Why Broadband and Telecommuting Are Transportation Issues

10 July 2009 - 5:00am

Telecommuting should be considered an aspect of transportation, according to this piece from New Geography.

One way policy can encourage it is through the expansion of broadband internet access as a critical element of transportation infrastructure.

"Whereas the infrastructure for cars, buses and trains consists of roads and rails, the infrastructure required for telecommuting is broadband. Fortunately for the framers of the new transportation package, the stimulus legislation already provides significant funding - over $7 billion - to expand access to broadband. The transportation legislation should provide more. It should also expressly encourage the use of that broadband to telecommute."

Source: New Geography, July 8, 2009
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But what can planners do to support the kind of connections between people I just described? One idea is promoting mixed-use places where there are simply more opportunities for people to run into each other and connect.