GOALS & REQUIREMENTS

Commute Trip Reduction for State Agencies in Thurston County

This webpage highlights information about recent changes to the Commute Trip Reduction Law as amended by Senate Substitute Bill 6088 and how additional state agency worksites are affected in the near term.

If you are newly affected CTR worksite, please become familiar with the basic information about the CTR Law, guidelines, and the Thurston Regional CTR Program by visiting ThurstonCommutes.org.

SSB 6088 Affects all State Agencies in the Urban Growth Areas of Lacey, Olympia, and Tumwater

On May 8, 2009, Governor Christine Gregoire signed into law SSB 6088, which requires all state worksites within the urban growth boundaries of Olympia, Lacey and Tumwater to participate in the state CTR program, no matter the number of employees. This new criteria adds 136 new works sites for a new total of 253 CTR affected worksites in Thurston County.

Through SSB 6088, the following changes were made to the Commute Trip Reduction Law:

1) Transfers responsibilities related to commute trip reduction (CTR) programs for state agencies from the Department of General Administration to the Washington State Department of Transportation (WSDOT). 

2) Requires WSDOT to work with state worksites, transit, and others to develop a Joint Comprehensive CTR Plan for all state agencies within the Olympia, Lacey and Tumwater urban growth areas (including institutions of higher education).

3) Requires these state agencies to implement a CTR program that is consistent with the objectives and strategies of the Joint Comprehensive CTR Plan.

Role of state agencies in trip reduction 

The state CTR law plays an important role in furthering public policy in several areas critical to the well being of the citizens of Washington State.  Accordingly, from its inception, the CTR Law has called for state agencies to take a leadership role:  (RCW 70.94.547)

“The legislature hereby recognizes the state’s crucial leadership role in establishing and implementing effective commute trip reduction programs.  Therefore, it is the policy of the state that the department of transportation and other state agencies, including institutions of higher education, shall aggressively develop substantive programs to reduce commute trips by state employees.  Implementation of these programs will reduce energy consumption, congestion in urban areas, and air and water pollution associated with automobile travel.”

Local Jurisdictional Mandates

The CTR Laws mandate that the local jurisdictions work with CTR worksites to reach trip reduction goals.  Each jurisdiction adopted a CTR Plan and local ordinance that outlines jurisdictional strategies, defines what worksites must do to comply with the law, and sets forth penalties for non-compliance. 

It is the local jurisdictional ordinance that governs CTR in each jurisdiction.  Under local CTR ordinances, an affected employer must make a good faith effort to develop and implement a CTR program designed to reduce the number and length of drive-alone commute trips made to the worksite. 

How Will New State Worksites Be Affected?

CTR Leadership and Guidance 

The Thurston Region has always taken a coordinated approach to implementation of CTR, with the Thurston Regional Planning Council managing the program on behalf of the affected cities of Olympia, Lacey, Tumwater and Thurston County.  The regional partnership also includes the state Department of Transportation (WSDOT) and Intercity Transit. 

These partners bring local experience and expertise to  help CTR worksites develop programs and plans that not only keep them in compliance with state law and local ordinances, but also implement best practices to achieve the goals of the law.

Newly Affected Worksites will Participate in an Online Survey in Early November

Newly affected worksites should expect their employees to participate in a preliminary online commuter survey during the second week of November, 2010 (Nov. 8 – 12).  Employees will report their daily commute mode of travel and answer additional questions about their commute behavior that occurred during the previous week.   The first week of November, TRPC will send details about this survey – including the link to the online survey - to worksite contacts.

After the survey period, TRPC will share the survey results with each participating worksite, and provide some context of the results with other surrounding worksites. This information will also help shape the Joint Comprehensive CTR Plan and the Thurston Regional CTR program.

Joint Comprehensive CTR Plan under development

The new legislation also requires the Washington State Department of Transportation to work with state worksites, transit, and others to develop and adopt a “joint comprehensive commute trip reduction plan for all state agencies, including institutions of higher education” in the Thurston region. 

