Staggered Work-Hour Experiment Approved

The San Diego City Council has decided to move ahead with plans for a weeklong, citywide test of staggered work hours as a means of decreasing rush-hour congestion on freeways.

In a decision late Monday night, the council ordered city officials to present plans in three weeks on how the experiment, tentatively scheduled for October, could be staged.

The council also approved a list of suggestions for reducing freeway congestion--some of which could be put into effect within a few months--and agreed to hire a consultant to devise long-term remedies for the city’s worsening traffic jams.

Originated by Councilman Bruce Henderson, the experiment is intended to prove to San Diegans that they can reduce freeway congestion by traveling to work at various hours. Businesses would be called upon to stagger the work hours and days of their employees to keep some of them off the roads at times of peak congestion.

A city study shows that fewer than 1.1 people ride in each of the vehicles being driven downtown each day. Various reports indicate that 190,000 to 286,000 vehicles a day arrive downtown.

Barbara Lupro, the city’s paratransit administrator, said it may be more practical to target one area of the city for the experiment and to focus on larger companies. Lupro said she will return with information on methods of starting the experiment and its cost.

Short-term tactics that will receive further review from city officials include wider publicity for public transit and car-pool programs, promoting flexitime schedules, and increasing parking meter rates.