Council hears public hearing on Commute Trip Reduction plan and adopts 60% drive-alone performance target

City staff presented a four-year Commute Trip Reduction (CTR) plan at Monday’s Washougal City Council meeting, described the state statutory background and sought council action to post and publish an ordinance adopting the plan.

Mitch, a city transportation staff member, said the CTR program — which the transcript notes was adopted into state law in 1991 “under the Martin Luther King Air Act” — aims to reduce congestion, air pollution and fuel use by lowering single-occupancy vehicle commutes at affected work sites. The plan identifies objectives, performance targets and strategies and covers a four-year period that staff said would be effective “July 1 through June 1.”

Staff recommended Washougal adopt a weighted average drive-alone performance target of 60 percent for affected worksites. Mitch told the council that the CTR rules apply to worksites with more than 100 employees and to jurisdictions that contain state highway segments exceeding a Department of Transportation delay threshold; the I-5 bridge was cited as one such segment that contributes regional delay.

Council members and members of the public commented on multimodal strategies and local infrastructure needs. Speakers suggested improving sidewalks on steep streets, expanding bike and pedestrian connections, providing microtransit or employer shuttles, and offering incentives such as bike lockers, ride-home programs, telework and alternative work schedules. Mitch noted the program’s focus is on affected worksites (those with more than 100 employees) rather than the entire community and said the current regional weighted average drive-alone rate is about 65 percent, making a 60 percent target “ambitious but not unrealistic.”

Following the public hearing, the council voted by voice to move the ordinance forward; the transcript shows a voice vote of “aye” from council members and staff recorded in the meeting excerpt.

Ending: Staff said the adopted plan’s strategies would include education, microtransit options, bicycle and pedestrian improvements where feasible, employer-based incentives, and encouragement of telework and flexible schedules. Staff asked the council to designate any local implementation steps and to continue to coordinate with regional partners for program administration.