BILL REQ. #:  H-0824.2 

Read first time 02/05/2007.   Referred to Committee on Transportation.

     AN ACT Relating to commute trip reduction programs for students at public institutions of higher education; amending RCW 70.94.524, 70.94.527, 70.94.528, 70.94.531, 70.94.534, 70.94.537, 70.94.541, 70.94.547, and 70.94.551; adding a new section to chapter 70.94 RCW; creating a new section; and making an appropriation.

BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF WASHINGTON:

NEW SECTION.  Sec. 1   The legislature finds that it is in the interests of our state to extend the commute trip reduction program to include not only employees, but also students from public institutions of higher education. Traffic congestion is a serious problem that affects the health and safety of everyone in the state. Therefore, the inclusion of students in the commute trip reduction programs that public universities are already operating for their employees would be greatly beneficial in reaching this state's existing policy goals of reducing traffic and improving environmental quality.

Sec. 2   RCW 70.94.524 and 2006 c 329 s 1 are each amended to read as follows:
     Unless the context clearly requires otherwise, the definitions in this section apply throughout this chapter.
     (1) "A major employer" means a private or public employer, including state agencies, that employs one hundred or more full-time employees at a single worksite who begin their regular work day between 6:00 a.m. and 9:00 a.m. on weekdays for at least twelve continuous months during the year.
     (2) "Major worksite" means a building or group of buildings that are on physically contiguous parcels of land or on parcels separated solely by private or public roadways or rights of way, and at which there are: (a) One hundred or more full-time employees, who begin their regular work day between 6:00 a.m. and 9:00 a.m. on weekdays, for at least twelve continuous months; or (b) one hundred or more students, who attend courses or activities required by a public institution of higher education, between 6:00 a.m. and 9:00 a.m. on weekdays, for at least two continuous months.
     (3) "Major employment installation" means a military base or federal reservation, excluding tribal reservations, at which there are one hundred or more full-time employees, who begin their regular workday between 6:00 a.m. and 9:00 a.m. on weekdays, for at least twelve continuous months during the year.
     (4) "Person hours of delay" means the daily person hours of delay per mile in the peak period of 6:00 a.m. to 9:00 a.m., as calculated using the best available methodology by the department of transportation.
     (5) "Commute trip" means trips made from a worker's home to a worksite or a student's home to a public institution of higher education during the peak period of 6:00 a.m. to 9:00 a.m. on weekdays.
     (6) "Proportion of single-occupant vehicle commute trips" means the number of commute trips made by single-occupant automobiles divided by the number of full-time employees.
     (7) "Commute trip vehicle miles traveled per employee" means the sum of the individual vehicle commute trip lengths in miles over a set period divided by the number of full-time employees during that period.
     (8) "Commute trip vehicle miles traveled per student" means the sum of the individual vehicle commute trip lengths in miles over a set period divided by the number of students during that period.
     (9) "Base year" means the twelve-month period commencing when a major employer is determined to be participating by the local jurisdiction, on which commute trip reduction goals shall be based.
     (((9))) (10) "Growth and transportation efficiency center" means a defined, compact, mixed-use urban area that contains jobs or housing and supports multiple modes of transportation. For the purpose of funding, a growth and transportation efficiency center must meet minimum criteria established by the commute trip reduction board under RCW 70.94.537, and must be certified by a regional transportation planning organization as established in RCW 47.80.020.
     (((10))) (11)(a) "Affected urban growth area" means:
     (i) An urban growth area, designated pursuant to RCW 36.70A.110, whose boundaries contain a state highway segment exceeding the one hundred person hours of delay threshold calculated by the department of transportation, and any contiguous urban growth areas; and
     (ii) An urban growth area, designated pursuant to RCW 36.70A.110, containing a jurisdiction with a population over seventy thousand that adopted a commute trip reduction ordinance before the year 2000, and any contiguous urban growth areas.
     (b) Affected urban growth areas will be listed by the department of transportation in the rules for chapter 329, Laws of 2006 using the criteria identified in (a) of this subsection.
     (((11))) (12) "Certification" means a determination by a regional transportation planning organization that a locally designated growth and transportation efficiency center program meets the minimum criteria developed in a collaborative regional process and the rules established by the department of transportation.
     (13) "Public institution" or "public institution of higher education" means any single campus location of a public four-year university or college, operated by the state of Washington or any political subdivision of the state that has more than one hundred students at that single campus location, who begin classes between 6:00 a.m. and 9:00 a.m. on weekdays for at least two continuous months.
     (14) "Student" means an individual currently enrolled in a public institution of higher education, as defined in this section, at least half-time.

