Transportation Commission

**Safety Action Plan Presentation:** No formal action taken. The commission received the presentation for informational purposes, with the plan moving to COG board approval on June 11, 2025. **CTR Plan Support:** The commission deferred action pending review of actual plan documents. Staff requested resolution support for the plan, which must be implemented by July 1, 2025, according to WSDOT requirements. Commissioners requested to see the full 28-page plan document, interlocal agreement details, and draft ordinance before voting support.

**Hugh Conroy, on safety approach philosophy:** "The trends are so bad with the increases in fatal and serious injury crashes that the traditional interventions for like roadway and infrastructure and engineering based solutions need to continue. But they're not enough." **Andrea (WWU), on ambitious goal-setting:** "For me it provides no goals because it is far above what I'm already doing with my community. And I think that we can do better than what we're already meeting the goals set for the next 4 years." **Commissioner, on CTR plan ambition:** "It seems like our target being no more than a 3% increase is a pretty unambitious target. Bad target, I would say a bad target." **Michelle Grandy (WCOG), on Smart Trips effectiveness:** "What we found over time is that people start out with our program... and they use our tools to change that behavior. And then eventually, that trip logging falls off over time, because now you just do it, you don't need that incentive anymore." **Commissioner, on plan clarity:** "I'm not clear on what the CTR plan is other than continue to offer smart trips. And if that is the plan that's great, I think... but I'd love a little bit more granularity there." **Staff, on process requirements:** "We're really just doing housekeeping to satisfy, washed up. That's echoed by Michelle as well... If we want to revisit the smart trips program and all the details of that, I think that's that's a little bit different discussion."

# Real Briefings — Supplemental Content ## MODULE S1: STUDY GUIDE ### Meeting Overview The Bellingham Transportation Commission met on June 10, 2025, with Vice Chair Tim Wilder chairing due to the chair's absence. The meeting focused primarily on two major presentations: the Whatcom Council of Governments' Safety Action Plan and the city's Commute Trip Reduction (CTR) Plan for 2025-2029. ### Key Terms and Concepts **High Injury Network:** The top 21 roadway corridors in Whatcom County identified as having the most fatal and serious injury crashes over a 10-year period, used to prioritize safety investments. **Social Vulnerability Index (SVI):** A geographic analysis tool that identifies census tract areas with higher concentrations of low-income residents, historically underrepresented ethnicities, and limited English proficiency to prioritize equitable transportation investments. **Safe Streets for All (SS4A):** A federal grant program administered by the U.S. Department of Transportation that provides planning and implementation funding for safety projects, requiring completion of a Safety Action Plan. **Target Zero:** Washington State's aspirational goal to eliminate traffic fatalities and serious injuries on roadways, focusing on data-driven safety interventions. **Commute Trip Reduction (CTR):** A Washington State law requiring employers with 100+ full-time employees arriving between 6-9 AM to implement programs encouraging alternatives to single-occupancy vehicle commuting. **Smart Trips Program:** The regional transportation demand management program administered by WCOG that helps employers comply with CTR requirements while promoting sustainable transportation options. **Drive Alone Rate:** The percentage of commute trips made by single-occupancy vehicles, currently measured at 60.89% for affected employers in Whatcom County. **Metropolitan Planning Organization (MPO):** The Whatcom Council of Governments serves as the federally-required regional planning body for transportation investments in urbanized areas over 50,000 population. ### Key People at This Meeting | Name | Role / Affiliation | |---|---| | Tim Wilder | Transportation Commission Vice Chair (chairing) | | Hugh Conroy | Director, Whatcom Council of Governments | | Dylan Balliett | City of Bellingham staff | | Andrea Ryder | Associate Director of Active Transportation, Western Washington University | | Michelle Grandy | WCOG staff (online) | | Emily Moran | WCOG staff (online) | | Addie Candib | Transportation Commissioner | | Cindy Dennis Kushner | Transportation Commissioner | | Jackie Glenn | Transportation Commissioner | ### Background Context The Safety Action Plan represents a significant regional effort to address rising traffic fatalities