About the Commute Trip Reduction (CTR) Law

 The state Commute Trip Reduction (CTR) Law was introduced as part of the Washington State Clean Air Act in 1991. The intent of the CTR Law is to reduce air pollution, traffic congestion and fuel consumption by encouraging commuters to use alternatives to drive-alone commuting. Alternatives include riding the bus or train, carpooling, vanpooling, bicycling, walking, working a compressed work week or teleworking. 

The Washington State Legislature passed the CTR Efficiency Act (123kb PDF)in 2006 and revised the goals for trip reduction; each city and county must reduce drive alone trips at major worksites by 10% by 2011. Local jurisdictions are revising their CTR ordinances. These will be finalized by December 2008 and at that time cities will have publish new CTR goals for employers.

The law requires major employers to develop and implement an employee commute program to reduce the number and length of drive-alone commute trips made to the worksite. Local jurisdictions (cities and counties) implemented ordinances to define how the law would apply to worksites in their area. Local jurisdictions are required to provide training and technical assistance for employers.

The CTR Law is working

This chart shows a comparison of drive alone rates at CTR worksites, in Washington State and in the US.


[Click for larger image]

To read more about the costs and benefits of the CTR Program, download the 2007 CTR Board Interim Report.