Travel Reduction Program Regional Task Force

Duties & Powers

1. The task force shall review and approve the baseline survey distributed to major employers for the purpose of collecting data on employee commuting patterns. The task force shall provide uniform formats for data to be provided by each employer on the commuting patterns of its employees and the effectiveness of its travel reduction plan. Collected data shall include the mode used and distance traveled for commute trips. The task force shall establish uniform requirements for record keeping and reporting as necessary to comply with this article and reasonable deadlines for submittal of additional data as required.
2. The task force shall:
   1. Evaluate major employers' travel reduction plans and approve or object to any such plan received.
   2. Review all responses by major employers to the annual survey and determine if they meet the requirements of this article.
   3. Review the travel reduction plan submitted by each major employer to conclude if the plan achieves the targeted increase in travel reduction measures along with the staff report on the plan.
   4. Monitor the implementation of each travel reduction plan as submitted by each major employer.
3. A plan submitted to the task force under subsection B, paragraph 1 shall be approved or objections filed within 90 days of its submission. The plan is automatically approved unless objected to by the task force within 90 days. Objections shall be based on criteria set forth in § 49-588. If the task force objects to the plan, it shall be reviewed and revised in consultation with the employer. The task force shall determine if enforcement action is appropriate and shall recommend action as it deems necessary.
4. If any response submitted to the task force pursuant to subsection B, paragraph 2 is not approved, the task force may direct the employer to submit additional data within 30 days. If subsequent submissions of data are not approved, the task force shall evaluate the major employer and supporting data and decide if enforcement action is appropriate.
5. If a travel reduction plan submitted to the task force pursuant to subsection B, paragraph 3 is not approved, the task force shall describe the inadequacies and direct the major employer to modify the plan within 30 days. If the plan as modified is not approved, the task force shall evaluate the supporting data and decide if enforcement action is necessary.
6. If a major employer has not implemented the travel reduction plan as submitted to the task force pursuant to subsection B, paragraph 4, the task force shall describe the inadequacies and shall direct modifications in the plan implementation. If the major employer's efforts remain inadequate, the task force shall evaluate the supporting data and decide if enforcement action is necessary.
7. If a major employer's travel reduction plan fails to achieve the target goals, the task force shall direct the staff to work with the employer to increase alternative modes of usage and usage and reduce vehicle miles traveled in keeping with regional goals and to submit a plan addendum outlining activities aimed at correcting the plan deficiencies, unless the major employer's current efforts are judged to be sufficient based on:
   1. The cost of the employer's travel reduction program compared to the average cost of such programs for all major employers.
   2. Unusual circumstances faced by the major employer. If unusual circumstances do exist, the task force shall determine if major employers that fail to submit an addendum within ninety days after the date of written notice should be subject to enforcement action.
8. The task force shall direct the staff to identify and contract potential voluntary participants to encourage and assist them in participating in cooperative efforts to collect data on commuting patterns, needs and desires of their employees and their tenants' employees. These potential voluntary participants shall include property managers and other non major employers that may wish to participate in a travel reduction program. The task force shall encourage these owners, managers and employers to form transportation management associations. Among other activities the transportation management associations may disseminate information on alternate modes of transportation. The task force shall encourage the transportation management associations to assist member employers in developing and implementing travel plans.
9. The task force shall review the performance of the regional program annually and prepare a report for the board. The report shall include successes and problem areas and shall recommend revisions to this article, as necessary.

Formation Authority