The San Diego metropolitan region has the ability to tap into new wealth – simply by collectively reducing the number of miles we drive on a daily basis. This is quantified as Vehicle Miles Traveled (VMT) per person per day.
We are fiscally constrained, faced with increasing economic recession and yet we allow over $1 billion annually to “drip from the faucet” by driving around so much. We almost can’t help it – our land use patterns have all but required it.
The Green Dividend, authored by economist Joe Cortright for Move San Diego, demonstrates our regional economy could realize as much as $2 billion annually through avoided fuel and capital costs for car ownership, and avoided time sitting in traffic if San Diegans reduce their VMT just by 3.2 miles per person per day – down to that of the national average. This money would be spent locally on goods and services, and would have a definite impact on our region.
This VMT reduction strategy would cause our roads to be less congested, thus keeping us from wasting time in traffic, and would make us healthier by reducing pollution in the air we breath, and increasing our fitness levels due to accelerated walking , biking and use of public transit.
However, our current RTP (Regional Transportation Plan) anticipates that, by the year 2030, the VMT will increase by 50% over year 2000 levels! It includes over 800 new miles of freeway lanes, and collectively a total of 38.8 million more VMT per year. SANDAG is preparing now for the 2050 RTP update, and still has plans for massive freeway expansion.
If we know we can save over $1 Billion annually by reducing VMT just by a little over 3 miles per person per day, how much will it cost us when we increase VMT by 50%? It’s not a question I want to know the answer to.
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Through well planned land use and housing policy, and more effective public transit investments, we can realize the Green Dividend. We will reduce VMT, put money back in the pockets of the citizenry, clean up our planet, and keep San Diego moving.
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- "Green Dividend" Honorary Host Committee
- San Diego City Councilmember Kevin Faulconer
- San Diego City Councilmember Todd Gloria
- Geoff Chase, Chairman, SDSU Center for Regional Sustainability Chair
- Mary McKenzie, PhD. United Nations San Diego President
- Andy Hamilton, Founder, Walk San Diego
- Kathy Keehan, Executive Director, San Diego Bicycle Coalition
"Green Dividend" Sponsors
Move San Diego acknowledges and thants our Green Dividend sponsors:
