ODOT VMT Dataset Project

Summary

This project will establish a framework for developing a high-quality household-based vehicle miles traveled (VMT) dataset by integrating available empirical data, evaluating each dataset?s strengths and weaknesses for monitoring household-based VMT. Data sources available to this research include the following: VMT measured for households participating in the Oregon Travel Survey, which included 22,000 Oregon households; odometer readings from vehicle inspections performed by Department of Environmental Quality (DMV and DEQ); VMT measures from vehicles involved in the OReGO program; and third-party data (big data) from transportation data companies. The study will independently evaluate the consistency, accuracy, coverage, and representativeness of each potential data source; and synthesize or integrate a single measure which could be reliably used as a monitoring metric for evaluation over time of change in household-based VMT in Oregon. This research will deliver an evaluation of available data sources and a methodology for integrating reliable data to monitor household-based VMT. In the likely event that all available datasets are found to have flaws, the research will recommend steps for the agency to improve VMT measurement through existing and future data collection and administrative processes.