14.06.070 Requirements for employers.
Major employers are required to make a good faith effort, as defined in RCW 70.94.534(2) and this chapter, and to develop and implement a CTR program that will encourage its employees to increase non-drive-alone commute trips at each major worksite. The employer shall submit a description of its program to the city and provide quarterly progress reports to the city on employee commuting and progress toward meeting the goals and targets. The employer CTR program must include the mandatory elements described below:
A. Description of Employer’s CTR Program. The CTR program description presents the strategies to be undertaken by an employer to achieve the commute trip reduction goals. The goals are stated in the city’s CTR plan. Employers are encouraged to consider innovative strategies and combine program elements in a manner that will best suit their location, site characteristics, business type, and employees’ commuting needs. Employers are further encouraged to cooperate with each other and to form or use transportation management associations in developing and implementing CTR programs. Each major employer is required to submit a description of its CTR program to the city on the official form provided by the city and shown in the CTR administration procedures. At a minimum, the employees’ description must include:
1. General description of each worksite location in the city, transportation characteristics, surrounding services, and unique conditions experienced by the employer or its employees;
2. Number of employees affected by the CTR program and total number of employees per worksite;
3. Documentation of compliance with the mandatory CTR program elements, as described in subsection B of this section;
4. Description of the additional elements included in the CTR program as described in subsection B of this section; and
5. Schedule of implementation, assignment of responsibilities, and commitment to provide appropriate resources to implement the CTR program.
B. Mandatory Program Elements. Each major employer’s CTR program for each major worksite shall include the following mandatory elements:
1. Employee Transportation Coordinator (ETC). The employer shall designate at least one ETC to administer its CTR program. The ETC’s name, location, and telephone number must be displayed prominently at each major worksite. The ETC shall oversee all elements of the employer’s CTR program and act as liaison between the employer and the city. A major employer with multiple major worksites in Bothell and/or the region may have one transportation coordinator for more than one major worksite, provided the workload permits them to perform required CTR implementation tasks. The objective is to have an effective ETC presence at each worksite. The ETC is not required to be an employee of the major employer.
2. Information Distribution. Information about commute alternatives shall be distributed to all employees at least twice a year. One of the items distributed must be a description of the employer’s worksite program. Program information shall be posted permanently and regularly updated, in a conspicuous place that is easily accessible to all employees at bulletin boards, via electronic communications and/or kiosks. An information center is to be maintained in each worksite building used by 50 or more affected employees. Program information shall consist of, at a minimum, a summary of the employer’s program, including ETC name and phone number. Employers must also provide a summary of their program to all new employees at the time of hire. Each employer’s program description and quarterly reports must describe what information is to be distributed by the employer and the method of distribution.
3. Quarterly Progress Report. The CTR program must include a quarterly review of employee commuting, progress and good faith efforts toward meeting the goals and targets as outlined in the CTR plan. Major employers shall file a quarterly progress report with the city in accordance with the format established by this chapter and consistent with the CTR board guidelines which can be found at: www.wsdot.wa.gov/transit/CTR/law.htm unless otherwise directed. Within the report, the employer should evaluate the effectiveness of the CTR program and, if necessary, propose modifications to achieve the worksite’s CTR goals and targets. The format of the reports shall be provided by the city.
4. Trip Data Measurement. In addition to the specific program baseline measurement, employers shall conduct a program evaluation as a means of determining worksite progress toward meeting CTR goals.
5. Annual Worksite Promotion of Employer CTR Program. Major employers will hold at least one annual “transportation fair” or equivalent promotion which is available to all employees at each major worksite.
6. ETC Training. ETCs will be required to attend an ETC basic training session within six months of appointment.
7. Employer Notification. Employers will be required to notify the jurisdiction or designee when there are proposed changes to their CTR program, changes in ETC or contact information, and/or changes in number of employees at the worksite.
8. ETC Networking/Advanced Training. ETCs will be required to attend at least six hours of networking or advanced training per year. Training and networking sessions may include marketing CTR programs to employees, trip planning, ridesharing, joint promotions and networking meetings.
9. Record Keeping. Major employers shall maintain all records required to document the performance of their accepted or approved CTR program for 48 months. Requirements are described in the CTR administrative procedures.
10. Transportation Demand Management Elements. In addition to the specific program elements described above, the employer’s CTR program shall include a set of transportation demand management elements designed to achieve the trip reduction goals established by this chapter.
a. Mandatory Transportation Demand Management Elements. An employer’s CTR program shall include at least one element selected from the list below and subject to the guidelines for the selected element, or the combined portions of selected elements, as provided in the administrative guidelines:
(i) Preferential parking or reduced parking charges for carpools and vanpools which is signed, monitored and enforced;
(ii) Financial incentives, including but not limited to subsidized bus passes, vanpool subsidies or a transportation allowance for non-SOV commuting;
(iii) Establishment of a program of alternate work schedules which eliminates work trips for affected employees;
(iv) Establishment of a program of telecommuting which permits affected employees to work at home or at an alternative worksite closer to their home;
(v) Provision of commuter ride matching services to facilitate ridesharing for commute trips, and/or vans or buses for employee ridesharing;
(vi) Participation in a transportation management association (TMA); and
(vii) Imposition of parking charges for SOV commuters.
b. Additional Transportation Demand Management Program Elements. Each major employer shall include one or more additional CTR program element(s) designed to help employers meet CTR goals. Employers are encouraged to develop and implement innovative strategies, which are tailored to the specific situation at their worksite. Employers may also select elements from a list of recognized transportation demand management activities which include, but are not limited to, the following:
(i) Any element listed in subsection (B)(10)(a) of this section that has not been selected as required under subsection (B)(10)(b) of this section;
(ii) Permitting the use of employer’s vehicles for carpooling or vanpooling;
(iii) Permitting flexible work schedules to facilitate employees’ use of transit, carpools, or vanpools;
(iv) Cooperation with transportation providers to provide additional regular or express service to the worksite;
(v) Construction of special loading and unloading facilities for transit, carpool and vanpool users;
(vi) Provision of bicycle parking facilities, lockers, changing area and showers for employees who bicycle or walk to work;
(vii) Provision of a program of parking incentives such as a rebate for employees who do not use the parking facilities;
(viii) Provision of a guaranteed ride home or emergency taxi service program;
(ix) Special, on-site promotions of alternatives to SOV commuting, in addition to the required promotion program described in subsection (B)(5) of this section;
(x) Implementation of other measures designed to facilitate the use of HOV, including but not limited to on-site day care facilities, concierge service or provision of company-provided vehicles for personnel use during break periods; and/or
(xi) Provision of commuter ride matching services to facilitate employee ridesharing for commute trips.
C. Consideration of Other Program Elements. Consideration will be given by the city when reviewing CTR programs which include TDM elements that are designed to promote the use of alternative modes in ways other than those specified in subsections (B)(10)(a) and (b) of this section. (Ord. 2207 § 1 (Exh. A), 2016; Ord. 2017 § 1 (Att. A), 2009; Ord. 1789 § 1, 1999).