and serious injuries. Despite having relatively good safety performance compared to state averages, Whatcom County developed this comprehensive plan to access federal implementation funding and take a more systematic approach to road safety. The plan identifies specific high-crash corridors and recommends both traditional infrastructure improvements and innovative approaches addressing human behavior factors. The CTR Plan discussion reflects a administrative transition where Washington State DOT now requires individual jurisdictional plans rather than the previous regional approach. While this creates new paperwork requirements, the actual Smart Trips program that has successfully served the region for years will continue unchanged, maintaining its role as the "gold standard" for CTR administration statewide. ### What Happened — The Short Version Hugh Conroy presented WCOG's completed Safety Action Plan, highlighting crash data analysis that identified 21 high-injury network corridors and incorporated extensive community engagement through the "Whatcom Crash Test" survey. The plan prioritizes investments using crash frequency, social vulnerability, and active transportation factors, enabling applications for federal implementation funding up to $25 million per project. City staff then presented the draft CTR Plan, explaining that while the administrative structure is changing from regional to individual city plans, the successful Smart Trips program will continue operating as before. Current data shows affected employers already meeting state targets with a 60.89% drive-alone rate, well below the required 64% threshold. Commissioners requested to review the actual plan document before making a recommendation, leading to continuation of the item to the July meeting. ### What to Watch Next • Transportation Commission will review the complete CTR Plan document and ordinance in July • Federal SS4A implementation grant applications due June 26, with Bellingham planning to submit for Holly Street bike lane improvements • WCOG Policy Board expected to formally adopt the Safety Action Plan • New Transportation Commission members expected to be appointed for the July meeting --- ## MODULE S2: FLASH CARDS **Q:** How many high injury network corridors were identified in the Safety Action Plan? **A:** 21 corridors countywide, with the majority located in Bellingham city limits. **Q:** What percentage of crashes in Whatcom County occur on Interstate 5? **A:** Interstate 5 has the highest concentration of fatal and serious injury crashes in the county. **Q:** What is the current drive-alone rate for affected CTR employers? **A:** 60.89% based on the 2024 WCOG survey, which is below the state target of 64%. **Q:** How many people participated in the Whatcom Crash Test community survey? **A:** 3,500 people completed the survey, with 2,700 providing demographic information for follow-up interviews. **Q:** What was the top concern identified by survey respondents about crash causes? **A:** Distracted driving was by far the most commonly cited cause of crashes by community members. **Q:** How many CTR-affected worksites are in the Bellingham region? **A:** 22 total worksites in the region, with 21 located within Bellingham city limits. **Q:** What is the minimum federal grant amount for SS4A implementation projects? **A:** $2 million minimum, with grants ranging from $2 million to $25 million. **Q:** Who administers the Smart Trips program? **A:** The Whatcom Council of Governments (WCOG) administers the program for the entire region. **Q:** How much does the city contribute annually to the Smart Trips program? **A:** $25,000 per year, with WTA contributing $50,000 and federal/state funds covering the remaining $385,000 of the $460,000 program. **Q:** What factors determine if an employer is subject to CTR requirements? **A:** Employers with 100 or more full-time employees regularly arriving between 6 AM and 9 AM become "affected employers." **Q:** How many people logged trips through Smart Trips in 2024? **A:** 2,122 participants logged over 201,000 smart trips covering approximately 2.2 million miles. **Q:** Which intersection improvement was mentioned as a potential grant application? **A:** Holly Street bike lane improvements, though not located on the high injury network. **Q:** What was the previous year that Bellingham had its own CTR plan? **A:** 2007 was when Bellingham last had an individual CTR plan before the regional approach. **Q:** How many transportation modes does Smart Trips track? **A:** Multiple modes including walking, biking, transit, carpooling, and telework/work from home. **Q:** When is the next Transportation Commission meeting? **A:** July 2025, when they will review the complete CTR plan document and make their recommendation. --- ## MODULE S3: QUIZ WITH ANSWER KEY **Question 1: What was the main reason Washington State DOT now requires individual CTR plans rather than regional plans?