
a. Requirements, if any, for project sponsors to deliver performance monitoring
plans/reports when receiving a federal, state, or regional project funds, reporting
on effectiveness of strategies in reducing VMT.
b. Requirements, if any, for project sponsors/implementers to follow their plan by
periodically conducting surveys, collecting data, etc. to assess VMT reduction
attributed to these strategies, and recommendations on what project sponsors
would be required to do with the survey results or data analysis.
c. Recommendations on what state, regional, and local governments should do with
survey results and data analysis provided by project sponsors. For example,
should the framework include integrating data from various sources to create a
comprehensive picture of impacts of VMT reduction strategies across the state?
d. Resources, financial and otherwise, needed for performance monitoring of VMT.
Recommendations on state, regional, and local tools and resources for increased
data collection so project implementers can conduct better performance
monitoring. Data collection (either widespread, or samples to assess specific
strategies in specific locations) should assess the scale of implementation and
effectiveness in reducing VMT.
4. Identify issues/constraints for performance monitoring of VMT reduction strategies.
5. Recommendations on options for integrating performance monitoring of VMT reduction
strategies into State DOTs organizationally.
7. Estimate of Funds Needed
Project budget is estimated at $95,000.
8. Estimate of Time Needed to Complete the Research
This project will require 10 months to complete.
9. Name, Affiliation and Contact Information of Submitter(s)
Kathy Leotta, Washington State Department of Transportation
LeottaK@wsdot.wa.gov
360-705-7917
10. Date of Submittal
October 1, 2010.