• By Bsrat Mezghebe
• April 14, 2021

Where are we headed? Recent data on COVID-19’s impacts on transportation

The world is far from truly understanding the long-term effects of the COVID-19 pandemic. However, the pandemic’s one-year anniversary provides a useful benchmark for assessing its near-term impacts. At the April 1, 2021 Commission meeting, Tim Canan, Director of Planning Data and Research for the Metropolitan Washington Council of Governments (COG), shared a multi-sector snapshot of COVID-19’s regional impacts to date, with a focus on transportation.

Survey responses revealed 96% of worksites had shut down or reduced on-site operations either completely (81%) or partially (15%) since the pandemic began. Regional office and retail vacancy rates increased, while use of public and personal transportation and air travel decreased. Looking at future daily travel trends, half of surveyed employees anticipate continued telework at levels higher or consistent with pandemic levels. Additionally, the great majority of employees expressed a preference for continued telework, with 25% preferring the option to telework full-time.

There’s much more data to explore. Learn more about the presentation and watch the recording by clicking on the links below. NCPC will continue to work with COG to follow data assessments of the pandemic to provide applicable updates to policies within the Federal Elements of the Comprehensive Plan.

Information Sheet Watch Video