April 13, 2026
Orange County Business Council (OCBC) supports AB 2059 (Wilson) if amended, which seeks to establish greater clarity and cost certainty in how vehicle miles traveled (VMT) mitigation is applied to transportation projects under the California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA).
At a high level, AB 2059 would cap the total cost of VMT mitigation measures at 5% of a project’s total cost, recognizing that excessive and unpredictable mitigation requirements can delay or jeopardize critical infrastructure investments. While this proposal is a meaningful step forward, the bill is currently limited to rural counties. OCBC believes this framework should be expanded to apply statewide to ensure consistency and fairness across all regions.
Transportation agencies in urban and semi-urban areas, including Orange County, face many of the same challenges as rural jurisdictions rising construction costs, project delays and mitigation requirements that are often difficult to implement and whose effectiveness in reducing emissions can be uncertain. Without broader applicability, the bill risks creating an uneven regulatory landscape that continues to hinder project delivery in high-growth areas.
Establishing a reasonable cap on VMT mitigation would improve predictability, support more efficient use of public funds and help ensure that transportation projects can move forward in a timely manner. At the same time, a balanced approach can continue to advance the state’s environmental goals by focusing on feasible, effective mitigation strategies.
OCBC supports AB 2059 if amended to expand its applicability statewide, creating a more uniform, transparent and practical approach to VMT mitigation that supports both infrastructure delivery and California’s long-term climate objectives.
For questions, please email Amanda Walsh, Vice President of Government Affairs.
