NY S04044

Establishes a goal to reduce annual vehicle miles traveled in New York State by 20% by 2050 to align with the state's climate action plan and emission reduction mandates

Creates a Vehicle Miles Traveled Assessment Working Group with representatives from state agencies (DOT, DEC, MTA, Port Authority, etc.) and at least three members from transportation advocacy groups, required to report findings within 12 months

Requires the Commissioner of Transportation to conduct vehicle miles traveled impact assessments before approving any highway capacity expansion projects, including new highways, widening projects, and grade separation projects (excluding auxiliary lanes under 2,500 feet)

Mandates that projects not meeting VMT reduction goals must be redesigned or offset through mitigation measures such as public transit expansion, pedestrian/cyclist infrastructure improvements, transportation demand management, parking management, or transit-oriented development

Extends VMT assessment requirements to county, town, and village highway projects, with the Commissioner providing technical assistance and publishing biannual reports on approved highway expansion projects and their mitigation actions