Driving Less, Accessing More: Strategies and Communications Tools

Course Details

Since the beginning of the auto age, governments have typically assumed that the number of vehicles using their roadways will continue increasing over time, and have planned their communities to accommodate and sometimes even encourage that traffic growth. The climate crisis demands a 180-degree pivot. We now recognize that reducing vehicle miles traveled (VMT) is key to meeting emissions reduction goals at all levels of government — but how do we do it?

There is much to learn from the successes and challenges of agencies that are leading in VMT reduction. MnDOT’s approach to VMT reduction seeks to improve the quality of life for all Minnesotans with a transportation system that supports everyone safely traveling where they want, when they want, regardless of disability, age, income, or other status. We will describe how MnDOT developed VMT reduction strategies that maximize social, economic, and environmental benefits, and how we created a toolkit to communicate the strategies internally, with partner agencies, and with the public.

Learning Outcomes

• Identify the co-benefits of VMT reduction approaches
• Link the levers of power available to their agency to VMT reduction approaches to develop a VMT reduction action plan
• Effectively communicate about VMT reduction strategies with a range of stakeholders