The Travel Reduction Program (TRP) began in the late 1980s as part of the State of Arizona's response to a court ruling requiring greater efforts to reduce air pollution. One outcome of the ruling was the legislation of Travel Reduction Program state statutes that focuses on employers and schools because the approximately 80 million commuter miles driven each weekday are a significant contributor to regional air pollution (carbon monoxide, ozone, particulate matter). Subsequent revisions to the statute and related Maricopa County ordinance (P-7) (PDF) reduced the minimum employee site count to 50.
TRP Program Goals
Employers and schools are asked to reduce single occupant vehicle (SOV) trips and/or miles traveled to the work site by 10 percent for a total of five years, and then 5 percent for three additional years, or until a 60 percent rate of SOV travel is reached. Progress is tracked through an annual commute survey of employer/school sites. The results of the survey are used to develop an annual plan that commits the employer / school to implementing and documenting various strategies to reduce SOV trips or miles.
Business & School Compliance Assistance
To help employers and schools with compliance, TRP:
Provides questionnaires for the commute survey
Generates a commute analysis for each site surveyed
Reviews plans submitted by employers/schools
Recommends approval/rejection of plans
Monitors implementation of approved plans
Reports on the costs of implementing plans
Generates annual report on commute-related emissions
The TRP partners with Valley Metro Commute Solutions to provide training, personalized assistance and promotional materials to all participating organizations. View the Valley Metro Commute Solutions Website.
The TRP Regional Task Force reviews employer/school survey results and the related plans are officially approved or rejected. Its meetings are open to the public and are usually held every 4 weeks. Find out more on the Travel Reduction Program Regional Task Force page.
