The Impact of Telecommuter Rail Cars on Modal Choice

Telecommuter technologies on rail cars enable a traveler on public transit to access the Internet, thereby enhancing the ability to work while traveling to and from work. This technology brings new opportunities for employers to expand their potential labor pool and for employees to shift the costs of work-related travel. Research into more “traditional” forms of telecommuting arrangements such as working from home, a dedicated telecenter, or while traveling on business has found numerous benefits for society, employers, and employees. The present study asks to what extent does the opportunity to engage in paid work while commuting to and from the workplace result in a shift in commuter modal choice away from automobile travel toward public transit. The authors present evidence that consumer demand for public transit is particularly elastic with respect to the value of time spent traveling. This study provides evidence that by implementing telecommuter technology on rail cars, society could benefit by a significant increase in ridership on public transit. Such benefits should encourage the relevant stakeholders to pursue the implementation and promotion of this technology.

• Record URL:
  • http://transweb.sjsu.edu/MTIportal/research/publications/documents/hayton/TelecommuterRail_MTI-04-01_7-25-05.pdf
• Record URL:
  • https://merritt.cdlib.org/d/ark%3A%2F13030%2Fm5ff8f09/1/producer%2FMTI%2004-01.pdf
• 
• Availability:
  • Find a library where document is available. Order URL: http://worldcat.org/oclc/948596599
• Supplemental Notes:
  • This document was sponsored by the U.S. Department of Transportation, University Transportation Centers Program.
• Corporate Authors:

  San Jose State University

  Mineta Transportation Institute, 210 North 4th Street
  San Jose, CA  United States  95192-0219

  California Department of Transportation

  Sacramento, CA  United States  95819

  Office of the Assistant Secretary for Research and Technology

  Department of Transportation
  1200 New Jersey Avenue, SE
  Washington, DC  United States  20590
• Authors:
  • Hayton, James C
  • Malos, Stan
• Publication Date: 2005-5

Language

• English

Media Info

• Media Type: Digital/other
• Edition: Final Report
• Features: Appendices; Bibliography; Tables;
• Pagination: 72p

Subject/Index Terms

• TRT Terms: Commuter cars; Commuting; Employee benefits; Mode choice; Railroad commuter service; Telecommuting; Workforce
• Subject Areas: Data and Information Technology; Passenger Transportation; Vehicles and Equipment;

Filing Info

• Accession Number: 01603822
• Record Type: Publication
• Source Agency: UC Berkeley Transportation Library
• Report/Paper Numbers: MTI 04-01
• Contract Numbers: 65W136
• Files: CALTRANS, BTRIS, UTC, TRIS, ATRI, USDOT
• Created Date: Jun 29 2016 1:26PM