** - A) Budget cuts at the state level - B) Poor performance by regional programs - C) Administrative housekeeping and compliance tracking - D) New federal requirements **Question 2: How many census tracts in Whatcom County were classified as socially vulnerable in the Safety Action Plan?** - A) All tracts scored above 0.8 - B) Areas with scores of 0.6 and above, with darker shading for 0.8+ - C) Only downtown Bellingham tracts - D) The plan didn't include social vulnerability analysis **Question 3: What percentage of 2024 CTR survey respondents were driving alone to work?** - A) 64% - B) 60.89% - C) 58% - D) 44% **Question 4: Which transportation mode had the highest number of logged trips in Smart Trips 2024?** - A) Bus trips (29,000) - B) Bike trips (62,000) - C) Walking trips (72,000) - D) Ride share trips (38,000) **Question 5: What is the federal deadline for SS4A implementation grant applications mentioned in the meeting?** - A) July 1, 2025 - B) June 26, 2025 - C) July 7, 2025 - D) June 23, 2025 **Question 6: According to the survey, what was the second most important factor influencing people's commute choices?** - A) Cost - B) Weather - C) Convenience and flexibility - D) Environmental concerns **Question 7: How many employer partners participate in the broader Smart Trips program beyond just CTR-affected sites?** - A) 22 - B) 100 - C) Over 160 - D) 2,122 **Question 8: What was Western Washington University's reported drive-alone rate?** - A) 60.89% - B) 64% - C) 58% - D) 44% **Question 9: What action did the Transportation Commission take on the CTR Plan?** - A) Approved it unanimously - B) Rejected the plan - C) Requested to see the full document before acting - D) Amended the drive-alone rate target **Question 10: When does the new WTA service expansion begin?** - A) July 1, 2025 - B) The Sunday after the meeting - C) June 26, 2025 - D) When school starts **Answer Key:** **1. C** — Michelle Grandy noted this is "just wash dot trying to clean house and keep everything tidy" for legislative reporting. **2. B** — Hugh Conroy explained areas scoring 0.6+ got points, with higher scores (0.8+) receiving additional priority points. **3. C** — Dylan Balliett reported 58% driving alone, with 22% using alternative modes and 19% teleworking. **4. C** — Walking had 72,000 trips, followed by biking (62,000), ride share (38,000), and bus (29,000). **5. B** — Hugh Conroy mentioned June 26th as the application deadline for the current funding round. **6. C** — After time/duration as the top factor, convenience and flexibility ranked second, with weather third. **7. C** — Michelle Grandy noted over 160 employer partners participate beyond the 22 CTR-affected sites. **8. D** — Andrea Ryder from WWU stated their drive-alone rate is 44%, significantly below regional averages. **9. C** — Commissioners wanted to review the actual plan document, leading to continuation to July meeting. **10. B** — Staff announced new WTA service starting "this Sunday" (the Sunday following the meeting). --- ## MODULE S4: Q&A — COMMON QUESTIONS **Q: Why is the city suddenly required to have its own CTR plan when the regional approach was working?** A: Washington State DOT changed their requirements for administrative tracking and legislative reporting purposes. Michelle Grandy from WCOG described this as "just wash dot trying to clean house and keep everything tidy" rather than any performance issues with the regional program. The actual Smart Trips program that employers and employees use remains unchanged. **Q: Does this mean the Smart Trips program is ending or changing?** A: No. The Smart Trips program will continue exactly as before, administered by WCOG. This is purely a paperwork change where individual jurisdictions must submit their own compliance plans to the state, but the actual services, incentives, and employer support remain identical. **Q: How much will this cost the city?** A: The city already pays $25,000 annually for the Smart Trips program (with WTA paying $50,000 and federal/state funds covering the remaining $385,000 of the $460,000 total). This amount is not changing with the new plan requirement. **Q: What happens if employers don't participate in commute trip reduction?** A: Employers with 100+ full-time employees arriving between 6-9 AM are legally required to participate under Washington State law. Without Smart Trips, each employer would need to develop and manage their own individual CTR program, which would be much more expensive and complex for them. **Q: Why is Bellingham's drive-alone rate already below the state target?