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What is a Good Faith Effort?

Language of the Law

"Good Faith Effort" is defined in the updated CTR Law as follows: "Employers implementing commute trip reduction programs are expected to undertake good faith efforts to achieve the goals outlined in RCW 70.94.527 (4). Employers are considered to be making a good faith effort if the following conditions have been met:

• the employer has met the minimum requirements identified in RCW 70.94.531; and
  
• the employer is working collaboratively with its jurisdiction to continue its existing program or is developing and implementing program modifications likely to result in improvements to the program over an agreed upon length of time."
  Section 4. RCW 70.94.534 and 1991 c 202 s 14

How is Good Faith Effort Used?

An employer's good faith effort is used as an evaluation tool by the jurisdiction, during the annual program review process, to determine an employer's level of commitment to the goals of the Commute Trip Reduction program.

• If an employer is making a good faith effort, but isn't likely to meet applicable goals, the jurisdiction shall work collaboratively with the employer to continue the existing program or make modifications to the worksite's CTR program
  
• If an employer is not making a good faith effort and isn't likely to meet applicable goals, the jurisdiction shall work collaboratively with the employer to propose modifications and shall direct the employer to revise the program within 30 days to incorporate the modifications

Good Faith Effort & Civil Penalties

• Failure of an employer to reach goals is NOT a cause for civil penalties
  
• Civil penalties ARE imposed for non-compliance with the CTR Law and local Spokane County CTR Ordinance. Specifically:
  • Failure to develop and/or submit a complete CTR Program by the applicable deadlines.
    
  • Failure to implement an approved CTR Program by the applicable deadlines.
    
  • Failure to modify an unacceptable CTR Program by applicable deadlines.
    
  • Failure to identify itself to the County within 180 days from the effective date of this Ordinance.
    
  • Failure of a newly-affected employer to identify itself to the County within 180 calendar days of becoming an affected employer.
    
  • Failure to make a good faith effort
    
• Civil penalties in Spokane County for CTR violations are:
  
  • $100 per working day for first violation
    
  • $250 per working day for subsequent violations

Indicators of a Good Faith Effort

• Meeting the minimum requirements of the CTR Law
  
  • Appoint Employee Transportation Coordinator (ETC) and post name/phone number prominently
    
  • Annual information distribution to all employees about employer's CTR program
    
  • Develop and implement CTR Program with at least one program element designed to reduce SOV commuting
    
  • Report annually to jurisdiction
    
  • Measure results in goal years
    
  • Make a good faith effort to achieve CTR goals
    
• Working collaboratively with Spokane County
  
  • Appoint Employee Transportation CoordinatorÂ
    
  • On-going communication
    
  • Submit required information and complete reports on time
    
  • Respond to requests from Spokane County
    
  • Follow through on past commitments
    
  • Encourage site visits or on-site program assistance
    
  • Accept assistance/suggestions for program improvement
    
• Participating in CTR activities
  
  • Training opportunities
    
  • Networking lunches
    
  • Regional promotions and special events
    
• Performing worksite actions
  
  • Incrementally improving program and making continued progress toward goals
    
  • Implementing required and/or suggested program changes
    
  • Decision makers aware, involved and supportive of program
    
  • Adding ETC responsibilities to job description
    
  • ETC physically located in place accessible to employees

Minimum Requirements of the CTR Law

Spokane County CTR Ordinance
(official copies may be obtained from the Auditor)

Frequently asked questions about CTR

More info on CTR Statewide

Employer/Commuter Tax Benefits

Tax Benefits Chart

Tax Benefits FAQ

Current News

April Winners!
05/14/2012
Congratulations to Aaron Crooks, Travlers. He was the grand prize winner for April and won a $100 Safeway gift card. Check here to see who the other 10 lucky winners were.

2012 Spokane Bike Swap Results
05/02/2012
Find out how much the Spokane Bike Swap raised for the Friends of the Centennial at the 1st annual event.

1st Qtr All Star Coach
04/20/2012
Teresa Kruger, EWU/WSU Riverpoint Campus, click here to read her inspirational story.

March Most Valuable Commuter
04/19/2012
George Waldref, Providence Holy Family Hospital, click here for his inspirational story.

February Most Valuable Commuter
04/18/2012
Deanna Clarkson, Spokane Regional Clean Air Agency, click here to read her inspirational story.

January Most Valuable Commuter
04/17/2012
Guy Parker, Avista Corporation, click here to read his inspirational story.

March Winners!
04/12/2012
Congratulations to Bernadette Vielbig, SFCC and Ken Binion, Sterling Savings. They were the winners of an iPod Shuffle in the March drawing. See who the other 10 lucky winners were of a $25 iTunes gift card.

Recruit A Friend Campaign Information & Registration Forms
03/28/2012
Recruit a Friend to use a commute alternative and you could win! Click here for more details

February Winners
03/09/2012
Congratulations to Krystal Atkins, PAML and Kelly Shearer, Spokane County. They were the winners of an iPod Shuffle in the February drawing. See who the other 10 lucky winners were of a $25 iTunes gift card.

iPod Shuffle Winners
02/21/2012
Check here to see who the lucky weekly winners of the iPod Shuffles are! Use a commute alternative and fill out your calendar each week. 2 lucky winners each week!

January Weekly Winners
01/27/2012
Remember, during the month of January, just by participating once a week and completing your commute calendar you will go into a weekly drawing. Check here to see those who've won!

December Winners
01/17/2012
Congratulations to Linda Freeman, Premera. She was the grand prize winner of a Kindle. Check here to see who the other 10 lucky winners of a $25 Safeway Gift Card are.

"Recruit a Friend" Qualified Participants
01/17/2012
Congratulations to all the qualified participants in the "Recruit a Friend" promotion. We had 50 new participants commit to using a commute alternative at least 25 times from Oct-Dec. Congratulations to all!

4th Qtr All Star Coach
12/22/2011
Conni Ellern, ETC, WA State ESD Telecenter, click here to read her inspirational story.

December Most Valuable Commuter
12/21/2011
Jenny Stettler, Spokane County, click here to read her inspirational story.

November Most Valuable Commuter
12/20/2011
Les Kienbaum, WA State Department of Transportation, click here to read his inspirational story.

October Most Valuable Commuter
12/19/2011
Tamara Norlander, WA State ESD Telecenter, click her to read her inspiration story.

November Prize Winners
12/13/2011
Congratulations to Chanda Bhuta, WA State DSHS-DCS, she was the Grand Prize winner of the Kindle for her participation in November. Check here to see who the other 10 lucky winners were.

Commute Smart Awards celebrates 20 years!
10/12/2011
Northwest Orthopaedic Specialists, Catherine Bowden from Avista and Ron Kusler from Spokane County were among the Governor's Commute Smart Award winners.

STA's Trip Planner
09/25/2011
Plan your commute to work with STA's new Trip Planner. It's easy and convenient!

Take advantage of STA's Employer Bus Pass Program!
08/10/2011

Current Vanpool List
07/18/2011
Check here for the latest vanpool list.

The Transportation Vision Project
07/07/2010
Click here for more details.

Previous Way to Go Winners
07/10/2007

12/31/1969