A Task Force has already begun that effort, with a goal for plan adoption by early next year.  The group includes TRPC, WSDOT, Intercity Transit, as well as both previously and newly affected state agency representatives.    

Once that plan is in place, all state CTR worksites in Thurston County will have 90 days to implement a CTR program that complies with the overall plan, the state law, and the local ordinances.   

CTR Requirements and Goals

In a nutshell, the CTR law requires affected worksites to encourage employees to use commute methods other than driving alone every day, such as biking, walking, riding the bus, ridesharing, telework and flexible work schedules.

A CTR affected employer must make a good faith effort to develop and implement a CTR program designed to reduce the number and length of drive-alone commute trips made to the worksite. 

The current minimum requirements for worksites can be found here, but the Joint Comprehensive CTR Plan currently in development, will identify the minimum requirements and guidelines for all state agencies in the coming months.

The CTR law sets forth two basic performance measures: 

• Drive Alone rate, which is the number of employees who drive alone to work; and
• Vehicle Miles Traveled (VMT) rate, which is the average number of miles driven in the commute to work.

Affected worksites are required to participate in a baseline CTR survey of their employees to establish the base Drive Alone and VMT rates for the worksite, and then survey every two years to track progress.  

In spring 2011, all affected worksites will conduct the survey, which will also set the official baseline for all newly affected sites under SSB 6088.   The state provides surveys for this purpose.  TRPC will contact worksites in early 2011 regarding this spring survey.

The goals for all newly affected worksites are to reduce the number and length of drive-alone commute trips and/or vehicle miles traveled as follows:

• Drive Alone Goal: a 10% reduction from 2011 baseline survey by 2015
• VMT Goal: a 13% reduction from 2011baseline survey by 2015

CTR Benefits

CTR benefits organizations, businesses and the community as a whole.

Benefits to an Organization

Implementing a trip reduction program returns benefits many times over to employers:

• Increases employee satisfaction.  Trip reduction programs can improve the compatibility of an employee’s work life and personal life.  Allowing employees to have alternative work schedules, work from home, and helping them share a ride to work, gives them a guilt-free way to juggle their home life, for example, taking time during the day to visit the doctor or attend a child’s baseball game.
• Reduces demand for parking spaces.  Fewer cars in your parking lot can free up spaces for customers, and can reduce traffic congestion in and around your facilities.  Some employers have used their trip reduction programs to reduce parking expenses, and avoid the expense of building new parking facilities.
• Reduces tardiness and absenteeism.  People who have to catch a bus, carpool, or vanpool are more likely to be on time.  Also, employees who are given more flexibility in their schedules feel better about their jobs, and this increases productivity.
• Reduces stress.  Finding alternatives to driving along can reduce employee stress, tension, and fatigue.
• Expands labor pool.  Not everyone can work 8:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. or owns a car.  Flexible work schedules and sharing the ride to work, for example, allow more people to apply for the job, and gives employers a larger pool from which to draw qualified candidates.
• Enhances public image.  Helps the community recognize that the organization is doing more than just talking about traffic congestion and environmental concerns.
• Provides employees with a low-cost benefit.  Trip reduction programs are often viewed by employees as a benefit, and can be used as a recruitment tool.  Such programs give organizations a low-cost method for reducing turnover and enhancing employee retention.

Community Benefits

In addition to organizational benefits, trip reduction programs also benefit the community as a whole:

• Protects the environment.  Fewer cars polluting the air and water helps to protect our environment.
• Reduces traffic congestion.  When ridesharing occurs, fewer cars mean less congestion for all citizens.
• Conserves energy.  Oil is not a renewable natural resource.  Reducing solo car trips helps conserve energy.
• Maintains quality of life.  Less time stuck in traffic means more time with family and friends.
• Optimizes mobility.  When solo driving is reduced everyone can get around more easily.
• Relieves demand on community infrastructure.  Maintaining roads and bridges is expensive.  Reducing their wear and tear can help reduce the cost and frequency of infrastructure repairs.

If you have questions about the effects of SSB 6088 on your worksite, please contact:

Paul Brewster, Associate Planner
360-956-7575
brewsterp@trpc.org