As the focus for commuting trips, employers could still play an important role in a regional strategy, though they would not be responsible for implementing the plan. Several strategies are available to states or regions implementing a regional plan. They include transit incentives, vanpool subsidies, employer tax credits, shuttle service, expanded bus or transit service, parking cash out, public education and marketing tools, rideshare matching, and possibly mixed use development. EPA has accepted that recommendation as a continuation of its existing good faith effort policy. Under this policy, employers who try but fail to meet trip reduction goals need not be penalized as long as they continue their efforts to find effective trip reduction strategies.
Individual states determine what constitutes a good faith effort under their plans.
Within a state or regional plan, the administering agency would be responsible for demonstrating a good faith effort to implement a plan that convincingly demonstrates that the trip reduction target can be met. The procedure for determining credit for non commute trips is the same as that for determining credit for commute trips. Namely, a state would have to establish a baseline against which efforts to reduce non commute trips can be measured, set the trip reduction goal, and identify an implementation strategy. Under seasonal plans, states or employers can concentrate a significant portion of their ECO related efforts during the time of year when the air pollution warrants it the most. For example, incentives for transit, ridesharing, biking, or walking could be provided on a seasonal basis, as long as the plan convincingly demonstrates that the target can be met.