Executive/Council Action Form (ECAF)
ITEM TITLE:
Title
Ordinance 26-029, relating to Commute Trip Reduction; Repealing Chapter 32.40 SCC; Adopting a New Chapter 32.10 SCC, Renaming Title 32 of the Snohomish County Code “Commute Trip Reduction”; and Adopting the County Commute Trip Reduction Plan
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DEPARTMENT: Public Works
ORIGINATOR: Eric Walters
EXECUTIVE RECOMMENDATION: Approved by Tom Teigen 6/25/26
PURPOSE: To adopt the Commute Trip Reduction (CTR) Ordinance and CTR Plan to improve air quality and reduce traffic congestion through employer-based transportation programs that reduce single-occupancy vehicle trips. The code revisions proposed by this ordinance will implement the County’s 2025 CTR Plan, simplify requirements for major employers, and make the program more effective. The ordinance will also repeal Chapter 32.40 SCC, adopt a new Chapter 32.10 SCC, and rename Title 32 of the Snohomish County Code “Commute Trip Reduction.”
BACKGROUND: • CTR is used as a tool to reduce vehicle miles traveled (VMT), thereby decreasing vehicle-related air pollution, traffic congestion, and energy use. • The Washington State Commute Trip Reduction Act (RCW 70A.15) was initially adopted in 1991 as part of the Washington State Clean Air Act. • RCW 70A.15 requires counties containing designated urban growth areas, pursuant to RCW 36.70A.110, to develop a CTR plan and ordinance for major employers, those who employ one hundred or more full-time employees that meet the requirements of the program. • In unincorporated Snohomish County (County), CTR is implemented through CTR Plans, the CTR Ordinance, and the Snohomish County Comprehensive Plan. • A new Snohomish County CTR Four-Year Plan 2025-2029 (“2025 CTR Plan”) was developed to meet the requirements of RCW 70A.15. • There are currently ten (10) CTR-Affected worksites within unincorporated Snohomish County. • The 2025 CTR Plan has gone through a public outreach process that has included CTR-Affected worksites and public input at tabling events and online surveys, April-July 2024. • The 2025 CTR Plan was approved by Puget Sound Regional Council (PSRC) in October 2024, and it was approved by the Washington State Department of Transportation (WSDOT) Commute Trip Reduction Board in February 2025. • County Code provisions related to CTR requirements must be revised to be consistent with the 2025 CTR Plan. • The code revisions contained in the ordinance will implement the 2025 CTR Plan and will simplify the requirements for major employers to make the program more effective. • Community Transit (CT) worked in partnership with the County and affected County cities to develop a common CTR model ordinance and plans for the most affected jurisdictions in Snohomish County. • Since November 1995, CT has implemented the County’s CTR plan and ordinance through interlocal agreements. Implementation is funded through WSDOT at no cost to the County. • The SEPA process comment period for the 2025 CTR Plan and Ordinance was completed on June 1, 2026.
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DEPARTMENT FISCAL IMPACT NOTES: The CTR program will be administered by CT at no cost to the County.
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OTHER DEPARTMENTAL REVIEW/COMMENTS: Reviewed/approved by Finance - Nathan Kennedy 6/24/26. AATF: Justin Kasting