Sec. 3   RCW 70.94.527 and 2006 c 329 s 2 are each amended to read as follows:
     (1) Each county containing an urban growth area, designated pursuant to RCW 36.70A.110, and each city within an urban growth area with a state highway segment exceeding the one hundred person hours of delay threshold calculated by the department of transportation, as well as those counties and cities located in any contiguous urban growth areas, shall adopt a commute trip reduction plan and ordinance for major employers, as well as for a public institution and its students, in the affected urban growth area by a date specified by the commute trip reduction board. Jurisdictions located within an urban growth area with a population greater than seventy thousand that adopted a commute trip reduction ordinance before the year 2000, as well as any jurisdiction within contiguous urban growth areas, shall also adopt a commute trip reduction plan and ordinance for major employers, as well as for public institutions and their students, in the affected urban growth area by a date specified by the commute trip reduction board. Jurisdictions containing a major employment installation in a county with an affected growth area, designated pursuant to RCW 36.70A.110, shall adopt a commute trip reduction plan and ordinance for major employers in the major employment installation by a date specified by the commute trip reduction board. The ordinance shall establish the requirements for major employers and public institutions and provide an appeals process by which major employers or public institutions, who as a result of special characteristics of their business or ((its)) locations would be unable to meet the requirements of the ordinance, may obtain waiver or modification of those requirements. The plan shall be designed to achieve reductions in the proportion of single-occupant vehicle commute trips and be consistent with the rules established by the department of transportation. The county, city, or town shall submit its adopted plan to the regional transportation planning organization. The county, city, or town plan shall be included in the regional commute trip reduction plan for regional transportation planning purposes, consistent with the rules established by the department of transportation in RCW 70.94.537.
     (2) All other counties, cities, and towns may adopt and implement a commute trip reduction plan consistent with department of transportation rules established under RCW 70.94.537. Tribal governments are encouraged to adopt a commute trip reduction plan for their lands. State investment in voluntary commute trip reduction plans shall be limited to those areas that meet criteria developed by the commute trip reduction board.
     (3) The department of ecology may, after consultation with the department of transportation, as part of the state implementation plan for areas that do not attain the national ambient air quality standards for carbon monoxide or ozone, require municipalities other than those identified in subsection (1) of this section to adopt and implement commute trip reduction plans if the department determines that such plans are necessary for attainment of said standards.
     (4) A commute trip reduction plan shall be consistent with the rules established under RCW 70.94.537 and shall include but is not limited to (a) goals for reductions in the proportion of single-occupant vehicle commute trips consistent with the state goals established by the commute trip reduction board under RCW 70.94.537 and the regional commute trip reduction plan goals established in the regional commute trip reduction plan; (b) a description of the requirements for major public and private sector employers, as well as public institutions to implement commute trip reduction programs; (c) a commute trip reduction program for employees of the county, city, or town or students of a public institution located within the county, city, or town; and (d) means, consistent with rules established by the department of transportation, for determining base year values and progress toward meeting commute trip reduction plan goals. The plan shall be developed in consultation with local transit agencies, the applicable regional transportation planning organization, major employers, and other interested parties. If a plan has already been developed prior to the inclusion of public institutions of higher education, then the plan must be modified to include the public institutions. Further, the public institutions are to be consulted in regards to such plan modifications.
     (5) The commute trip reduction plans adopted by counties, cities, and towns under this chapter shall be consistent with and may be incorporated in applicable state or regional transportation plans and local comprehensive plans and shall be coordinated, and consistent with, the commute trip reduction plans of counties, cities, or towns with which the county, city, or town has, in part, common borders or related regional issues. Such regional issues shall include assuring consistency in the treatment of employers who have worksites subject to the requirements of this chapter in more than one jurisdiction as well as public institutions with campus locations subject to the requirements of this chapter in more than one jurisdiction. Counties, cities, and towns adopting commute trip reduction plans may enter into agreements through the interlocal cooperation act or by resolution or ordinance as appropriate