Commute Trip Reduction

In 1991 Washington State instituted an amendment to its Clean Air Act called Commute Trip Reduction (CTR), wherein any private or public institution with over one hundred employees has to maintain a program to reduce the impact of commuting to work.

In compliance with CTR law, Evergreen's program seeks to facilitate projects which encourage alternatives to single-occupancy-vehicle (SOV) travel to campus. Going an extra step beyond state CTR Law, Evergreen concentrates equally on providing incentives and information about alternative commuting to students, faculty and staff.

Using information collected from their quarterly Commuter Contest,the Evergreen CTR program has received grants, with which it uses to address the needs of non-SOV commuters. The contest collects information on how students, faculty and staff commuted to school one week each quarter, in exchange for gift certificates from local businesses. One grant paid for a free commuter locker program where those who consistently ride their bike, take the bus, or carpool can keep a ventilated locker on campus to dry out their clothes and store their gear while at work or in class.

The most recent grant funding, received from the Thurston Regional Planning Council, is in the process of being distributed and will help to install new bike racks on campus, air compressors for filling bike tires, and start a subsidized commute equipment program where students, faculty, and staff will be able to purchase bike lights, fenders, locks, and other safety equipment at considerable discounts.

On the web: http://www.evergreen.edu/commute/