2024 Annual Meeting Rapid Fire Presentation: “Commuting in 2024”
Presented by Gina M. Provost, Member & Shuttle Operations Manager, at 128 Business Council’s 2024 Annual Meeting (April 25, 2024).
In her rapid-fire presentation, Gina Provost tackled the complex realities of commuting in 2024—and why so many people feel like traffic has never been worse. Drawing on data from MassDOT, INRIX, and regional surveys, Gina showed that those feelings aren’t just anecdotal: Congestion is on the rise again, with many major roadways returning to or surpassing pre-pandemic traffic levels.
She explained how hybrid work schedules have concentrated car travel into just a few days per week (particularly Tuesdays through Thursdays), causing midweek congestion to spike. Meanwhile, reduced MBTA reliability and rising use of single-occupancy vehicles (SOVs) have pushed even more commuters into cars.
While many employees now enjoy flexible schedules, Gina pointed out that a large share of essential workers (including many riding our shuttles) still commute five days a week. The result is a fragmented and unpredictable commute landscape that’s hard on workers and infrastructure alike.
Jump straight to the Gina’s presentation within the meeting recording here.
