DRAFT Development of the new pilot program

In the 2017 session, the Washington State Legislature created a $250,000 pilot program to reduce off-peak, weekend, and nonwork trips. Legislative requirements for the program include:

  • Avoluntary pilot program to expand public-private partnership incentives to make measurable reductions in off-peak, weekend, and non-work trips.
  • The department shall prioritize grant proposals that focus on the Interstate 90, Interstate 5, or Interstate 405 corridor.
  • The department shall offer competitive trip-reduction grants.
  • The department shall report to the transportation committees of the legislature by December 1, 2018, on the pilot program's impacts to the transportation system and potential improvements to the CTR grant program.

WSDOT intends toimplement a successful pilot program that demonstrates the transportation, air quality, and energy efficiency benefits of addressing new trip markets.

Draft pilot goals

  • To learn about new trip markets and test new trip reduction strategies
  • To document demand for new trip reduction needs
  • To demonstrate the effectiveness of addressing trip markets beyond the CTR program
  • To make measurable reductions in off-peak, weekend and nonwork trips

WSDOT assumptions and draft requirements

  • The application process needs to be quickly developed and implemented
  • Grant funds will be awarded through a competitive process that reflects legislative interests in specific highway locations, potential system impacts, and ability to learn
  • Some of the pilot’s grant criteria, the competitive selection process, measurement and evaluation can be adapted from other WSDOT grant programs
  • Grant measurement and final evaluation will need to estimate impacts to the transportation system and provide lessons to inform potential improvements to CTR
  • Eligible applicants include public, private and non-profit organizations
  • Targeted travel markets will participate voluntarily (not mandated to participate)
  • The CTR Board will be part of the selection process, facilitated by WSDOT staff, but anyone with grant applications will be recused from the process
  • Grants that focus on the Interstate 5, 90 or 405 corridors will be prioritized / expected
  • The grant criteria and selection process will not prioritize certain trip markets or modes
  • Private sector engagement and public-private partnerships will be prioritized in the grant selection process. Private partners may provide incentives and subsidies as part of the grant.
  • Grant selection criteria may include:
  • Project location
  • Estimated impact on the transportation system
  • Scalability / replicability / transferability
  • Innovation / improvement in trip reduction strategies
  • Private sector engagement
  • Measurement
  • Readiness to proceed

DRAFT Development of the new pilot programMay 16, 2017

Contact: Keith Cotton,