The Differential Accessibility Effects of Work from Home: Travel Behavior Outcomes and Broader Transportation Implications

Term Start:

January 1, 2024

Term End:

June 30, 2025

Budget:

$75,000

Keywords:

Accessibility, Telework

Thrust Area(s):

Understanding User Needs

University Lead:

University of Washington

Researcher(s):

Qing Shen

Researchers have long examined the potential effects of telework on the geography of opportunity within metropolitan areas. While telework can increase access to certain job markets, it may also contribute to the decentralization of employment and population, fostering more spatially dispersed patterns of metropolitan growth. As jobs and services become more widely distributed, the central city’s role in the geography of opportunity may continue to diminish. Certain population groups, including lower-income households, are likely to face greater challenges as a result of these spatial shifts driven by telecommunications. However, the absence of detailed, spatially disaggregated empirical data has made it challenging to fully understand the relative influence of geographic location, transportation modes, and telecommunications capabilities in shaping accessibility differences.

The proposed research will address the following questions:

How does work-from-home differentially impact the geography of opportunity and accessibility of population groups for jobs and other services? How can accessibility measures be updated to reflect changes in work-from-home adoption, travel frequency, pattern, and mode choice? What are the impacts of differential accessibility on travel behavior outcomes of essential and non-essential workers? What are the desirable changes in public transit services and TDM policies to help reduce the accessibility gaps for groups with limited transportation options, especially workers?

Project scope

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