WELCOME! Employer Transportation Coordinator (ETC) Training Part 1: Orientation to the Commute Trip Reduction Law

ETC Training: Part 1 Orientation to the Commute Trip Reduction (CTR) Law v How effective the law has been v Why the law was passed v What the state law requires of employers v What your local CTR Ordinance requires v How to complete the annual report v What employers can do to encourage employees to use alternatives to drive-alone commuting

ETC Training: Part 2 Promoting & Implementing Your CTR Program v Sharing ideas for success v Overcoming challenges and obstacles v Offering commute subsidies u overview of transit passes u tax implications v Changing employee commute behavior v Planning your CTR promotions v Keeping records

Commute Trip Reduction (CTR) Law v Passed in 1991 as part of Washington’s Clean Air Act v 3 Goals: u Decrease traffic congestion u Improve air quality u Reduce fuel consumption v Revised through the CTR Efficiency Act in 2007

Commute Trip Reduction v The CTR Program removed nearly 20,000 vehicles from roadways in the central Puget Sound per average workday morning in Source: 2007 Interim CTR Report to Washington State Legislature

Commute Trip Reduction v The vehicles removed from roadways in the Puget Sound region - because of the CTR Program - reduced traffic delay by 18% on an average morning. Source: 2007 Interim CTR Report to Washington State Legislature

An 18% Decrease in Delay for Common Commutes Source: 2007 Interim CTR Report to Washington State Legislature RouteMilesCommute time saved due to CTR Program I-5 Everett to Bellevue mins. I-5 Federal Way to Seattle mins. I-90 Issaquah to Seattle mins.

Motor Vehicles Major Source of Greenhouse Gas Emissions v In Washington, more than 45 percent of greenhouse gas emissions are associated with transportation (cars, trucks, planes, and ships). v Employers who encourage employees to use alternatives to drive alone commuting can make a big difference in reducing our contribution to global warming.

Commute Trip Reduction v In 2007, CTR commuters state-wide reduced over 85,000 tons of greenhouse gas emissions (CO2 equivalent) v And, over 4,000 tons of emissions of criteria pollutants (carbon monoxide, volatile organic compounds, and oxides of nitrogen).

Commute Trip Reduction v In 2007, CTR commuters petroleum consumption by 7.9 million gallons, saving Washington citizens an estimated $27 million in fuel costs.* * Based on $3.50 gallon

Drive Alone Rate 1990 – 2000 v In Washington, the percentage of people who drove alone to work decreased slightly from 73.9% to 73.3%. v Washington and Oregon were the only states in the US where this dropped. In all other states, the average rate for drive-alone commuting increased. Source: US Census Data

Drive Alone Comparison

Commuters at CTR Sites who “always drive alone” Source: 2007 Interim CTR Report to Washington State Legislature

Commuters at CTR Sites who “always drive alone” Source: 2007 Interim CTR Report to Washington State Legislature

Commute Trip Reduction (CTR) Law It’s about creating more commute options for employees.

1997 CTR Goals v 15% reduction in drive alone commute trips by 1995 or within 2 years of a site becoming affected by the law v 20% reduction... within 4 years... v 25% reduction... within 6 years... v 35% reduction... within 8, 10 and 12 years...

Employer Requirements v Develop and submit CTR Program (must include minimum requirements. v Implement approved CTR Program. v Measure employee commute behavior every 2 years. v Submit regular CTR program reports on progress. v Act in “good faith” = work collaboratively with jurisdictions to implement a CTR Program likely to achieve CTR goals.

CTR Efficiency Act u The Act established new goals for cities: a 10% reduction in 2007 drive-alone rates by 2011 u Cities have passed the following reduction targets for 2011 on to employers: u 10% reduction in drive-alone rate or u 13% reduction in VMT from 2007 values

CTR Efficiency Act Requires newly affected employers to: v Conduct a baseline survey within 90 days of becoming a CTR-affected worksite. v Submit a completed program report to the City for review and approval within 90 days of receiving results of baseline survey.

