TO: Members of the City Council
FROM: Mayor Angela Birney
DEPARTMENT DIRECTOR CONTACT(S):
|
Planning and Community Development |
Carol Helland |
425-556-2107 |
DEPARTMENT STAFF:
|
Planning and Community Development |
Seraphie Allen |
Deputy Director |
|
Planning and Community Development |
Michael Hintze |
Transportation Planning Manager |
|
Planning and Community Development |
Kim Keeling |
Program Administrator |
TITLE:
title
Approval of the 2025-2027 Washington State Department of Transportation (WSDOT) Transportation Demand Management (TDM) and Commute Trip Reduction (CTR) Implementation Agreement
OVERVIEW STATEMENT:
recommendation
The City of Redmond is required to implement the Commute Trip Reduction Law (RCW 70.94.521-551). The requirements and parameters to reduce traffic congestion, fuel use, and air pollution through commute trip reduction programs, including TDM programs for growth and transportation efficiency centers are established by RCW 70A.15.4000 through RCW 70A.15.4110.
This agreement with WSDOT would provide the City of Redmond with $214,300 between July 1, 2025, and June 30, 2027, to execute the CTR law and TDM services in Redmond. The workplan approved by WSDOT is included in the agreement. This grant funding is a decrease of $90,106 over the prior biennium. The decrease is due to newly affected jurisdictions entering the State program. A portion of these funds were included in the City’s 2025-2026 budget. The remaining portion of the funds will be included in the 2027-2028 budget proposals.
The recurring agreement contains a workplan that must be approved by WSDOT. The workplan includes recruiting new employer worksites, reviewing employer programs, providing site-specific suggestions for improved CTR performance, administering surveys, reviewing program exemption requests, providing employer training, providing incentives, performing promotion and marketing, and other commuter services. The workplan for this agreement has already been approved by WSDOT.
The CTR law currently affects 36 major work sites, and 20 employers located within the City. (A work site is a building or cluster with 100 or more employees in a single company. A major employer may have more than one work site.) The citywide Drive Alone Rate (DAR) for these Redmond employers for the 2023-2025 cycle was 41.3%, a decrease from the 2021-2023 DAR of 42.2%. More employees are continuing to use alternatives to driving alone, even while our employment-population has grown over the same period. This survey cycle, new mode share categories were added for Scooter, Uber/Lyft/Taxi, and Employer Shuttle. These mode shares were Scooter 0.1%, Uber/Lyft/Taxi 0.2%, and Employer Shuttle 8.2%. Remote work decreased 5.8% to 35.7% from 41.5% on the 2021/2022 survey.
The City has approved this agreement for more than 26 years and works in partnership with WSDOT to implement a successful CTR program.
body
☐ Additional Background Information/Description of Proposal Attached
REQUESTED ACTION:
☐ Receive Information ☐ Provide Direction ☒ Approve
REQUEST RATIONALE:
• Relevant Plans/Policies:
Redmond 2050 Comprehensive Plan
• TR-30 Use TDM techniques to achieve efficient use of transportation infrastructure, increase person carrying capacity, reduce air pollution, and accommodate and facilitate future growth.
• TR-31 Establish TDM program requirements in the Transportation Master Plan that address Commute Trip Reduction Act requirements, support City mode split goals, address participation in transportation management associations, address mitigation funding from developments requiring TDM, and incorporate TDM support for non-commute/non-employer-based sites such as schools. Establish proactive methods for the City to enforce TDM program requirements.
• TR-38 Implement transportation programs, projects, and services to meet air quality standards established in state and federal clean air laws, including the Commute Trip Reduction Law (RCW 70.94.521), and requirements of Chapter 173-420 Washington DRAFT Administrative Code (WAC): “Conformity of Transportation Activities to Air Quality Implementation Plans.”
• TR-52 Establish and report on targets and performance measures to assess progress toward transportation policy objectives, including:
o Mode split
o Carbon emissions
Transportation Master Plan (TMP)
• Strategy 1: Reduce the number of trips starting and ending in Redmond that utilize drive-alone methods and shift trip method choice to transit, carpooling, biking (or other micromobility), and walking through education and incentives.
• Strategy 2: Revisit regulations and management of Mobility Management Plans and meet statewide Commute Trip Reduction requirements.
Environmental Sustainability Action Plan (ESAP)
• T1: Increase the equitable use of non-SOV modes of transportation, such as biking, walking, and public transit
• T1.8: Increase new mobility options
• T1.11: Comprehensive transportation outreach and education
• Required:
RCW 70.94.521-551 Commute Trip Reduction Law
RCW 70A.15 Washington Clean Air Act
• Council Request:
N/A
• Other Key Facts:
N/A
OUTCOMES:
Continued implementation of the CTR law produces a reduction in commute drive-alone rates and supports the City’s vision to meet the travel needs of all modes. Reduction in traffic congestion, fuel use, and air pollution also meets the goals of the Environmental Sustainability Action Plan.
COMMUNITY/STAKEHOLDER OUTREACH AND INVOLVEMENT:
• Timeline (previous or planned):
N/A
• Outreach Methods and Results:
N/A
• Feedback Summary:
N/A
BUDGET IMPACT:
Total Cost:
$214,300
Approved in current biennial budget: ☒ Yes ☐ No ☐ N/A
Budget Offer Number:
00000310 - Mobility of People and Goods
Budget Priority:
Vibrant and Connected
Other budget impacts or additional costs: ☐ Yes ☒ No ☐ N/A
If yes, explain:
N/A
Funding source(s):
Grant
Budget/Funding Constraints:
N/A
☐ Additional budget details attached
COUNCIL REVIEW:
Previous Contact(s)
|
Date |
Meeting |
Requested Action |
|
11/3/2025 |
Committee of the Whole - Planning and Public Works |
Provide Direction |
Proposed Upcoming Contact(s)
|
Date |
Meeting |
Requested Action |
|
N/A |
None proposed at this time |
N/A |
Time Constraints:
These funds were approved as part of the City’s 2025-2026 budget. For the portion of funds that extend through June 2027, we will include that amount in our 2027-2028 budget proposals. Timely adoption of this interlocal agreement is necessary to receive funds to enable the City to proceed.
ANTICIPATED RESULT IF NOT APPROVED:
Loss of grant funding, CTR and TDM programs will not be administered, not in compliance with CTR law. No other funds have been budgeted by the City to support compliance with the state law.
ATTACHMENTS:
Attachment A: WSDOT 2025-2027 CTR TDM Implementation Agreement PTD1203-City of Redmond