WAC 468-63-030   Program goals and measurement.  (1) Program goals. This section establishes the goals and targets for the CTR program that every city and county shall seek to achieve at a minimum for the affected urban growth area within the boundaries of its official jurisdiction. Every two years, the state shall measure the progress of each jurisdiction and region toward their established targets for reducing drive-alone commute trips and commute trip vehicle miles traveled per CTR commuter. Local and regional goals and measurement methodologies shall be consistent with the measurement guidelines established by WSDOT and posted on the agency's web site.

     (2) Statewide minimum program goals and targets. The goals and targets of local jurisdictions for their urban growth areas shall meet or exceed the minimum targets established in this section.

     (a) The first state goal is to reduce drive-alone travel by CTR commuters in each affected urban growth area. This will help urban areas to add employment and population without adding drive-alone commute traffic. The first state target based on this goal is a ten percent reduction from the jurisdiction's base year measurement in the proportion of single-occupant vehicle commute trips (also known as drive-alone commute trips) by CTR commuters by 2011.

     (b) The second state goal is to reduce emissions of greenhouse gases and other air pollutants by CTR commuters. The second state target based on this goal is a thirteen percent reduction from the jurisdiction's base year measurement in commute trip vehicle miles traveled (VMT) per CTR commuter by 2011.

     (3) Local program goals and targets. Local jurisdictions shall establish goals and targets that meet or exceed the minimum program targets established by the state. The goals and targets shall be set for the affected urban growth area in the city or county's official jurisdiction, and shall be targets for the year 2011 based on the base year measurement for the urban growth area.

     (a) Each local jurisdiction shall implement a plan designed to meet the urban growth area targets. Progress will be determined every two years based on the jurisdiction's performance in meeting its established drive-alone commute trips and VMT targets. Local jurisdictions shall establish base year values and targets for each major employer worksite in the jurisdiction. However, the targets may vary from major employer worksite to major employer worksite, based on the goals and measurement system implemented by the jurisdiction. Variability may be based on the following considerations:

     (i) Previous engagement in trip reduction programs by the employer;

     (ii) Current conditions, policies and services designed to reduce drive-alone travel in the vicinity of the major employer worksite;

     (iii) Planned investments, services, policy changes and other strategies designed to reduce drive-alone travel in the vicinity of the major employer worksite;

     (iv) Transit access to the employer worksite and frequency of transit service during peak periods in the vicinity of the major employer worksite;

     (v) Potential for ride matching internally and with other employers in the area;

     (vi) Bicycle and pedestrian access to the major employer worksite; and

     (vii) Ability to implement compressed work week schedules and/or teleworking.

     (b) The base year values for major employer worksites with an existing CTR program as of March 1, 2007, shall be determined based on employee surveys administered in the 2006-2007 survey cycle. If complete employee survey data from the 2006-2007 survey cycle is not available, then the base year values shall be calculated from the most recent and available set of complete CTR employee survey data. The local CTR plan shall use data from the same survey cycle to establish base year values for major employer worksites to ensure consistency.

     (c) In their local CTR plans, local jurisdictions shall communicate what local, regional and state benefits would be gained if the established targets were achieved. Benefits may include but are not limited to projected changes in transportation system performance, projected reductions in emissions of pollutants, projected reductions in energy consumption, and projected benefits for economic development. Regional transportation planning organizations (RTPOs) and WSDOT shall provide applicable data, if available, to assist this analysis.

     (4) Goals for employers. Regardless of the variations in major employer worksite targets that a jurisdiction implements, each major employer worksite shall be accountable for attaining the targets established by the jurisdiction. However, if major employer worksites are meeting the state requirements and giving a good faith effort as defined in RCW 70.94.531, local jurisdictions may not penalize the major employer for not meeting established targets.

     (5) Voluntary employer worksites. In the local CTR plan, local jurisdictions shall indicate whether voluntary employer worksites that agree to measure will be counted in the calculation of the jurisdiction's progress toward its established targets. Regardless of whether the local jurisdiction chooses to count voluntary employer worksite measurements toward the area goal, jurisdictions shall continue to track results for those employer worksites that agree to measure.

     (6) Other local strategies for achieving the goals. Jurisdictions may choose to institute trip reduction strategies for residents and employees in the urban growth area who are not affected by the local CTR ordinance. The progress of these efforts may be used in the jurisdiction's calculation of its progress toward its established urban growth area targets, if it is measured in a manner that is consistent with the measurement guidelines established by WSDOT and posted on the agency's web site.

     (7) Regional goal-setting. The RTPO in its regional CTR plan shall establish regional CTR program goals and targets. The regional program goals and targets shall be developed based on a compilation of the local jurisdiction goals and targets in the region.

     (8) Conditional review of targets. WSDOT shall evaluate the minimum state goal and target standard at least once every four years to determine whether, based on the current and planned level of support by transit agencies, local jurisdictions, and other service providers, the targets are attainable in each jurisdiction. As part of its evaluation, WSDOT shall determine the circumstances that have affected the ability of jurisdictions to meet the targets, including whether or not sufficient services and support for trip reduction have been provided.

     (9) Local jurisdictions shall not be penalized for not meeting their established four-year targets if they are implementing a plan that meets state requirements and if WSDOT determines that there are circumstances beyond the jurisdiction's control that prevented attainment of the targets.



[Statutory Authority: RCW 70.94.537. 07-05-065, § 468-63-030, filed 2/20/07, effective 3/23/07.]