The Pierce County Council voted 4–3 on June 3, 2025, to adopt Ordinance O2025-512, approving the Pierce County Commute Trip Reduction (CTR) plan for 2025–2029 and amending Pierce County Code chapter 10.5 to align local code with the updated plan.

County planning staff briefed the council that the four-year plan updates administrative code items and clarifies several program elements. Staff said notable changes include a requirement that employers provide program administration on-site rather than remotely, a $100 cap on employer-provided emergency rides home, adding bike fleets as an eligible program incentive, and eased criteria for participating-employer review and recognition. Planning and Public Works transportation planner Debbie Germer told the council the program budget is $250,000 over the two-year biennium, funded through a state noncompetitive grant; program staff support is currently provided by roughly one full-time county staff person who works on CTR activities for employers across the county.

Council members questioned program costs, measurement, and whether the CTR remains necessary given remote-work trends and advances in vehicle technology. Council member Kruger pressed staff for greenhouse-gas reduction metrics and the specific metric-ton targets needed to meet state reduction goals; staff said they would provide those numbers but warned that electrification alone will not meet long-term state greenhouse-gas targets and that reducing vehicle miles traveled remains necessary. Staff further said employers receive credit for employees who work from home and that the state grant funds the program so Pierce County taxpayers were not directly paying operating costs.

Public comment included a speaker who urged planners to consider road design and regional travel patterns when addressing congestion. During council debate, opponents said the program represents regulatory and administrative burdens on employers with limited measurable returns; supporters said the program provides health, well-being and workplace benefits, including options that make carpooling and alternative commutes more feasible for employees.

The roll call on the ordinance recorded four ayes and three nays; Council member Morell, Council member Herrera and Council member Kruger voted no. Council member Ayala, Council member Hitchens and others voted in favor. Staff noted the plan was due to the state by June 30, and county staff said the adopted ordinance aligns with state requirements.