%0 Journal Article %A Nairn, R J %D 2017 %T Broadband telecommunications and urban travel %U https://bridges.monash.edu/articles/journal_contribution/Broadband_telecommunications_and_urban_travel/4956176 %R 10.4225/03/5906c5c00795d %2 https://bridges.monash.edu/ndownloader/files/8333258 %K 0040-2486 %K Broadband %K 1959.1/787876 %K Travel %K journal article %K Emissions %K Work from home %K 10.2104/tja07026 %K monash:110694 %K Greenhouse %X Energy consumption associated with transport is one of the major contributors to greenhouse gas emissions. As the information economy expands, the potential to use broadband to eliminate a percentage of daily trips grows. In particular, broadband can make it possible for a percentage of the workforce to work effectively and efficiently from home on at least one or two days a week.This paper explores key economic and environmental benefits of a hypothetical 5% reduction in daily trips. Using a simulation model to assess the impact on traffic flows indicates that such a reduction would result in a 5.6% reduction in greenhouse emissions in Canberra, a low-congestion city, and 17% in Sydney. It would also result in savings of 5.54% in road maintenance, accidents, motorists time and fuel costs or about $145 million annually or $1,000 per household by 2011. In Sydney these would be 10.5% or $5 billion annually or $3,300 per household. Copyright 2007 R J Nairn. No part of this article may be reproduced by any means without the written consent of the publisher. %I Monash University