** A: The region benefits from Western Washington University's very low 44% drive-alone rate, plus strong community culture around sustainable transportation. The 60.89% rate for affected employers is already 3 percentage points below the state's 64% target, though commissioners questioned whether the goal should be more ambitious. **Q: What safety improvements might come from the Safety Action Plan?** A: The plan enables applications for federal grants ranging from $2-25 million for projects like intersection improvements, bike/pedestrian infrastructure, high-visibility enforcement patrols, speed safety cameras, and comprehensive public education campaigns. Projects must address corridors identified in the high injury network. **Q: How were the dangerous road corridors identified?** A: WCOG analyzed 10 years of crash data to identify the 21 corridors with the most fatal and serious injury crashes, then prioritized them using additional factors including social vulnerability, active transportation usage, transit stop density, and recent safety investments. **Q: Can individual community members still participate in Smart Trips?** A: Yes. While the CTR law only applies to large employers, Smart Trips is open to anyone in Whatcom County. In 2024, over 2,100 people participated, logging trips to earn incentives and support behavior change toward sustainable transportation. **Q: When will new Transportation Commission members be appointed?** A: The commission interviewed four candidates and made recommendations to the mayor's office. The goal is to have two new members present for the July 2025 meeting, filling the current vacancies. **Q: What's the timeline for the CTR plan approval?** A: The Transportation Commission will review the complete plan document in July 2025, then it will go to City Council for approval, ideally by July 7th. While the state prefers implementation by July 1st, there are no significant consequences for minor delays since this is a new process for all jurisdictions.

## MODULE S1: STUDY GUIDE **Meeting ID:** BEL-TRC-2025-06-10 ### Meeting Overview The Bellingham Transportation Commission met on June 10, 2025, with Vice Chair Tim Wilder chairing due to the chair's absence. The meeting focused primarily on two major presentations: the Whatcom Council of Governments' Safety Action Plan and the city's Commute Trip Reduction (CTR) Plan for 2025-2029. ### Key Terms and Concepts **High Injury Network:** The top 21 roadway corridors in Whatcom County identified as having the most fatal and serious injury crashes over a 10-year period, used to prioritize safety investments. **Social Vulnerability Index (SVI):** A geographic analysis tool that identifies census tract areas with higher concentrations of low-income residents, historically underrepresented ethnicities, and limited English proficiency to prioritize equitable transportation investments. **Safe Streets for All (SS4A):** A federal grant program administered by the U.S. Department of Transportation that provides planning and implementation funding for safety projects, requiring completion of a Safety Action Plan. **Target Zero:** Washington State's aspirational goal to eliminate traffic fatalities and serious injuries on roadways, focusing on data-driven safety interventions. **Commute Trip Reduction (CTR):** A Washington State law requiring employers with 100+ full-time employees arriving between 6-9 AM to implement programs encouraging alternatives to single-occupancy vehicle commuting. **Smart Trips Program:** The regional transportation demand management program administered by WCOG that helps employers comply with CTR requirements while promoting sustainable transportation options. **Drive Alone Rate:** The percentage of commute trips made by single-occupancy vehicles, currently measured at 60.89% for affected employers in Whatcom County. **Metropolitan Planning Organization (MPO):** The Whatcom Council of Governments serves as the federally-required regional planning body for transportation investments in urbanized areas over 50,000 population. ### Key People at This Meeting | Name | Role / Affiliation | |---|---| | Tim Wilder | Transportation Commission Vice Chair (chairing) | | Hugh Conroy | Director, Whatcom Council of Governments | | Dylan Balliett | City of Bellingham staff | | Andrea Ryder | Associate Director of Active Transportation, Western Washington University | | Michelle Grandy | WCOG staff (online) | | Emily Moran | WCOG staff (online) | | Addie Candib | Transportation Commissioner | | Cindy Dennis Kushner | Transportation Commissioner | | Jackie Glenn | Transportation Commissioner | ### Background Context The Safety Action Plan represents a significant regional effort to address rising traffic fatalities and serious injuries. Despite having relatively good