VMT Mitigation Program

Overview

WRCOG, in partnership with its member agencies and key regional stakeholders, has developed a voluntary exchange program (Program) to provide a method to mitigate vehicle miles traveled (VMT) impacts under the California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA).  WRCOG will serve as the Program Administrator and main point of coordination for Participants. The voluntary Program will provide Participants in need of a way to offset significant VMT impacts will be able to purchase VMT credits generated by participants with VMT credit-generating projects.

Learn more:

A Program Manual was developed to establish rules and procedures intended to cover most anticipated situations, along with provide some level of flexibility to adjust to changing circumstances. These changing circumstances involve incorporating changes to State regulatory guidance and as the program evolves. Any updates will be prepared and implemented in conjunction with the member agencies, regional partners and other key stakeholders.  

WRCOG conducted webinars in September 2025 to introduce the Program to potential credit generators and credit users. The PowerPoint presentation provided at the webinars can be found here.

Key Terms/Who should be interested?

Applicant: A developer or similar entity applying to purchase credit(s) as a credit user. 

Credit: VMT reduction credit.

Credit Generator: A public agency that implements a project or program that produces a VMT reduction credit.  Credit generators will enter into a Participation Agreement with the Program Administrator.  This agreement enables public agencies to submit credit-generating items to the Program that are eligible to receive funding through the Program.

Credit-generating Item: A specific project or program that has produced or may produce a credit.

Credit User: Land development or transportation project administrator that needs VMT reduction credits for CEQA mitigation.

VMT Impact: The generation of VMT above the applicable threshold of significance by a project, which may require a Credit User to seek a mitigating credit(s). 

Documents

• Program Manual
• Template Credit Generator Participation Agreement
• Template Credit User Agreement
• Credit generating project list
• VMT Credit Calculation worksheets