Washington’s Commute Trip Reduction (CTR) Law

1. Washington’s Commute Trip Reduction (CTR) Law

2. The Commute Trip Reduction (CTR) Law • The CTR Law requires major employers - in Urban Growth Areas throughout Washington - to implement an employee commute program designed to reduce the number of drive alone commutes made to the worksite.

3. The goal of the CTR Law The goal of the CTR Law is to reduce: • Traffic congestion • Greenhouse gas emissions • Fuel consumption

4. The CTR Law is working The CTR Program removed nearly 28,000 vehicles from Washington roadways every weekday morning in 2009. Source: 2009 CTR Report to Washington State Legislature

5. The CTR Law is working to reduce traffic congestion If CTR participants in the Central Puget Sound Region returned to driving alone, 22,500 additional vehicles would be traveling on our roadways during the morning commute period. Source: 2009 CTR Report to Washington State Legislature

6. Transportation is a major source of greenhouse gas emissions • In Washington, more than 45 percent of greenhouse gas emissions are associated with transportation (cars, trucks, planes, and ships). • Employers who encourage employees to use alternatives to drive-alone commuting can reduce their own carbon footprint.

7. The CTR Law is working to reduce greenhouse gas emissions Between 2007 and 2009, CTR worksites state-wide reduced over 27,000 metric tons of greenhouse gas emissions (CO2 equivalent). Source: 2009 CTR Report to Washington State Legislature

8. Carbon dioxide emissions per passenger mile

9. The CTR Law is working to reduce fuel consumption From 2007 – 2009, CTR commuters reduced petroleum consumption by 3 million gallons, saving Washington citizens an estimated $7.8 million in fuel costs.* *Based on a fuel price of $2.60 per gallon Source: 2009 CTR Report to Washington State Legislature

10. CTR-affected employers outperform others in trip reduction

11. Which worksites are affected by the CTR Law? • A public, private or not-for-profit employer with 100 or more full-time employees arriving to a single worksite between 6am and 9am.

12. What is required of affected worksites? • Appoint an Employee Transportation Coordinator (ETC) • Implement a set of program elements that are likely to reduce drive alone commuting • Regularly report to the City on their commute program • Inform employees of their commute options • Survey employees every two years to measure commute behavior • Act in good faith to implement a program likely to reduce drive-alone commute trips made to the worksite

13. Good for business. Good for employees. • A competitive commute program has many benefits for your company. In fact, Business Week magazine (April 2007) calls “subsidized transportation to work” one of the 10 Best Corporate Practices.

14. Commuting equates to lost money and time for employees Second only to housing in expenditures.

15. Commuting equates to lost money and time for employees According to the Texas Transportation Institute, in 2005 each Seattle area traveler lost an average of 45 hours to traffic delays over the course of the year.

16. Good for business. Good for employees. Offering employee commute benefits: • maximizes your employee benefits package • boosts employee morale and wellness • maintains your competitive advantage • takes advantage of tax benefits

17. Low-cost, high-value employee benefit • Eight in ten employees say they would value commuter benefits. • Only two in ten employers providecommuter benefits. • These benefits are some of the least cost/highest value you can offer.

18. Boosts employee productivity, morale and wellness • Employees who carpool, vanpool, bicycle, or walk to work are less stressed and less likely to be late or miss work than employees who drive alone. • Health care costs for employees who bike or walk are substantially lower.

19. Boosts employee productivity, morale and wellness • Employees who take advantage of the program will feel the workplace is working to benefit their lives.

20. Maintains your competitive advantage • Get national recognition for your efforts from theBest Workplaces for CommutersSMprogram.

21. Takes advantage of tax benefits • Employers who provide commuter benefits to their employees can receive a Business and Occupation (B&O) tax credit from the State of Washington. • The IRS allows some commuter benefits to be given to employees by the employer as a tax-exempt fringe benefit and allows employees to use pre-tax income to purchase public transit fares.

22. Good for business. Good for employees. By offering commute benefits you can: • Reduce parking costs and worksite traffic problems • Reduce traffic congestion in our region at a low cost • Reduce carbon emissions and fight climate change.

23. King County provides services to CTR-affected employers: • Information you need to comply with the CTR Law, • Tools and resources for developing and marketing your CTR program • Examples of successful commute programs, • Access to tax breaks and partnership opportunities available to your company, and more.