safety performance compared to state averages, Whatcom County developed this comprehensive plan to access federal implementation funding and take a more systematic approach to road safety. The plan identifies specific high-crash corridors and recommends both traditional infrastructure improvements and innovative approaches addressing human behavior factors. The CTR Plan discussion reflects a administrative transition where Washington State DOT now requires individual jurisdictional plans rather than the previous regional approach. While this creates new paperwork requirements, the actual Smart Trips program that has successfully served the region for years will continue unchanged, maintaining its role as the "gold standard" for CTR administration statewide. ### What Happened — The Short Version Hugh Conroy presented WCOG's completed Safety Action Plan, highlighting crash data analysis that identified 21 high-injury network corridors and incorporated extensive community engagement through the "Whatcom Crash Test" survey. The plan prioritizes investments using crash frequency, social vulnerability, and active transportation factors, enabling applications for federal implementation funding up to $25 million per project. City staff then presented the draft CTR Plan, explaining that while the administrative structure is changing from regional to individual city plans, the successful Smart Trips program will continue operating as before. Current data shows affected employers already meeting state targets with a 60.89% drive-alone rate, well below the required 64% threshold. Commissioners requested to review the actual plan document before making a recommendation, leading to continuation of the item to the July meeting. ### What to Watch Next • Transportation Commission will review the complete CTR Plan document and ordinance in July • Federal SS4A implementation grant applications due June 26, with Bellingham planning to submit for Holly Street bike lane improvements • WCOG Policy Board expected to formally adopt the Safety Action Plan • New Transportation Commission members expected to be appointed for the July meeting ---

## MODULE S2: FLASH CARDS **Meeting ID:** BEL-TRC-2025-06-10 **Q:** How many high injury network corridors were identified in the Safety Action Plan? **A:** 21 corridors countywide, with the majority located in Bellingham city limits. **Q:** What percentage of crashes in Whatcom County occur on Interstate 5? **A:** Interstate 5 has the highest concentration of fatal and serious injury crashes in the county. **Q:** What is the current drive-alone rate for affected CTR employers? **A:** 60.89% based on the 2024 WCOG survey, which is below the state target of 64%. **Q:** How many people participated in the Whatcom Crash Test community survey? **A:** 3,500 people completed the survey, with 2,700 providing demographic information for follow-up interviews. **Q:** What was the top concern identified by survey respondents about crash causes? **A:** Distracted driving was by far the most commonly cited cause of crashes by community members. **Q:** How many CTR-affected worksites are in the Bellingham region? **A:** 22 total worksites in the region, with 21 located within Bellingham city limits. **Q:** What is the minimum federal grant amount for SS4A implementation projects? **A:** $2 million minimum, with grants ranging from $2 million to $25 million. **Q:** Who administers the Smart Trips program? **A:** The Whatcom Council of Governments (WCOG) administers the program for the entire region. **Q:** How much does the city contribute annually to the Smart Trips program? **A:** $25,000 per year, with WTA contributing $50,000 and federal/state funds covering the remaining $385,000 of the $460,000 program. **Q:** What factors determine if an employer is subject to CTR requirements? **A:** Employers with 100 or more full-time employees regularly arriving between 6 AM and 9 AM become "affected employers." **Q:** How many people logged trips through Smart Trips in 2024? **A:** 2,122 participants logged over 201,000 smart trips covering approximately 2.2 million miles. **Q:** Which intersection improvement was mentioned as a potential grant application? **A:** Holly Street bike lane improvements, though not located on the high injury network. **Q:** What was the previous year that Bellingham had its own CTR plan? **A:** 2007 was when Bellingham last had an individual CTR plan before the regional approach. **Q:** How many transportation modes does Smart Trips track? **A:** Multiple modes including walking, biking, transit, carpooling, and telework/work from home. **Q:** When is the next Transportation Commission meeting? **A:** July 2025, when they will review the complete CTR plan document and make their recommendation. ---