Commute Trip Reduction (CTR) Task Force Chair Brian Lagerberg announced today that a bill recently signed into law by Governor Christine Gregoire will enhance the ability of the CTR Program to reduce traffic delay, air pollution, and petroleum consumption.

Beginning in mid-2007, the CTR program will focus on major employers in the state’s most congested areas, rather than on entire counties as it does now. In addition, once the changes are implemented, the program will help counties and cities voluntarily develop customized trip reduction programs within their employment and residential centers.

“Local governments, businesses, and the state are all interested in the same thing: having an effective transportation system that supports economic growth,” said Lagerberg. “The CTR program brings these parties together to reduce single occupant vehicles in our state’s most congested urban areas. Changes to the CTR program make it easier to integrate trip reduction programs into transportation planning and growth management.”

To implement the program changes, the Legislature provided $750,000 for distribution to local governments and regional transportation planning organizations. An additional $3.9 million for the vanpooling program will also increase the CTR program’s effectiveness.

Gov. Gregoire signed the CTR Efficiency Act on March 29, implementing many of the recommendations contained in the 2005 CTR Task Force Report to the Washington State Legislature. The report also described CTR’s ongoing successes:

— In 2005 fewer commuters drove alone to CTR work sites, reducing nearly 20,000 vehicle trips each morning statewide.

— Employees at CTR worksites drove alone to work only 65.7 percent of the time in 2005, compared with the statewide commuting drive-alone rate of 75.3 percent in 2004.

— The absence of about 20,000 vehicles on the state’s roads each weekday morning in 2005 reduced gas consumption by about 5.8 million gallons, saving commuters about $13.7 million.

The report is available online at http://www.wsdot.wa.gov/tdm under “Reports on the CTR Program” or by calling (360) 705-7846.