CTR Reduction Calculations v Drive alone rate = Number of drive-alone commute trips Number of potential commute trips

CTR Reduction Calculations v Vehicle miles traveled (VMT) per employee = Trips per person X Miles per trip Where: v Drive-alone trips (includes one-person motorcycle and drive-on ferry trips) = 1 trip per person v Two-person carpool = ½ trip per person v Three-person carpool = 1/3 trip per person… etc… until v Seven or more vanpools and transit (ferry, rail, bus) = 0 trip per person v Non-motorized (bike, walk) or trips not made because of telecommuting or a compressed work week scheduled day off = 0 trip per person

Employer CTR Program Must Include (at a minimum): v Designate an Employee Transportation Coordinator (ETC) and display name. v Regular distribution of information to employees. v Regular report of worksite’s progress to City (includes measurement of employee commute behavior biennially). v Implement a set of CTR Program elements designed to achieve reduction goals.

Compliance with CTR Law v Failure to achieve CTR reductions goals is not a violation of the CTR Law. v Failure to develop, submit, implement a CTR Program or work collaboratively with jurisdiction to achieve CTR goals is a violation of the CTR Law.

Exemptions & Modifications Worksites may request an Employer Exemption for: v Extraordinary business circumstances (bankruptcy, layoffs, labor strike, etc.) v Worksites unable to implement any CTR program elements v Reviewed annually

Exemptions & Modifications Worksites may request Employee Exemption (or “Affected Employee Adjustment”) for CTR-affected employees who: v Work variable and rotating shifts v Must drive alone to work as a condition of employment

Exemptions & Modifications Worksite may request: v Extension for CTR deadlines v Program modification (of approved program)

Employers with Worksites in Multiple Jurisdictions v May request a consistent annual report date or survey period for all sites (across state) v May request that jurisdictions collaborate on Program Review or accept single program (not program report) for all sites IF single program is likely to achieve goals at each site

Successful Commute Programs Critical components include: 1.An active and informed Employee Transportation Coordinator (you!) 2.Incentives or subsidies for non-drive alone commuting 3.Guaranteed ride home 4.Parking management

v The CTR Survey -- two top employer actions “very likely” to increase employees’ use of an alternative commute mode: u Financial incentives u Guaranteed ride home The General Effectiveness of Program Elements

Why is Parking Important? v A 2004 study found that 86% of commuters who receive free parking from their employer drive alone to work. v Only 47% of commuters who do not receive free parking drive alone to work

The Cost of Parking Location & Type Land Cost per Acre Land Cost per Space Con- struction Costs per space Annual O&M Costs per Space Total Annual Costs per Space Suburban, surface $50,000$455$1,500$100$284 Suburban, 2- level $50,000$227$6,000$200$788 Urban, Surface $250,000$2,083$2,000$150$535 Urban, 3-level $250,000$694$8,000$250$1,071 Urban, under- ground $250,000$0$20,000$350$2,238 CBD, surface $1,500,000$7,692$2,500$200$1,612 CBD, 4-level $1,500,000$3,846$17,000$300$2,288 CBD, underground $1,500,000$0$27,000$400$3,101 Source: Victoria Transportation Institute & Rick Williams Consulting, 2005

The Price of Parking v Monthly price of structure parking -- $190 - $258 per space v Monthly price of surface parking -- $25 - $100 per space

1. Provide HOV parking for carpools and vanpools. It’s a visible reminder to employees that your company supports car and vanpooling! 2. Decrease the number of drive-alone parking spaces by increasing the number of HOV spaces. 3. Provide HOV parking discounts. If your employees currently pay for parking, offer discounts or free parking for those who carpool or vanpool. Parking Management Strategies

If providing free parking to employees is an out- of-pocket expense, then: 4. Offer a Parking cash-out to employees by providing an equivalent cash value to those who don’t use parking (bus and train riders, bicyclists and walkers, carpoolers and vanpoolers). 5. Reduce number of spaces needed for employees, freeing them up for visitors/customers and vendors or saving money for company. Parking Management Strategies

Six Steps to Develop Your CTR Program ÀConduct a CTR Survey u establish baseline u determine commute modes with greatest potential u gather employee data ÁAlign program with organizational goals or values ÂDetermine program elements ÃEstimate cost and impact of each program element ÄSell your ideas to management ÅGet approval from City for program