The Case for a Successful Vehicle Miles Traveled Reduction Effort in New Jersey
New Jersey has set ambitious greenhouse gas reduction goals: 50% by 2030 and 80% by 2050. While the state’s 2019 Energy Master Plan primarily focuses on electric vehicle adoption to reduce transportation emissions, the US Department of Transportation1 and many other states advocate for a dual approach that combines fleet electrification with reducing Vehicle Miles Traveled (VMT).
This report evaluates New Jersey’s VMT reduction potential to inform the Board of Public Utilities’ Energy Master Plan update. Through analysis of state travel patterns, land use characteristics, and successful approaches from other states, we identify promising strategies for VMT reduction in New Jersey.
Our research examined five states–Colorado, Connecticut, Minnesota, Oregon, and California—that have implemented VMT reduction targets with comprehensive supporting measures. These programs vary in their emphasis on transportation infrastructure, land use development, or both approaches in combination.
Key findings demonstrate significant VMT reduction potential in New Jersey:
- Most trips are made by personal vehicle, and they are predominantly shorter and more local than typical work commutes. The closer daily destinations are to homes, the shorter the length of car trips and the more of such trips that won’t need a car at all.
- Despite being the nation’s most densely populated state, New Jersey ranks only 8th lowest in per capita VMT.
- States with lower VMT typically have larger populations living in compact areas with robust public transit and proximate local destinations.
- County-level analysis shows lower per-capita VMT correlates with higher population density and closer destinations.
- Even higher-income households reduce vehicle ownership in municipalities designed for walking, cycling, transit use, and shorter car trips.
The path forward for New Jersey to reduce its transportation emissions requires helping communities with high VMT to mirror the characteristics of areas with lower vehicle usage. This transformation involves creating more compact development, improving walking and cycling infrastructure, enhancing transit accessibility, and implementing coordinated land use and transportation policies.
Implementation could begin with the New Jersey legislature adopting specific VMT reduction targets, followed by executive branch development of strategies afterwards.
Given New Jersey’s existing density and development patterns, VMT reduction represents an achievable and strategic goal for meeting the state’s climate objectives.
1 DOT Report to Congress: Decarbonizing U.S. Transportation, July 2024
