Edmonds committee forwards 2025–29 Commute Trip Reduction plan; members note loss of employee transit-pass benefit

City staff presented an updated 2025–2029 Commute Trip Reduction (CTR) plan and the Edmonds committee agreed by consensus to forward the plan to the consent agenda for full council consideration.

Staff explained the CTR plan is an update to a program rooted in Washington state’s cleaner air law and associated CTR rules adopted in 1991; the current local plan expires in 2025 and agencies typically update the plan on a multi‑year schedule. Presenters said the city partnered with Community Transit and other Snohomish County jurisdictions on the update, and that the Puget Sound Regional Council (PSRC) and the Washington State Department of Transportation (WSDOT) reviewed the plan. As part of the review, staff submitted a checklist and said a determination of non‑significance (DNS) was issued; staff reported they received no public comments during the outreach period.

Committee members used the presentation to note a separate personnel benefit that was cut during recent budget reductions: the city previously purchased annual regional transit passes for employees at an annual cost of about $17,000. Several members said that benefit eased commuting costs and served as a retention/perk for employees and encouraged transit use; staff said gross transit-usage data can be obtained but is not tied to individual employees. The committee discussed the idea of restoring the pass program when budget conditions allow and asked staff to provide final wording edits to the draft plan.

The committee indicated consensus to move the CTR plan forward to the consent agenda. No formal vote tally was recorded in the meeting transcript.