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Vehicle Miles Traveled
Average Vehicle Ridership and Occupancy
Recognition Programs

Vehicle Miles Traveled (VMTs)

VMTs are a standard measurement unit for many transportation programs. To calculate VMTs, simply track:

(a) _____ Number of work days per year per employee

(b) _____ Average number of miles driven roundtrip for each workday commute

(a) _____ x (b) _____ = TOTAL VMTs ANNUALLY To calculate VMTs saved:

(c) _____ Number of Commute Solutions participants

(d) _____ Average number of single-occupant vehicle trips avoided each year per participant

(c) _____ x (d) _____ = (e) _____ Total number of trips reduced

(e) _____ x (b) _____ = _____ TOTAL VMTs REDUCED ANNUALLY

Of course, if you track precise participation (specific commute distances per participant and number of trips reduced), you can get precise figures rather than estimates. Online enrollment and tracking systems work well for accurate measurements. (See Section 1, Chapter 3, Developing Successful Commute Solutions Programs, for more information)

Average Vehicle Occupancy (AVO) & Average Vehicle Ridership (AVR)
Many ETCs across the country use two other measurements, which often are required as part of trip reduction ordinances.  AVO is calculated as:

AVO =

Total persons in private vehicles
_________________________
Total private vehicle trips

This calculation measures private vehicle travel well, but misses transit, bicycling and walking. Average Vehicle Ridership covers more by putting all modes in the equation:

AVR =

Total persons traveling
__________________
Total private vehicle trips

Recognition programs as an Evaluation tool
One easy way to make sure you track your programs and get the recognition you deserve is to enroll in a local or national recognition program, such as the Clean Air Partners Program and Commuter Choice Leadership Initiative.

Clean Air Partners Program
The Clean Air Partners Program, a CLEAN AIR Force of Central Texas initiative, asks employers to reduce their commute-related ozone emissions (NOx and VOCs) by 10 percent over three years. The program's web site includes tools to quantify ozone related emissions and calculators for strategies to reduce them. (Although the program focuses on Commute Solutions efforts, other clean-air strategies such as sustainable energy give the employer credit toward their 10 percent reduction goal.)

The program tools and twice-annual reporting requirements offer a convenient way for Partners to stay on top of your program while also seeing the resulting air quality benefits, which are expressed in pounds saved per year for NOx and VOCs.

Partners also are recognized publicly for their efforts and share best practices between themselves to improve the effectiveness of programs.

For more information, contact the CLEAN AIR Force at 512-343-SMOG or visit the Web site at www.cleanairpartnerstx.org.

Commuter Choice Leadership Initiative (CCLI)
CCLI is an Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) initiative aimed at creating a "National Standard of Excellence" for employers who offer incentives for Commute Solutions programs. (The program uses the term "Commuter Choice")

The program emphasizes benefits offered to employees to incentivize them to participate. Therefore, each CCLI member is required to choose from a menu of benefits/incentives they will provide.

Additionally, they commit to reducing the number of single-occupancy-vehicle trips by about 15 percent in 18 months.

For more information, contact the EPA CCLI hotline at 888-856-3131, or visit the Web site at www.commuterchoice.gov.