NY S01981

Establishes a vehicle miles traveled assessment working group to study options and best practices for implementing assessments aligned with a goal of reducing annual vehicle miles traveled by 20% by 2050.

Requires the commissioner of transportation to conduct vehicle miles traveled impact assessments prior to approval of state highway capacity expansion projects (including new highways, widening projects, and grade separations).

Mandates that highway capacity expansion projects either be redesigned or offset through impact mitigation actions such as public transit expansion, transportation demand management, parking management, and land-use changes that reduce vehicle miles traveled.

Applies the same vehicle miles traveled assessment and mitigation requirements to county and town highway capacity expansion projects, with counties and towns able to request technical assistance from the state transportation commissioner.

Creates a technical advisory committee of experts to evaluate assessment tools, recommend mitigation actions, and identify best practices for calculating vehicle miles traveled impacts.