In Get Paid Not To Drive, NBC4 reports that D.C. metro area highway officials have a plan in place to minimize traffic congestion across the Wilson bridge while reconstruction efforts are underway over the next five years. "Bridge Bucks" and will pay drivers $50 a month in voucher coupons to ride buses, trains and vanpools, with a goal of removing 1,000 vehicles from the bridge each rush hour. Telecommuting is also strongly encouraged, but without monetary incentive. Details and electronic sign up can be found at http://www.wilsonbridge.com/cms-commuter-bb.htm.

9:55:13 AM    
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Here's a very interesting article from Fuel Cell Today, A Lighter Tread? Policy And Technology Options for Motor Vehicles (by Winston Harrington, 07 January 2004) that traces the rise of automobile travel and includes a discussion on the idea of replacing that travel with communications, i.e. telework (see the section labeled "New Technology and Transportation Substitution"). Summarizing a host of trends from just-in-time inventory to the global economy, Harrington reaches a provocative conclusion:

"Finally, telecommuting cannot be taken out of context, because other aspects of the information revolution may encourage more travel, not less. ... When all aspects are considered, the weight of evidence suggests that the relationship between transport and telecommunications is one of complement, not substitution. "

Does this mean we should stop considering telework as an improvement to traditional commuting? Not in the least! He's basically predicting even worse traffic in the future, so his points provide even more reasons to adopt telework. Just don't expect traffic to get any better due to increased telework. One change that's likely- "rush hour" as we know it may spread out to the point that it's undistinguishable from the rest of the day.

9:36:11 AM    
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