Here, the federal government should be the locomotive, but it is still in the roundhouse.
The feds say only 6 percent of their workforce telecommutes, and 70 percent of those are outside metropolitan Washington, Wilsker said.
It seems to me working from home is crucial to relieving our growing gridlock. We've got to do more.
I'd like to hear your thoughts and, particularly, where in our area this is successful.
Overwhelming Demand
In the Jan. 9 column, we ran a letter from the head of Driver's Edge, a training course for new drivers 21 and younger. It is offered periodically by professionals who come to the FedEx Field parking lot to conduct free half-day clinics.
The response to Driver's Edge (702-896-6482; www.driversedge.org) was astonishing, and once again points to the need for better driver training in our area.
Here's a note from the president of this nonprofit organization, based in Las Vegas:
Dear Dr. Gridlock:
I just wanted to let you know that publishing our letter, with the nice notes you added, had our phone ringing by 4:30 (West Coast time) Sunday morning.
At the moment, not only is our FedEx Field April 9 class full, but we have nearly 500 people from your area who signed up on our waiting list!
I've never seen such a response. I do believe that's the largest single response we have ever had from a media hit -- even greater than national pieces like "Good Morning America."
Now, finding the funding to add an additional day becomes that much more critical.
I really want to make our D.C. program special, and I want to find the support in the community to add an additional day.
Jeff Payne
President and CEO,
Driver's Edge
Las Vegas
I don't know if you can do this as a nonprofit, but have you considered charging a nominal fee -- say, $25 -- to help cover costs? A lot of parents here are desperate to find skilled help to train new drivers.
Better schooled young drivers help us all.
Transportation researcher Diane Mattingly contributed to this column.
You can write to Dr. Gridlock at 1150 15th St. NW, Washington, D.C. 20071. He prefers e-mail at drgridlock@washpost.com or faxes at 703-352-3908. Include your full name, town, county and day and evening telephone numbers. Dr. Gridlock cannot take phone calls.
