VMT Reduction Newsletter - April 2026
 

Greetings from the Caltrans VMT Reduction Branch! We are pleased to share some insights into ongoing efforts and some initiatives to look forward to in the upcoming months.

Latest Hot Topics

The VMT Reduction Program continues to release Hot Topics to update practitioners and partners with information that may be helpful in preparing VMT analyses and mitigation plans. Below are two recent Hot Topics, which are posted on our website. 
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Data Updates in the NCST California Induced Travel Calculator 2022-2024
Learn More
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Mitigation Banks, Exchanges, and In-Lieu Payments
Learn More
 

Resources Forthcoming
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Rural VMT Guidelines Update
Learn More

New guidances on addressing VMT in rural areas are underway! The Caltrans VMT Reduction Branch is leading the SB 743 Implementation Working Group Rural VMT Action Subcommittee, which is tasked with developing guidance for VMT analyses and mitigation options in rural areas in California for projects on the State Highway System.
 

LCI Program -

California's Statewide VMT Mitigation Bank
Factsheet

The Governor's Office of Land Use and Climate Innovation (LCI) is advancing an effort to establish a statewide VMT Mitigation Bank as outlined in AB 130. This future bank will provide a practical mitigation option in compliance with CEQA requirements through investment into Transit-Oriented Development. The fund implementation guidelines will be released by July 1, 2026.


Retirements

Eric Sundquist


Deputy Director, Sustainability

The VMT Reduction Branch wishes a fond farewell and happy upcoming retirement to Eric Sundquist, the Deputy Director of Sustainability at Caltrans HQ. Eric's last month with the Department will be June 2026. Eric has been the Deputy Director since March 2024. He joined Caltrans in 2021, serving as the Sustainability Advisor in the Director’s Office of Sustainability. He later became the acting Deputy Director of the Director's Office of Equity, Sustainability and Tribal Affairs (ESTA).


Your VMT Reduction Branch

Fran Ruger


Environmental Program Manager


Fran Ruger is serving as the VMT Reduction Program Manager. She has been working in the VMT Reduction Program, as program staff and Program Manager, for three years. Prior to working at Caltrans, Fran was a NEPA/CEQA practitioner and worked alongside Caltrans and local agencies to analyze and implement transportation and land use projects and programs across northern California. 



Albee Dobson


Sr. Environmental Scientist (Specialist)


Albee has a BS in Environmental Science and Management and a MS in Transportation Technology and Policy. Prior to joining Caltrans, she worked as a graduate student researcher at the National Center for Sustainable Transportation (NCST) and a consultant specializing in travel demand forecasting, traffic operations, and CEQA. Most recently, she worked at Caltrans HQ Division of Transportation Planning and helped to advance the Caltrans System Investment Strategy (CSIS) implementation.  

Diana DeGroot


Sr. Environmental Scientist (Specialist)


Diana has a BS in Geography with a GIS concentration from Cal Poly Pomona. She joined Caltrans as a student assistant in 2017 and later got hired as an environmental generalist in District 8. She also has experience as an Associate Transportation Planner in local development review. Her areas of interest include NEPA/CEQA compliance, sustainable development, and advancing multi-modal transit options.  

Director's Office of Sustainability | 1120 N. Street | Sacramento, CA 95814 US

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