(APRIL 6, 2000 - Baltimore) -- The Baltimore Metropolitan Council (BMC) has released the results of a transportation study that documents the level and characteristics of telecommuting in the Baltimore region. This study was one of the first in the United States to document the growing phenomenon of telecommuting from the perspectives of both employers and employees. The study was conducted to assist the BMC in documenting the emission reduction potential of telecommuting, and to provide reliable information to help promote increased use of telecommuting in the Baltimore region.

This study, which included telephone interviews of employers and employees, and focus groups of large and small employers, was conducted by Strategic Consulting & Research of Irvine, CA and Washington, DC. The study clearly showed that the level and benefits of telecommuting in the Baltimore region were substantially greater than estimates previously used by the BMC staff for air quality analysis.

According to the study, 3.6% of employees (50,000 employees) in the Baltimore region currently telecommute. This level of telecommuting is almost double the percentage previously projected by BMC. These employees telecommute an average of 3 days per week, and save an average of 28 miles of commuting distance each way.

The study found that 17% of employers have telecommuting programs, and that 75% of employers with telecommuting programs were satisfied with their telecommuting initiatives and anticipate further expansion of their programs in the next 12 months.

The study documented that 58% of telecommuters work for smaller employers and 38% work for larger employers. The study further found that 89% of employees who telecommute in the Baltimore region do so from home. The majority of both employers (64%) and employees (67%) agree that the principal business benefit of telecommuting is improved productivity/profitability.

The full study ($10 US) is available from the Baltimore Metropolitan Council, Regional Information Center, 601 North Howard Street, Baltimore, MD 21201. For detailed ordering information, contact Mary Logan at 410-333-4881. VISA and Mastercard accepted.

For further information on the Baltimore Region Telecommuting Baseline Study, contact W. Earl Long, BMC Senior Transportation Planner, at elong@baltometro.org.

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