Please ensure Javascript is enabled for purposes of website accessibility
Ashley Swearengin Joins Caltrans for Virtual Town Hall on VMT Plan
TLBBHMAP3-U010ALB5ANM-348f959abae2-512-300x300-1
By Jim Jakobs, Digital Producer
Published 5 years ago on
June 30, 2020

Share

The first words on the Governor’s Office of Planning and Research (OPR) virtual town hall announcement tell the story.

“Taking full effect this summer, SB 743 will ensure that new development projects are built in a way that allows Californians to drive less.”

OPR and Caltrans will host the town hall from 1 p.m. to 2 p.m. on Wednesday when the Vehicle Miles Traveled calculation takes effect. The town hall will stream live on OPR’s YouTube channel.

VMT Law

Beginning Wednesday, new development projects will no longer be assessed a fee by how much traffic congestion is created. The goal, according to the law’s supporters, is to reduce greenhouse gas emissions.

Instead, a VMT calculation will be applied. For instance, if a person drives to multiple places a day — work, store, soccer practice, etc. — all of those miles are counted up. Then a fee is calculated for the development, with the funds going to subsidize items such as vanpools, mass transit passes, and bike lanes.

An official with the Building Industry Association of Fresno-Madera Counties has estimated that the VMT fees for a 20-unit project in Clovis would be $460,000 over 30 years — or $23,000 a unit. And, while the developer bears the costs upfront, it is passed on to homebuyers and renters.

Ashley Swearengin

GV Wire℠ reached out to former Mayor Ashley Swearengin several times for comments about VMT but never received a response. Swearengin spearheaded the city’s General Plan that pushed for infill development in Fresno.

Swearengin, now president and CEO of the Central Valley Community Foundation, is listed as a special guest speaker during the VMT live town hall.

Part of the agenda reads, “The goal is more communities where we can travel shorter distances during our daily routines, spending less time behind the wheel and more time doing the things we love. Join us for a conversation on how this change will make California more connected and healthier for all.”

The two other special guests are Chanell Fletcher, executive director of ClimatePlan, and Seleta Reynolds, director of the Los Angeles Department of Transportation.

Many Groups Seeking VMT Delay

A coalition of 30 business and industry associations have asked Gov. Gavin Newsom to delay VMT’s implementation for one or two years. Among the groups: the Southern California Leadership Council, LA County Economic Development Corp., California Business Roundtable, Los Angeles Chamber of Commerce, and California Building Industry Association. The group sent a letter to Newsom on June 25.

The Southern California Association of Governments — which represents six counties and more than 19 million people — spoke of housing shortage concerns and immediate negative impacts on minorities in its letter requesting a one-year delay of VMT.

A total of 20 Senators and Assemblymembers signed a letter sent to Newsom seeking the delay. Sen. Anna Caballero, a Salinas Democrat, is leading the effort to push back the law for two years.

VMT opponents say that the formula puts an unfair burden on rural areas, where workers often have to drive many more miles to their jobs than residents in big cities do.

Boards of Supervisors from Fresno, Kings, Tulare, Kern, Madera, and Merced all unanimously passed resolutions seeking a two-year delay.

The Building Industry Association of Southern California produced a YouTube video (below) and sent it to Newsom. A source tells GV Wire℠ the governor’s office received the video and called the California Building Industry Association. It’s not known what was discussed.

The SoCal BIA video says that VMT, in effect, will be a tax on new home buyers who commute in cars.

Governor’s Office of Planning & Research

GV Wire℠ has reached out to the governor’s press office multiple times for comment on VMT but has yet to receive a response.

However, on April 20, GV Wire℠ heard from Kate Gordon, director of the Governor’s Office of Planning and Research.

“There has been no change to the deadlines contained within CEQA (California Environmental Quality Act), including the SB 743 (VMT) implementation deadline,” wrote Gordon in an email. “Regarding the impact of COVID-10 and social distancing on this deadline: While many local governments are currently closed in order to practice social distancing, the shift to VMT does not require an action on the part of the jurisdiction to formally adopt VMT.”

Photo of Kate Gordon, California Office of Planning and Research

“While many local governments are currently closed in order to practice social distancing, the shift to VMT does not require an action on the part of the jurisdiction to formally adopt VMT.” — Kate Gordon, director, the Governor’s Office of Planning and Research

 

DON'T MISS

What Are Fresno Real Estate Experts Predicting for 2025 and Beyond?