with other jurisdictions, local transit agencies, transportation management associations or other private or nonprofit providers of transportation services, or regional transportation planning organizations to coordinate the development and implementation of such plans. Transit agencies shall work with counties, cities, and towns as a part of their six-year transit development plan established in RCW 35.58.2795 to take into account the location of major employer or public institution worksites when planning and prioritizing transit service changes or the expansion of public transportation services, including rideshare services. Counties, cities, or towns adopting a commute trip reduction plan shall review it annually and revise it as necessary to be consistent with applicable plans developed under RCW 36.70A.070. Regional transportation planning organizations shall review the local commute trip reduction plans during the development and update of the regional commute trip reduction plan.
     (6) Each affected regional transportation planning organization shall adopt a commute trip reduction plan for its region consistent with the rules and deadline established by the department of transportation under RCW 70.94.537. The plan shall include, but is not limited to: (a) Regional program goals for commute trip reduction in urban growth areas and all designated growth and transportation efficiency centers; (b) a description of strategies for achieving the goals; (c) a sustainable financial plan describing projected revenues and expenditures to meet the goals; (d) a description of the way in which progress toward meeting the goals will be measured; and (e) minimum criteria for growth and transportation efficiency centers. (i) Regional transportation planning organizations shall review proposals from local jurisdictions to designate growth and transportation efficiency centers and shall determine whether the proposed growth and transportation efficiency center is consistent with the criteria defined in the regional commute trip reduction plan. (ii) Growth and transportation efficiency centers certified as consistent with the minimum requirements by the regional transportation planning organization shall be identified in subsequent updates of the regional commute trip reduction plan. These plans shall be developed in collaboration with all affected local jurisdictions, transit agencies, and other interested parties within the region. The plan will be reviewed and approved by (([the])) the commute trip reduction board as established under RCW 70.94.537. Regions without an approved regional commute trip reduction plan shall not be eligible for state commute trip reduction program funds.
     The regional commute trip reduction plan shall be consistent with and incorporated into transportation demand management components in the regional transportation plan as required by RCW 47.80.030.
     (7) Each regional transportation planning organization implementing a regional commute trip reduction program shall, consistent with the rules and deadline established by the department of transportation, submit its plan as well as any related local commute trip reduction plans and certified growth and transportation efficiency center programs, to the commute trip reduction board established under RCW 70.94.537. The commute trip reduction board shall review the regional commute trip reduction plan and the local commute trip reduction plans. The regional transportation planning organization shall collaborate with the commute trip reduction board to evaluate the consistency of local commute trip reduction plans with the regional commute trip reduction plan. Local and regional plans must be approved by the commute trip reduction board in order to be eligible for state funding provided for the purposes of this chapter.
     (8) Each regional transportation planning organization implementing a regional commute trip reduction program shall submit an annual progress report to the commute trip reduction board established under RCW 70.94.537. The report shall be due at the end of each state fiscal year for which the program has been implemented. The report shall describe progress in attaining the applicable commute trip reduction goals and shall highlight any problems being encountered in achieving the goals. The information shall be reported in a form established by the commute trip reduction board.
     (9) Any waivers or modifications of the requirements of a commute trip reduction plan granted by a jurisdiction shall be submitted for review to the commute trip reduction board established under RCW 70.94.537. The commute trip reduction board may not deny the granting of a waiver or modification of the requirements of a commute trip reduction plan by a jurisdiction but they may notify the jurisdiction of any comments or objections.
     (10) Plans implemented under this section shall not apply to commute trips for seasonal agricultural employees.
     (11) Plans implemented under this section shall not apply to construction worksites when the expected duration of the construction project is less than two years.
     (12) If an affected urban growth area has not previously implemented a commute trip reduction program and the state has funded solutions to state highway deficiencies to address the area's exceeding the person hours of delay threshold, the affected urban growth area shall be exempt from the duties of this section for a period not exceeding two years.

