WSDOT and the Commute Trip Reduction Board are seeking city input on changes to the Commute Trip Reduction (CTR) law. The state Legislature has tasked WSDOT with reporting back to the Joint Transportation Committee by October 1, 2021 on the CTR statute and possible updates.

The goal of the CTR Program is to reduce the number of drive-alone trips by shifting trips to modes (transit, vanpool, carpool, bike, walk) other than single-occupant vehicles (SOVs).  Since the Washington State Commute Trip Reduction Act was adopted in 1991, jurisdictions in Washington have partnered with state, regional, and local agencies to implement employer trip reduction programs in affected areas at employers that have 100 or more employees commuting to work between 6:00 - 9:00 am on weekdays.

In 2006, the Washington State Legislature passed the Commute Trip Reduction Efficiency Act, which focused the CTR program on urban growth areas that were experiencing the greatest automobile-related air pollution and traffic congestion. The Department of Commerce’s 2012 State Energy Strategy recommended expanding trip reduction programs to include non-commute trips. In 2013, the Washington State CTR Board approved a four-year pilot rulemaking experiment to evaluate new trip reduction strategies, improve performance measurement, and identify administrative efficiencies.

Commute trip reduction laws target worksites with 100 or more full-time employees who commute during peak hours in the nine most populous counties in the state. Worksites develop and manage their own programs based on transportation demand management strategies identified as having the highest impact for their employees, and locally adopted goals for reducing vehicle trips and miles traveled. More than 1,000 worksites and 550,000 commuters participate statewide.

Surveys conducted every other year are used to measure vehicle miles traveled and mode choice at each worksite. WSDOT and jurisdictions use survey results to report on collective progress toward drive-alone and vehicle miles traveled reduction targets. To participate in this year’s survey, click here. For questions, please contact WSDOT representatives Ricardo Gotla or Carol Thompson.