California has targeted a 15 percent reduction in VMT by 2050 as part of its larger strategy to reduce GHG emissions 80 percent from 1990 levels by 2050. A key component of the policies behind this target is the state’s Sustainable Communities program established under Senate Bill 375 (2008). Under the Sustainable Communities Act, the California ARB sets regional targets for GHG emissions reductions from passenger vehicle use; the most recent designations (In March 2018) range from 3 to 19 percent reductions from 2005 levels starting in 2018. Each metropolitan planning area is then required to prepare a "sustainable communities strategy" as a part of its regional transportation plan that will guide the transportation policies and investments for the region. These strategies must contain land use, housing, and transportation strategies that, if implemented, would allow the region to meet its GHG emission reduction targets. The Sustainable Communities Act also established incentives to encourage local governments and developers to implement the local strategies. For example, developers can obtain relief from certain environmental review requirements under the California Environmental Quality Act if their new residential and mixed-use projects are consistent with a regional sustainable community’s strategy that meets the targets.

California notes in its 2017 Scoping Plan update that the Sustainable Communities program will enable the state to make significant progress toward VMT reduction goals, but that additional programs will be necessary to meet 2050 targets. The state is continuing to explore additional state-level policies to reduce VMT and promote sustainable communities, including:

• accelerating equitable and affordable transit-oriented and infill development through new and enhanced financing and policy incentives and mechanisms; promoting stronger boundaries to suburban growth through enhanced support for sprawl containment mechanisms such as urban growth boundaries and transfer of development rights programs;
• identifying performance criteria for transportation and other infrastructure investment to ensure alignment with GHG reduction goals and other state policy priorities and expand access to transit, shared mobility, and active transportation choices;
• promoting efficient development patterns that maximize protection of natural and working lands; developing pricing mechanisms such as road user/VMT-based pricing, congestion pricing, and parking pricing strategies;
• reducing congestion and related GHG emissions through commute trip reduction strategies, and
• programs to maximize the use of alternatives to single-occupant vehicles, including bicycling, walking, transit use, and shared mobility options.