DON'T MISS

First California EV Mandates Hit Automakers This Year. Most Are Not Even Close

DON'T MISS

Clovis Unified Families ‘Resigned’ To Grad Ceremony Ban, Attorney Says

DON'T MISS

Hegseth Orders the Name of Gay Rights Activist Harvey Milk Scrubbed From Navy Ship

DON'T MISS

Knicks Fire Coach Tom Thibodeau After First Eastern Conference Finals Berth in 25 Years

DON'T MISS

US Judge Dismisses California’s Tariff Lawsuit, Teeing up Appeal

DON'T MISS

Young Democrats Offer Lessons for Their Leaders at Party Convention

DON'T MISS

California Prisons Have a Narcotics Problem. Now, More People Will Face Canine Searches

DON'T MISS

After Years of Undrinkable Water, Our Rural California Community Finally Has Hope

DON'T MISS

Fellow Clovis Councilmember, Public Bash Pearce Over Trans Athlete

DON'T MISS

Musk Calls Trump’s Big Beautiful Bill ‘a Disgusting Abomination’

DON'T MISS

US Tariffs Could Put Air Safety at Risk, Aerospace and Airline Industries Warn

UP NEXT

Young Democrats Offer Lessons for Their Leaders at Party Convention

UP NEXT

California Prisons Have a Narcotics Problem. Now, More People Will Face Canine Searches

UP NEXT

California Inmate Gets Five Years for Role in Drone Drug Smuggling Scheme

UP NEXT

Millions Invested in Land for Innovation Village. Will It Be a Fresno Game-Changer?

UP NEXT

Trump Threatens California With Fines After Trans Athlete Wins Girls’ State Titles

UP NEXT

Fresno Police Arrest Parolee After Officer-Involved Shooting, Standoff

UP NEXT

Fresno Unified’s Misty Her Says She Was Assaulted. Police Have No Reports

UP NEXT

Fresno County Active Wildfire Grows to 45 Acres

UP NEXT

Valley Crime Stoppers’ Most Wanted Person of the Day: James William Johnson

UP NEXT

Fresno County Crews Battle Active Wildfire in Yokuts Valley, Evacuation Warning Issued

US Judge Dismisses California’s Tariff Lawsuit, Teeing up Appeal

8 hours ago

Young Democrats Offer Lessons for Their Leaders at Party Convention

9 hours ago

California Prisons Have a Narcotics Problem. Now, More People Will Face Canine Searches

9 hours ago

After Years of Undrinkable Water, Our Rural California Community Finally Has Hope

10 hours ago

Fellow Clovis Councilmember, Public Bash Pearce Over Trans Athlete

10 hours ago

Musk Calls Trump’s Big Beautiful Bill ‘a Disgusting Abomination’

10 hours ago

US Tariffs Could Put Air Safety at Risk, Aerospace and Airline Industries Warn

10 hours ago

Trump to Sign Order Doubling Metals Tariffs, White House Says

11 hours ago

California Inmate Gets Five Years for Role in Drone Drug Smuggling Scheme

11 hours ago

Millions Invested in Land for Innovation Village. Will It Be a Fresno Game-Changer?

11 hours ago

Clovis Unified Families ‘Resigned’ To Grad Ceremony Ban, Attorney Says

Barring any last-minute about-faces by Clovis Unified officials, eight high school seniors won’t be joining their classmates at their ...

5 hours ago

5 hours ago

Clovis Unified Families ‘Resigned’ To Grad Ceremony Ban, Attorney Says

6 hours ago

Hegseth Orders the Name of Gay Rights Activist Harvey Milk Scrubbed From Navy Ship

6 hours ago

Knicks Fire Coach Tom Thibodeau After First Eastern Conference Finals Berth in 25 Years

U.S. President Donald Trump holds a chart next to U.S. Secretary of Commerce Howard Lutnick as Trump delivers remarks on tariffs in the Rose Garden at the White House in Washington, D.C., U.S., April 2, 2025. REUTERS/Carlos Barria/File Photo
8 hours ago

US Judge Dismisses California’s Tariff Lawsuit, Teeing up Appeal

9 hours ago

Young Democrats Offer Lessons for Their Leaders at Party Convention

9 hours ago

California Prisons Have a Narcotics Problem. Now, More People Will Face Canine Searches

10 hours ago

After Years of Undrinkable Water, Our Rural California Community Finally Has Hope

10 hours ago

Fellow Clovis Councilmember, Public Bash Pearce Over Trans Athlete

Help continue the work that gets you the news that matters most.

Search

Send this to a friend