Sec. 4   RCW 70.94.528 and 2006 c 329 s 4 are each amended to read as follows:
     (1) A county, city, or town may, as part of its commute trip reduction plan, designate existing activity centers listed in its comprehensive plan or new activity centers as growth and transportation efficiency centers and establish a transportation demand management program in the designated area.
     (a) The transportation demand management program for the growth and transportation efficiency center shall be developed in consultation with local transit agencies, the applicable regional transportation planning organization, major employers, public institutions that are a major worksite with students, and other interested parties. If a plan has already been developed prior to the inclusion of public institutions of higher education, then the plan must be modified to include the public institutions. Further, the public institutions are to be consulted in regards to such plan modifications.
     (b) In order to be eligible for state funding provided for the purposes of this section, designated growth and transportation efficiency centers shall be certified by the applicable regional transportation organization to: (i) Meet the minimum land use and transportation criteria established in collaboration among local jurisdictions, transit agencies, the regional transportation planning organization, and other interested parties as part of the regional commute trip reduction plan; and (ii) have established a transportation demand management program that includes the elements identified in (c) of this subsection and is consistent with the rules established by the department of transportation in RCW 70.94.537(2). If a designated growth and transportation efficiency center is denied certification, the local jurisdiction may appeal the decision to the commute trip reduction board.
     (c) Transportation demand management programs for growth and transportation efficiency centers shall include, but are not limited to: (i) Goals for reductions in the proportion of single-occupant vehicle trips that are more aggressive than the state program goal established by the commute trip reduction board; (ii) a sustainable financial plan demonstrating how the program can be implemented to meet state and regional trip reduction goals, indicating resources from public and private sources that are reasonably expected to be made available to carry out the plan, and recommending any innovative financing techniques consistent with chapter 47.29 RCW, including public/private partnerships, to finance needed facilities, services, and programs; (iii) a proposed organizational structure for implementing the program; (iv) a proposal to measure performance toward the goal and implementation progress; and (v) an evaluation to which local land use and transportation policies apply, including parking policies and ordinances, to determine the extent that they complement and support the trip reduction investments of major employers and public institutions. Each of these program elements shall be consistent with the rules established under RCW 70.94.537.
     (d) A designated growth and transportation efficiency center shall be consistent with the land use and transportation elements of the local comprehensive plan.
     (e) Transit agencies, local governments, and regional transportation planning organizations shall identify certified growth and transportation efficiency centers as priority areas for new service and facility investments in their respective investment plans.
     (2) A county, city, or town that has established a growth and transportation efficiency center program shall support vehicle trip reduction activities in the designated area. The implementing jurisdiction shall adopt policies, ordinances, and funding strategies that will lead to attainment of program goals in those areas.

