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1. What is a transportation program?

An employer transportation program, or commute options program, is designed to encourage employees to use alternative modes of transportation to reduce the number of single-occupancy vehicles on the road. 

Regardless of your company's size, commute options programs can work for you. You have the flexibility to choose the program elements that align with your business needs and concerns. All program elements support our region's goal of promoting a healthy environment, a strong economy, and reducing pollution, traffic congestion, and fuel consumption.

2. How much does the program cost?

All of the services we provide you and your employees are free. This means we can help you build, launch, and manage your transportation program at no cost to you. However, the program benefits implemented by the business are not free. We can also help you choose a program that aligns with your goals and budget. For instance, some program elements are free, low-cost or less than providing parking. 

Contact the RTP team to get your program started!

3. How can I measure the success of an alternative transportation program?

We love this question. You can measure the success of your program by:

• Tracking participation rates

• Reducing single-occupancy vehicle trips

• Monitoring transportation-related costs

• Surveying parking lots

• Surveying employee interest

• Surveying employee commute habits annually

• Subsidy use reports

• RTP Trip Calendar reports (available with an ETC account)

 Ride Together Pierce can also help you track and measure the success of your program. 

4. What is an Employee Transportation Coordinator (ETC)?

An Employee Transportation Coordinator (ETC) is someone who promotes transportation options within a company's commute options program. They act as a go-between for the company's management and employees, as well as for the employer and local jurisdiction. Their job is to help implement, promote and administer the company's commute options program.

With support from other departments, the ETC does a variety of things like meeting with management to decide on program elements, working with transit agencies and the local government, completing reporting requirements, coordinating employee surveys, helping employees find carpools or vanpools, promoting the commute options program, and tracking employee participation. 

5. What is the Washington State Commute Trip Reduction (CTR) law?

The Washington State Commute Trip Reduction (CTR) law is a state mandate requiring employers with 100 or more employees who work at a single worksite to develop and implement a program to reduce single-occupancy vehicle trips during peak commuting hours. Learn more about Washington’s CTR requirements here. 

Puget Sound’s I-5 is one of the nation’s worst congestion points, causing issues for the environment, commuters, and employers. Spokane County and several central Washington counties are also affected by heavy traffic congestion. To solve these issues, the Washington State legislature adopted the Commute Trip Reduction law, which is now also part of Washington’s Clean Air Act. 

The CTR goal is to reduce statewide air pollution from greenhouse gas emissions through a commute trip reduction program where the use of single-occupant vehicles is less, favoring other modes of travel. 

See how we can help your organization develop a commute program that fits your needs and meets the state requirements here.