Fynnwin Prager

The Influence of Telecommuting & Remote Services on Travel Behavior

Research Conference

Register here: https://forms.gle/pQNNPkPRH3sxDbUv6

Friday, November 14, 2025, 9 AM – 3 PM PST. This hybrid event will be held both virtually via Zoom and at CSU Dominguez Hills (I&I 2001)

Conference Description: California’s Metropolitan Planning Organizations (MPOs) face a complex new transportation landscape in the wake of the COVID-19 pandemic. Telecommuting as well as remote services such as telehealth, e-learning, and e-commerce surged during the pandemic, dramatically reshaping travel behavior, land use, and greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions. Yet as vehicle miles traveled (VMT) and GHG levels return to pre-pandemic norms—and public transit use lags—the long-term role of remote services in supporting MPO Sustainable Communities Strategies (SCS) remains an open and urgent question. This conference invites researchers, planners, policymakers, technologists, community leaders, and transportation professionals to share research papers, data, case studies, and strategies that analyze telecommuting and remote services (T&RS) trends and explore how they can be effectively integrated into SCS planning. Special attention will be given to addressing equity, forecasting methodologies, emissions modeling, and the needs of California’s underserved communities.

Tentative Schedule

Networking/Continental Breakfast I&I 2001

9:00 AM to 9:45 AM

Introductory remarks by CSUDH researchers

Wang, K., & De Vos, J. (2025). Trends in leisure and shopping travel: From pre-to post-COVID-19 pandemic. Travel Behaviour and Society, 39, 100956. 

9:45 AM to 10:00 AM

Break Refreshments in I&I 2001

Session 2. Commuting and mode choice I&I 2270

Jena, A., D.S. Bunch, and G. Circella. (2025) Analyzing Post-COVID-19 Commuting Preferences and Frequencies in California: A Hybrid Multiple Discrete-Continuous Extreme Value (HMDCEV) Approach.

Chen, P., Yang, X., Zhang, Y., & Hu, S. (2025). The resiliency of transit and ride-hailing system through the coronavirus pandemic: Lessons from six large US cities. Case Studies on Transport Policy, 20, 101470.

Makino, K., S. Gulhare, D.S. Bunch, Y. Lee, and G. Circella. (2025) Day-to-Day Variation of Post-Pandemic Work Arrangement of California Workers.

10:45 AM to 11:00 AM

11:00 AM to 11:45 AM

Chen, P., Yang, X., & Zhang, Y. (2024). Exploring the interconnection between telecommuting, trip reduction, and transportation equity amidst the coronavirus pandemic. Transportation Letters, 17(3), 541-551.

Lee, Y., X. Iogansen, G. Circella and B. Ozbilen (2025) The Treatment Effects of Post-Pandemic Hybrid/Remote Work on Vehicle Miles Traveled: A Case Study of California Workers.

Rafiq, R., M. McNally, and F. Prager (2025) Does Work-from-home Lead to Fewer Trips? Factors Influencing Trip Making on Work-from-home versus Commuting Days.

11:45 AM to 1:00 PM

1 PM to 1:45 PM

Zandiatashbar, A, L. Mozaffarian, and T. W. Lester (2025) Do High-Tech Zones House High-Tech Workers? A Spatial-Statistical Assessment Across California.

Makino, K., S. Gulhare, D.S. Bunch, and G. Circella. (2025) When and Where Do People Work Post-Pandemic? Clustering of Week-Long Temporal and Spatial Work Arrangements in California.

Chhetri, P., P. Silwal, T. Lu, F. Prager, J. Ke, and J.N. Martinez (2025) Exploring Temporal and Spatial Patters of MPO-Level VMT in California.

Session 5. Telecommuting and remote services I&I 2270

Tian, G. (2025) Do Teleactivities Lead to More Sustainable Travel? Evidence from the 2017 and 2022 U.S. National Household Travel Surveys.

Prager, F., R. Rafiq, M. McNally, T. Lu, J.N. Martinez, P. Chhetri and J. Ke (2025) Do Teleworkers Use More Remote Services? Evidence from a California-Wide Survey.

Ke. J., X. Xu, F. Prager, T. Lu, P. Chhetri, and J.N. Martinez (2025) From Substitution to Rebound: How Work-from-home and E-commerce Transform Vehicle Travel After COVID-19.

2:45PM to 3:00 PM

Closing Remarks