State Promotes Telecommuting to Reduce Traffic Congestion

The Connecticut Department of Transportation (CDOT) is equipped and ready to take the battle against traffic congestion to a higher level: It is reaching out to employers and other company leaders across the state to openly endorse and adopt telecommuting as a flexible work option for qualifying employees. (Telecommuting is the practice of selecting qualified employees to work from home for part of the workweek.)

To achieve this, CDOT is promoting a partnership with companies through Telecommute Connecticut!, a traffic congestion reduction program supported by funds from the Federal Highway Administration and CDOT. The statewide program, which is administered by Rideworks, provides a resource in helping companies implement effective telecommuting policies, procedures and best practices, including professional consulting services free of charge.

The purpose of this business initiative is to manage traffic congestion and spur economic growth in Connecticut. “This partnership must ease traffic congestion for daily commuters while simultaneously providing business benefits for the companies themselves,” said Stephen Korta, CDOT Commissioner. “In short, our objective is to reduce commuting during peak commuter rush hours while giving Connecticut employers relevant business advantages to do so.”

(In addition, for the Telecommute Connecticut! program, CDOT and Rideworks recently received the 2004 Transportation Demand Management Award for Innovative New Transportation Demand Service from the Patriot Chapter of the Association for Commuter Transportation.)

Telecommute Connecticut! can help assess a company’s business needs and identify how telecommuting could be used as a smart work option. And if you’re interested in seeing if telecommuting is the right fit for your business, this no-cost statewide program can provide expert assistance in the development and implementation of a telecommuting program. For additional information about telecommuting or Telecommute Connecticut!’s no-cost services, call 1-800-255-7433 or visit our informative website (www.telecommuteCT.com).