Transportation

Among King County’s many assets is a well-developed transportation system providing excellent links to other parts of the nation and the world. Seattle is closer to the producing countries of Asia than any other major U.S. port, and a transportation network has been built to accomplish efficient distribution to inland consuming markets.

Two transcontinental railroads, extensive nationwide trucking capacity, three interstate highways, a ferry system, a world-class port, and an international airport contribute to our multi-modal transportation system.

Commute Trip Reduction

Washington State’s 1991 Commute Trip reduction Law (CTR) affects worksites in King County with 100 or more full-time employees who arrive at work between 6 and 9 a.m. Affected organizations are required to develop and implement CTR programs that encourage employees to reduce how often and how far they drive alone to work. The spirit of the law is not punitive, and public agencies and local jurisdictions have developed programs and services to support employers’ efforts to meet the requirements. For more information, visit the Commuter Challenge Web site at: http://www.commuterchallenge.org/.

To promote alternative transportation, Washington State offers a credit against Business and Occupation or public utility tax liabilities for employers that pay those taxes and provide employee subsidies for commute options, including riding the bus, carpooling and vanpooling, bicycling, walking and ferry riding.

Nonprofit and government organizations that do not pay those taxes also receive a credit for employee subsidies. Employers may claim up to 50% of subsidy payments (or 30% for two-person carpools), up to $60 per employee per year, with an overall cap on credits of $100,000 annually per employer.