Sec. 5   RCW 70.94.531 and 2006 c 329 s 5 are each amended to read as follows:
     (1) State agency worksites are subject to the same requirements under this section and RCW 70.94.534 as private employers.
     (2) Not more than ninety days after the adoption of a jurisdiction's commute trip reduction plan, each major employer in that jurisdiction shall perform a baseline measurement consistent with the rules established by the department of transportation under RCW 70.94.537. A public institution must also perform a baseline measurement along with the following requirements of this subsection ninety days after a plan which includes provisions for public institutions is adopted or ninety days after a plan has been initially modified to include the public institution. Not more than ninety days after receiving the results of the baseline measurement, each major employer and public institution shall develop a commute trip reduction program and shall submit a description of that program to the jurisdiction for review. The program shall be implemented not more than ninety days after approval by the jurisdiction.
     (3) A commute trip reduction program of a major employer and public institution shall consist of, at a minimum (a) designation of a transportation coordinator and the display of the name, location, and telephone number of the coordinator in a prominent manner at each affected worksite; (b) regular distribution of information to employees regarding alternatives to single-occupant vehicle commuting; (c) a regular review of employee commuting and reporting of progress toward meeting the single-occupant vehicle reduction goals to the county, city, or town consistent with the method established in the commute trip reduction plan and the rules established by the department of transportation under RCW 70.94.537; and (d) implementation of a set of measures designed to achieve the applicable commute trip reduction goals adopted by the jurisdiction. Such measures may include but are not limited to:
     (i) Provision of preferential parking or reduced parking charges, or both, for high occupancy vehicles;
     (ii) Instituting or increasing parking charges for single-occupant vehicles;
     (iii) Provision of commuter ride matching services to facilitate employee ridesharing for commute trips;
     (iv) Provision of subsidies for transit fares;
     (v) Provision of vans for van pools;
     (vi) Provision of subsidies for car pooling or van pooling;
     (vii) Permitting the use of the employer's or public institution's vehicles for car pooling or van pooling;
     (viii) Permitting flexible work schedules to facilitate employees' use of transit, car pools, or van pools;
     (ix) Cooperation with transportation providers to provide additional regular or express service to the worksite;
     (x) Construction of special loading and unloading facilities for transit, car pool, and van pool users;
     (xi) Provision of bicycle parking facilities, lockers, changing areas, and showers for employees who bicycle or walk to work;
     (xii) Provision of a program of parking incentives such as a rebate for employees who do not use the parking facility;
     (xiii) Establishment of a program to permit employees to work part or full time at home or at an alternative worksite closer to their homes;
     (xiv) Establishment of a program of alternative work schedules such as compressed work week schedules which reduce commuting; ((and))
     (xv) Implementation of other measures designed to facilitate the use of high-occupancy vehicles such as on-site day care facilities and emergency taxi services;
     (xvi) Establishment of a program to permit students to participate in courses at home or at an alternative worksite closer to their homes; and
     (xvii) Establishment of a program of alternative course schedules, which reduce commuting.
     (4) Employers or owners of worksites may form or utilize existing transportation management associations or other transportation-related associations authorized by RCW 35.87A.010 to assist members in developing and implementing commute trip reduction programs.
     (5) Employers and public institutions shall make a good faith effort towards achievement of the goals identified in RCW 70.94.527(4)(d).

