An important barometer for personal transportation is vehicle miles traveled (VMT), a measurement used to communicate how much we're driving ... or not driving. This metric is important because federal transportation funding for new roads and repairs of existing roads is tied to VMT.
It's incredible to think that commuters are now entering the second year of declining travel on our nation's roadways. According to recent national statistics from the Federal Highway Administration, we drove more than 100 billion fewer miles in 2008 than in 2007. The data indicate that vehicle miles traveled in Georgia continue to trend downward, with the latest numbers available -- December 2008 -- showing a 1% decline (50 million fewer vehicle miles of travel on Georgia roads) over the prior December.
Many believe escalating fuel prices triggered the decline in late 2007. But what's causing the decline to continue now that the cost of a gallon of gas has remained more predictable? Most signs point to the ailing economic conditions that touch every corner of America. It stands to reason that fewer Americans would be driving as often if they've been laid off or if businesses are closing their doors. But is there room to accommodate the thought that, because of both the recent experience with volatile fuel prices and the ongoing experience of hard economic times, perhaps more commuters are making conscious decisions to think differently about the way they get to and from work?
While VMT continues to go down, alternatives to driving like telework and transit are decidedly on the rise. More employers are turning to telework as a cost-cutting strategy that also improves employee morale. And transit ridership in 2008 reached its highest levels since the Eisenhower administration -- but new money for transit is desperately needed to keep the momentum going. Still, another positive side-effect of the decline in VMT is that less wear and tear on roads and bridges could make them last longer, at a time when funding for large-scale repairs is not readily available.
How long do you see the slide continuing in the number of vehicle miles we're traveling each month? Is this a signal that commuters are making permanent changes to their travel routines ... or just a small blip on the radar screen?
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