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Council reviews draft Commute Trip Reduction (CTR) plan update; local goal set for 2025–2029
Summary
Staff presented the draft CTR plan required under state law for 2025–2029, explained the plan’s content and regional coordination through CommuteSmart Northwest and SRTC, and noted a local target to reduce drive‑alone commute rates by 10 percent over the plan period.
City staff led a workshop discussion on the draft Commute Trip Reduction (CTR) plan update that will govern Medical Lake’s CTR efforts for the four‑year period effective July 1, 2025 through June 30, 2029.
Staff summarized statutory context and the collaboration behind the draft: the plan follows state CTR guidance and was reviewed by the Spokane Regional Transportation Council (SRTC) and WSDOT’s transportation demand management technical committee. The draft sets local performance targets that staff said are higher than many regional jurisdictions because Medical Lake has among the highest drive‑alone commute rates in the Spokane region. The plan also relies on the intergovernmental agreement with CommuteSmart Northwest to pool implementation resources and incentives.
Staff explained that the city’s notional allocation from the state/region for CTR implementation is about $10,000; that allocation is pooled regionally so CommuteSmart Northwest can manage incentives, employer outreach and reward programs. “We pool that money with all the jurisdictions together, and CommuteSmart Northwest is the county’s office that manages those resources,” staff said.
Why it matters: The CTR plan establishes goals, reporting expectations and an implementation pathway for employer outreach, incentives and regional alignment on transit, biking and carpool options. Staff noted there is no penalty for not meeting the goals but adoption is a required administrative step.
Ending: Staff introduced the draft for council review and said the item will return as Resolution 25‑7‑43 (staff signaled the item will come back for formal adoption in a subsequent meeting). Councilmembers asked questions about bike lanes and West Plains intercity connections; staff said the plan acknowledges current service gaps and regional coordination efforts.