Sec. 6   RCW 70.94.534 and 2006 c 329 s 6 are each amended to read as follows:
     (1) Each jurisdiction implementing a commute trip reduction plan under this chapter or as part of a plan or ordinance developed under RCW 36.70A.070 shall review each employer's and public institution's initial commute trip reduction program to determine if the program is likely to meet the applicable commute trip reduction goals. The employer and public institution shall be notified by the jurisdiction of its findings. If the jurisdiction finds that the program is not likely to meet the applicable commute trip reduction goals, the jurisdiction will work with the employer and public institution to modify the program as necessary. The jurisdiction shall complete review of each employer's and public institution's initial commute trip reduction program within ninety days of receipt.
     (2) Employers and public institutions implementing commute trip reduction programs for employees or students are expected to undertake good faith efforts to achieve the goals outlined in RCW 70.94.527(4). Employers and public institutions are considered to be making a good faith effort if the following conditions have been met:
     (a) The employer ((has)) and public institution have met the minimum requirements identified in RCW 70.94.531;
     (b) The employer ((has)) and public institution have notified the jurisdiction of its intent to substantially change or modify its program and ((has)) have either received the approval of the jurisdiction to do so or ((has)) have acknowledged that its program may not be approved without additional modifications;
     (c) The employer ((has)) and public institution have provided adequate information and documentation of implementation when requested by the jurisdiction; and
     (d) The employer ((is)) and public institution are each working collaboratively with ((its)) their jurisdiction to continue ((its)) their existing programs or ((is)) are developing and implementing program modifications likely to result in improvements to ((the)) their respective programs over an agreed upon length of time.
     (3) Each jurisdiction shall review at least once every two years each employer's and public institution's progress and good faith efforts toward meeting the applicable commute trip reduction goals for the employer's employees and the public institution's students. If an employer or a public institution makes a good faith effort, as defined in this section, but is not likely to meet the applicable commute trip reduction goals, the jurisdiction shall work collaboratively with the employer and collaboratively with the public institution to make modifications to the commute trip reduction programs. Failure of an employer or public institution to reach the applicable commute trip reduction goals is not a violation of this chapter.
     (4) If an employer or a public institution fails to make a good faith effort and fails to meet the applicable commute trip reduction goals, the jurisdiction shall work collaboratively with the employer and collaboratively with the public institution to propose modifications to the program and shall direct the employer or public institution to revise its program within thirty days to incorporate those modifications or modifications which the jurisdiction determines to be equivalent.
     (5) Each jurisdiction implementing a commute trip reduction plan pursuant to this chapter may impose civil penalties, in the manner provided in chapter 7.80 RCW, for failure by an employer or public institution to implement a commute trip reduction program or to modify its commute trip reduction program as required in subsection (4) of this section. ((No)) A major employer or public institution may not be held liable for civil penalties for failure to reach the applicable commute trip reduction goals. No major employer shall be liable for civil penalties under this chapter if failure to achieve a commute trip reduction program goal was the result of an inability to reach agreement with a certified collective bargaining agent under applicable laws where the issue was raised by the employer and pursued in good faith.
     (6) Jurisdictions shall notify major employers and public institutions of the procedures for applying for goal modification or exemption from the commute trip reduction requirements based on the guidelines established by the commute trip reduction board authorized under RCW 70.94.537.

