vehicle miles traveled and primary mode of transportation to work
The number of miles driven in the Central Valley is closely related to population growth.

Definition:
This indicator measures the growth in vehicle miles traveled in the Central Valley by cars and trucks and measures how residents of the Central Valley commute to their jobs.

Why is it important?
The number of miles driven reflects economic activity and the quality of life. The amount of driving is greatly influenced by how people get to and from work and affects the quantity of air pollution created.

When employment centers are concentrated in urban areas, alternatives to driving alone to work become more viable. An increase in vehicle miles traveled that exceeds the rate of population growth may suggest that residents are commuting longer distances to jobs.

How are we doing?
The increase in miles driven in the Central Valley is similar to the rate of population growth, about 2.4% a year. An exception is the Southern San Joaquin Valley, where population is growing about 2% a year, but driving is increasing nearly 3% a year.

The modes of travel to work in the Central Valley are very similar to those in the rest of California. More than 80% of commuters drive alone to work, followed by carpooling at 16%, and a small number who use public transit or other means such as biking or walking. These patterns were consistent from 1990 until 2000, the latest period for which data are available.

Download Total Truck Miles data [14.5KB - Excel]

Download Means of Transportation to Work data [16KB - Excel]

Original text found in: The Economy Report 2005