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From the Daily Press

4-day workweek
June 28, 2008

Virginia's government is meeting to try to fix the state's transportation problems. Unfortunately all the solutions they are looking at will take many years, if not decades, to impact traffic problems. There is a solution that would relieve the congestion problems this year, with many additional benefits and provide immediate cost savings to all Virginians.

The legislature should declare a transportation and energy state of emergency, and require all employers with 10 or more employees to immediately implement a 10-hour workday, four-day workweek with 20 percent of the employees off each day of the week. This would provide immediate relief for the traffic congestion problems of Northern Virginia and Hampton Roads, as well as providing statewide energy, pollution and cost savings.

There will be an immediate decrease in rush-hour traffic of at least 20 percent, which would greatly reduce traffic jams in the worst bottlenecks. The Hampton Roads Planning District Commission study done five years ago shows the rush-hour traffic volume at the Hampton Roads Bridge-Tunnel was 3,600 vehicles per tube each hour (which is maximum capacity) with a seven- to eight-minute delay each way, and we all know it has gotten worse since.

Every worker would see an immediate 20 percent decrease in fuel costs. Workers would have an extra day off each week to spend with family or for recreation.

Ralph DeSimone, Toano VA