Skip to Content
Streetsblog California home
Log In
CA Environmental Quality Act (CEQA)

Video: Introducing VMT – Vehicle Miles Traveled

3:25 PM PST on January 23, 2019

Still from new VMT video

The shift from LOS to VMT is one of the most important changes that will impact California's travel, development, health, air quality, and much more. It is unfortunately also one of the wonkiest changes - nearly impenetrable for folks who have not studied engineering and/or planning.

The good news is that there's a new video - created by Fehr & Peers - that explains VMT in a way that many elementary school students can understand.

For the uninitiated, LOS stands for Level of Service, an outdated, discredited, highly car-centric way of measuring how streets work. Historically California law required LOS studies to evaluate environmental impacts.

And VMT stands for Vehicle Miles Traveled, a newer better way of measuring how streets and projects work. Earlier this month, California law shifted to favor using VMT in many cases.

Hat tip to Investing in Place and Fehr & Peers.

Stay in touch

Sign up for our free newsletter

More from Streetsblog California

Caltrans Readies Guidance for Complete Streets, with a Big Exemption

But somewhere along the way, highway interchanges - roads crossing and going under and over freeways and highways - were exempted from the guidelines

September 29, 2023

Guest Opinion: Ten Years In, CA Active Transportation Program Lays Bare a Tale of Two Agencies

L.A. County needs to embrace physically-protected bikeways, robust traffic calming around schools, and similarly transformative, safety-focused projects

September 29, 2023

Commentary: Let’s Talk About the Real “Fatal Flaw” on Valencia

How many people have to die before professional advocates stop endorsing the Valencia Street "experiment" on people?

September 29, 2023

Friday’s Headlines

Caltrans, we need complete streets everywhere, including at freeway interchanges (or maybe especially there); Public agencies and academics join forces to develop AV standards; Republicans really want to suspend the gas tax; More

September 29, 2023
See all posts