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 and length of drive alone commutes made to the worksite.

The CTR Law is Working Washington’s CTR Program removed nearly 20,000 vehicles from state’s roadways per average workday morning in Source: 2005 Report to the Washington State Legislature

The CTR Law is working  The vehicles removed from roadways in the Puget Sound region - because of the CTR Program - reduced traffic delay by 11.6% on an average morning. Source: 2005 Report to the Washington State Legislature

The CTR Law is Working  In 2005, CTR commuters reduced emissions of three regulated air pollutants by nearly 3,700 tons  And reduced petroleum consumption by 5.8 million gallons, saving Washington citizens an estimated $13.7 million in fuel costs. Source: 2005 Report to the Washington State Legislature

The CTR Law is Working

What is a major (CTR-affected) employer?  A public, private or not-for-profit employer with 100 or more full-time employees arriving to a single worksite between 6am and 9am.

What is required of employers?  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 the number or length of drive alone commutes

It’s not just a law… It’s 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.

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

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.

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

Maximizes Your Benefits Package  Eight in ten employees say they would value commuter benefits.  Only two in ten employers provide commuter benefits.  These benefits are some of the least cost/highest value you can offer.

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.  Employees who take advantage of the program will feel the workplace is working to benefit their lives.

Maintains your competitive advantage  Get national recognition for your efforts from the Best Workplaces for Commuters SM program.

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.  The City of Seattle allows employers to reduce their Employee Hours Tax due when employees do not drive alone to work.

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.

 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 make a big difference in reducing our contribution to global warming.

CTR Services provides regulated employers with:  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 much more.