Sec. 7   RCW 70.94.537 and 2006 c 329 s 7 are each amended to read as follows:
     (1) ((A sixteen)) An eighteen member state commute trip reduction board is established as follows:
     (a) The secretary of the department of transportation or the secretary's designee who shall serve as chair;
     (b) One representative from the office of the governor or the governor's designee;
     (c) The director or the director's designee of one of the following agencies, to be determined by the governor:
     (i) Department of general administration;
     (ii) Department of ecology;
     (iii) Department of community, trade, and economic development;
     (d) Three representatives from cities and towns or counties appointed by the governor for staggered four-year terms from a list recommended by the association of Washington cities or the Washington state association of counties;
     (e) Two representatives from transit agencies appointed by the governor for staggered four-year terms from a list recommended by the Washington state transit association;
     (f) Two representatives from participating regional transportation planning organizations appointed by the governor for staggered four-year terms;
     (g) Four representatives of employers at or owners of major worksites in Washington, or transportation management associations, business improvement areas, or other transportation organizations representing employers, appointed by the governor for staggered four-year terms; ((and))
     (h) Two citizens appointed by the governor for staggered four-year terms; and
     (i) Two representatives of public institutions of higher education appointed by the governor for staggered four-year terms.
     Members of the commute trip reduction board shall serve without compensation but shall be reimbursed for travel expenses as provided in RCW 43.03.050 and 43.03.060. Members appointed by the governor shall be compensated in accordance with RCW 43.03.220. The board has all powers necessary to carry out its duties as prescribed by this chapter.
     (2) By March 1, 2007, the department of transportation shall establish rules for commute trip reduction plans and implementation procedures. The commute trip reduction board shall advise the department on the content of the rules. The rules are intended to ensure consistency in commute trip reduction plans and goals among jurisdictions while fairly taking into account differences in employment and housing density, employer size, public institution size, existing and anticipated levels of transit service, special employer or public institution circumstances, and other factors the board determines to be relevant. The rules shall include:
     (a) Guidance criteria for growth and transportation efficiency centers;
     (b) Data measurement methods and procedures for determining the efficacy of commute trip reduction activities and progress toward meeting commute trip reduction plan goals;
     (c) Model commute trip reduction ordinances;
     (d) Methods for assuring consistency in the treatment of: (i) Employers who have worksites subject to the requirements of this chapter in more than one jurisdiction or (ii) public institutions that have campus locations in more than one jurisdiction;
     (e) An appeals process by which major employers or public institutions, who as a result of special characteristics of their business or its locations would be unable to meet the requirements of a commute trip reduction plan, may obtain a waiver or modification of those requirements and criteria for determining eligibility for waiver or modification;
     (f) Establishment of a process for determining the state's affected areas, including criteria and procedures for regional transportation planning organizations in consultation with local jurisdictions to propose to add or exempt urban growth areas;
     (g) Listing of the affected areas of the program to be done every four years as identified in subsection (5) of this section;
     (h) Establishment of a criteria and application process to determine whether jurisdictions that voluntarily implement commute trip reduction are eligible for state funding;
     (i) Guidelines and deadlines for creating and updating local commute trip reduction plans, including guidance to ensure consistency between the local commute trip reduction plan and the transportation demand management strategies identified in the transportation element in the local comprehensive plan, as required by RCW 36.70A.070;
     (j) Guidelines for creating and updating regional commute trip reduction plans, including guidance to ensure the regional commute trip reduction plan is consistent with and incorporated into transportation demand management components in the regional transportation plan;
     (k) Methods for regional transportation planning organizations to evaluate and certify that designated growth and transportation efficiency center programs meet the minimum requirements and are eligible for funding;
     (l) Guidelines for creating and updating growth and transportation efficiency center programs; and
     (m) Establishment of statewide program goals. The goals shall be designed to achieve substantial reductions in the proportion of single-occupant vehicle commute trips and the commute trip vehicle miles traveled per employee, at a level that is projected to improve the mobility of people and goods by increasing the efficiency of the state highway system.
     (3) The board shall create a state commute trip reduction plan that shall be updated every four years as discussed in subsection (5) of this section. The state commute trip reduction plan shall include, but is not limited to: (a) Statewide commute trip reduction program goals that are designed to substantially improve the mobility of people and goods; (b) identification of strategies at the state and regional levels to achieve the goals and recommendations for how transportation demand management strategies can be targeted most effectively to support commute trip reduction program goals; (c) performance measures for assessing the cost-effectiveness of commute trip reduction strategies and the benefits for the state transportation system; and (d) a sustainable financial plan. The board shall review and approve regional commute trip reduction plans, and work collaboratively with regional transportation planning organizations in the establishment of the state commute trip reduction plan.
     (4) The board shall work with affected jurisdictions, major employers, public institutions, and other parties to develop and implement a public awareness campaign designed to increase the effectiveness of local commute trip reduction programs and support achievement of the objectives identified in this chapter.
     (5) The board shall evaluate and update the commute trip reduction program plan and recommend changes to the rules every four years, with the first assessment report due July 1, 2011, to ensure that the latest data methodology used by the department of transportation is incorporated into the program and to determine which areas of the state should be affected by the program. The board shall review the definitions of a major employer and public institution no later than December 1, 2009. The board shall regularly identify urban growth areas that are projected to be affected by chapter 329, Laws of 2006 in the next four-year period and may provide advance planning support to the potentially affected jurisdictions.
     (6) The board shall review progress toward implementing commute trip reduction plans and programs and the costs and benefits of commute trip reduction plans and programs and shall make recommendations to the legislature and the governor by December 1, 2009, and every two years thereafter. In assessing the costs and benefits, the board shall consider the costs of not having implemented commute trip reduction plans and programs ((with the assistance of the transportation performance audit board authorized under chapter 44.75 RCW)). The board shall examine other transportation demand management programs nationally and incorporate its findings into its recommendations to the legislature. The recommendations shall address the need for continuation, modification, or termination or any or all requirements of this chapter.
     (7) The board shall invite personnel with appropriate expertise from state, regional, and local government, private, public, and nonprofit providers of transportation services, representatives from public institutions, and employers or owners of major worksites in Washington to act as a technical advisory group. The technical advisory group shall advise the board on the implementation of local and regional commute trip reduction plans and programs, program evaluation, program funding allocations, and state rules and guidelines.

