REMARKS PREPARED FOR DELIVERY

U.S. SECRETARY OF TRANSPORTATON NORMAN Y. MINETA

SOUTHERN CALIFORNIA

ECONOMIC PARTNERSHIP -- eCOMMUTE

LOS ANGELES, CALIFORNIA

AUGUST 21, 2001

Thank you, Ron Bates, for that very gracious introduction.  Thank you, also, to John Cox of the Southern California Economic Partnership for your kind invitation to have me join you today.  It’s great to be back in California and here in Los Angeles to help launch a program to help reduce traffic congestion and improve fuel conservation -- and L.A.'s air quality. 

From Los Angeles, where it takes an average of 20 minutes to negotiate the interchange of interstates 10 and 405, to the Washington area, where many highways become "parking lots" at rush hour, Americans are spending more and more time trapped in their cars.  Drivers in the nation’s largest cities spend about 40 hours per year -- a full work week -- stuck in traffic.

Congestion and delay not only waste our time as individuals, they also burden our local, regional and national economy with inefficiency and higher costs.

Today, we face many transportation challenges.  We need to work together on solutions that are creative, and that reflect the reality of future population growth and the corresponding traffic and air quality issues.  And, one of those solutions is ecommuting -- also referred to as teleworking or telecommuting.

Telecommuting moves the work to people, rather than the people to work. 

We in the field of transportation support telecommuting because it utilizes the technology of cable modems and telephone wires instead of placing more demand on our roads and highways.

But telecommuting is more than a transportation solution;  it is a business solution.  Private sector employers have shown an increased interest in telecommuting because of its potential to increase productivity, reduce costs, and retain employees.

In an effort to foster this growing interest in the business community, the federal government developed the ecommute pilot program.  Los Angeles is one of five metropolitan areas selected from across the country to participate in this

program.  The five participating cities can earn air pollution “credits” for the number of documented teleworkers in their area.

By encouraging telecommuting, we mitigate traffic congestion, reduce fuel consumption, improve air quality -- and enhance your business.

DOT is pleased to cooperate with the Environmental Protection Agency and the National Environmental Policy Institute (NEPI) in managing ecommute.

As a major employer, we in the federal government are increasing the number of our own employees that telework. 

The FY 2001 DOT Appropriations Act requires federal agencies to establish policies that encourage telecommuting.  The Act calls on federal agencies to establish policies to make 25 percent of the workforce eligible for telecommuting by January of 2002, and add an additional 25 percent each year until all eligible workers have been given the option under departmental policy. 

We have found that telecommuting is a viable option at DOT.  Some argue that it’s not for everyone, and frankly, they’re right.  Not every position makes sense for regular telecommuting, and not every day makes sense for a telecommuter to stay out of the office. 

Telecommuting is an option.  It provides for increased flexibility, when the employee and the employer agree that it makes sense.  Once a workplace has developed some basic guidelines, employers are often surprised by how well it does work. 

The benefits of telecommuting for many employees and companies have already been documented. 

Companies such as Merrill Lynch, Arthur Anderson and Cisco Systems have reported productivity gains in the range of 10 to 50 percent.  

Other potential benefits include:

• Attraction and retention of highly qualified staff;

•  Reduced sick leave and absenteeism;

• Greater flexibility for disabled or impaired workers;

•  Decreased demand for, and cost of, work space or equipment at the office;

•  Uninterrupted public or customer service:  Telecommuters can continue to provide vital services or work on projects during inclement weather and even during natural disasters;   and

•  Reduced employee and family stress due to less commuting -- Telecommuters can reduce commute time to accommodate family needs or volunteer activities.  (Soccer Moms and Dads love it!)

I could continue to recite the list of benefits to you, but the bottom line remains the same.  Teleworking has a strong record of benefits for the employer as well as the employee.

To be successful, telecommuting must have the support of top management.  Executives and managers need to recognize that work is what one does, not where one does it. 

Before beginning a telecommuting program, leaders must “market” it to supervisors and staff.  Supervisors need to understand the potential productivity and morale gains, while workers need assurance that managers are supportive of their e-commuting.

Ecommute is a tool that can help you to make your employees more productive workers.  The hassle of the daily commute can adversely affect your employees’ performance and your community’s quality of life.  But, you have the power to improve both through a telecommuting program.

I strongly encourage you to consider the ecommute program, which the Southern California Economic Partnership will manage.  It could be the best thing you do for your bottom line this year.

Thank you very much.

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Briefing Room