Commuting statistics have held consistent, according to Census data, even as the number of people working from home continues to climb.
Changes in the work force mean more people are working from home or telecommuting. "Tech-oriented occupations ideal for working remotely have grown, far exceeding job gains in manufacturing and other industries less conducive to it," Mike Maciag reports for Governing. Telecommuting hasn't translated into fewer people on the roads during rush hour, however. In fact, according to Census data, the percentage of people who commute and the length of their commutes has held steady.
There are many possible explanations for why commutes aren't going away, "A study by the Center for Transportation Studies at the University of Minnesota found telecommuting increased travel for one-worker households, especially for non-work related trips. Other research indicates that when two drivers in a household share a single vehicle, telecommuting merely frees up the vehicle for the other person," Maciag writes. It's also possible that the would-be commuters staying at home have just induced demand, bringing folk who would have used other means to get to work out on to the roads.
FULL STORY: What Does Telecommuting's Rise Mean for Traffic and Transit?
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Working From Home: An Urban Planning Revolution
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Can New York City Go Green Without Renewable Rikers?
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700-Acre Master-Planned Community Planned in Utah
A massive development plan is taking shape for lakefront property in Vineyard, Utah—on the site of a former U.S. Steel Geneva Works facility.
More Cities Ponder the End of Drive-Thrus
Drive-thru fast food restaurants might be a staple of American life, but several U.S. cities are actively considering prohibiting the development of new drive-thrus for the benefit of traffic safety, air quality, and congestion.
Air Pollution World’s Worst Public Health Threat, Report Says
Air pollution is more likely to take years life off the lifespan of the average human than any other external factor, according to a recent report out of the University of Chicago.
Placer County
City of Morganton
HUD's Office of Policy Development and Research
Dongguan Binhaiwan Bay Area Management Committee
City of Waukesha, WI
Los Angeles County Metropolitan Transportation Authority
Indiana Borough
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