Sec. 8   RCW 70.94.541 and 2006 c 329 s 8 are each amended to read as follows:
     (1) The department of transportation shall provide staff support to the commute trip reduction board in carrying out the requirements of RCW 70.94.537.
     (2) The department of transportation shall provide technical assistance to regional transportation planning organizations, counties, cities, and towns, the department of general administration, other state agencies, and other employers, as well as public institutions, in developing and implementing commute trip reduction plans and programs for employees or students. The technical assistance shall include: (a) Guidance in single measurement methodology and practice to be used in determining progress in attaining plan goals; (b) developing model plans and programs appropriate to different situations; and (c) providing consistent training and informational materials for the implementation of commute trip reduction programs. Model plans and programs, training, and informational materials shall be developed in cooperation with representatives of regional transportation planning organizations, local governments, transit agencies, ((and)) employers, and public institutions developing commuter programs for students.
     (3) In carrying out this section the department of transportation may contract with statewide associations representing cities, towns, and counties to assist cities, towns, and counties in implementing commute trip reduction plans and programs.

Sec. 9   RCW 70.94.547 and 2006 c 329 s 10 are each amended to read as follows:
     The legislature hereby recognizes the state's crucial leadership role in establishing and implementing effective commute trip reduction programs. Therefore, it is the policy of the state that the department of general administration and other state agencies, including institutions of higher education, shall aggressively develop substantive programs to reduce commute trips by state employees. Further, it is the policy of the state that public institutions of higher education develop commute trip reduction programs not only for their employee's, but also their students. Implementation of these programs will reduce energy consumption, congestion in urban areas, and air and water pollution associated with automobile travel.

Sec. 10   RCW 70.94.551 and 2006 c 329 s 11 are each amended to read as follows:
     (1) The director of the department of general administration may coordinate an interagency board for the purpose of developing policies or guidelines that promote consistency among state agency commute trip reduction programs required by RCW 70.94.527 and 70.94.531. The board shall include representatives of the departments of transportation, ecology, and community, trade, and economic development and such other departments and interested groups as the director of the department of general administration determines to be necessary. Policies and guidelines shall be applicable to all state agencies including but not limited to policies and guidelines regarding parking and parking charges, employee and student incentives for commuting by other than single-occupant automobiles, flexible and alternative work schedules, alternative worksites, and the use of state-owned vehicles for car and van pools and guaranteed rides home. The policies and guidelines shall also consider the costs and benefits to state agencies of achieving commute trip reductions and consider mechanisms for funding state agency commute trip reduction programs.
     (2) State agencies sharing a common location in affected urban growth areas where the total number of state employees is one hundred or more shall, with assistance from the department of general administration, develop and implement a joint commute trip reduction program. The worksite shall be treated as specified in RCW 70.94.531 and 70.94.534.
     (3) The department of general administration shall review the initial commute trip reduction program of each state agency subject to the commute trip reduction plan for state agencies to determine if the program is likely to meet the applicable commute trip reduction goals and notify the agency of any deficiencies. If it is found that the program is not likely to meet the applicable commute trip reduction goals, the department of general administration will work with the agency to modify the program as necessary.
     (4) Each state agency implementing a commute trip reduction plan shall report at least once per year to its agency director on the performance of the agency's commute trip reduction program as part of the agency's quality management, accountability, and performance system as defined by RCW 43.17.385. The reports shall assess the performance of the program, progress toward state goals established under RCW 70.94.537, and recommendations for improving the program.
     (5) The department of general administration shall review the agency performance reports defined in subsection (4) of this section and submit a biennial report for state agencies subject to this chapter to the governor and incorporate the report in the commute trip reduction board report to the legislature as directed in RCW 70.94.537(6). The report shall include, but is not limited to, an evaluation of the most recent measurement results, progress toward state goals established under RCW 70.94.537, and recommendations for improving the performance of state agency commute trip reduction programs. The information shall be reported in a form established by the commute trip reduction board.

NEW SECTION.  Sec. 11   A new section is added to chapter 70.94 RCW to read as follows:
     Each public institution of higher education must maintain at least one full-time equivalent employee for the purpose of managing the public institution's commute trip reduction program to ensure that the program is offered to students in addition to employees, as required under this chapter.

NEW SECTION.  Sec. 12   The sum of thirty-five thousand dollars, or as much thereof as may be necessary, is appropriated for the fiscal year ending June 30, 2008, from the general fund to each public institution of higher education, as defined in this act, for the purposes of section 11 of this act.