Partner: Rocky Mountain Institute
Group Members: Duncan Kay, Jane Marsh, Jackson Tomchek, Brian Yudkin
The Rocky Mountain Institute (RMI) has partnered with a MENV team to build an argument for vehicle miles traveled (VMT) reduction. RMI’s analysis has shown that the United States must reduce VMT by 20% by 2030 to meet climate goals established by the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change. Historical land use decisions and cultural factors have created an auto-centric society that has facilitated an inequitable built environment in a majority of American cities. RMI has identified several interventions, such as zoning reform, street redesign, and pricing signals that have potential to reduce VMT. However, policymakers currently lack data to prove the efficacy of these strategies. The RMI capstone team will utilize a range of methods, including UrbanFootprint (a GIS software), stakeholder interviews, and policy analysis, to determine which combination of strategies will be most effective for reducing VMT in 3-5 American cities. The intent is to craft a compelling argument to support the implementation of these strategies.