Transportation demand management (TDM) helps people use the transportation system more efficiently through education, incentives, products (like subsidized transit fare cards), and programs that encourage taking transit, carpooling, vanpooling, walking, biking, and teleworking.
TDM activities produce wide-ranging benefits to individuals and the transportation system - saving people time and money and reducing traffic congestion, vehicle emissions, and fuel consumption while supporting physical activity and enhanced safety. TDM activities make existing transportation investments perform better, extend the life of existing infrastructure, and can improve outcomes for new investments.
Commute Trip Reduction (CTR)
Washington State's Commute Trip Reduction (CTR) Law was passed in 1991 with the goals of improving air quality, reducing traffic congestion, and reducing the consumption of petroleum fuels through employer-based programs that encourage the use of alternatives to driving alone.
Jurisdictions affected by the law are required to develop a local CTR plan and update it once every four years. These plans are designed to ensure that CTR program goals and targets help jurisdictions achieve their broader transportation and land use goals, and that the jurisdiction in turn develops services, regulations, policies, and programs that support the trip reduction investments of major employers.
Local CTR Plans
In October 2023, the Washington State Department of Transportation (WSDOT) published guidance for the next cycle of four-year plans, covering July 1, 2025 to June 30, 2029. PSRC is asking local jurisdictions to submit draft 2025-2029 Commute Trip Reduction Plans by September 20, 2024, to ensure PSRC can review all plans for consistency with regional planning priorities by November 1. Please email draft plans (or any questions on this process) to transportation@psrc.org.
PSRC has compiled the following resources for jurisdictions in King, Kitsap, Pierce and Snohomish counties developing 2025-2029 CTR plans.
TDM in the Regional Transportation Plan (2026-2050)
Findings from the Regional TDM Inventory will be shared here soon.