Telecommuting as a Transportation Planning Meaure: Initial Results of California Pilot Project

Abstract

The travel impact of home telecommuting -- the performance of work at home possibly using telecommunications technology -- is evaluated using travel diary survey results from California's State Employee Telecommute Pilot Project. The data obtained from 185 state workers and their household members indicate that telecommuting reduces working trips as expected, and no indication is present that telecommuting induces new nonwork trips. In addition, the results suggest that family members of telecommuters may also reduce nonwork trips. The analysis offers strong empirical support for telecommuting as a means to mitigate traffic congestion and improve air quality.