SOUNDING OFF:

Kris lives in Arizona and works with Cass, who lives in New Mexico and works with Cheryl, who lives in Torrance and works with Brian, who lives in Laguna Niguel and works with Steve, who lives in Costa Mesa.

Without ever meeting face-to-face, they assisted Curtis Kauffman-Pickelle, who lives in Tustin, write, design and market a 60-page magazine.

Their ability to work together despite the miles among them is the best reason for not spending another penny on “improving” the intersection of 19th Street and Newport Boulevard.

I am the “Steve” in this story and am pleased to tell you that telecommuting may be the best solution to global warming, pollution, traffic and rising business overhead. Plus, telecommuting supports family life and reduces individual stress.

But if you listen to the experts, you’d never know that telecommuting is an option.

Of all the solutions to the congestion, no one has stated that in 10 years, when a tunnel may be finished, there could be fewer cars on the road, thereby solving the problem on its own.

A reason for this lack of thinking is that the experts who have chimed in thus far have a vested interest in cranking up bulldozers or setting up toll booths.

The fact is, many of the trends in driving habits point to fewer cars on the road in 2018, not more.

The last approved plan for the intersection was in 1985, when a gallon of gas cost $1.11. Using an online Consumer Price Index inflation calculator, that gallon today would cost $2.20. But the price in Orange County is averaging $3.58, and it’s still climbing.

As the gas costs rise and continue to outpace the rate of disposable income, consumers will turn to other forms of transportation.

Also according to the inflation calculator, the person making $40,000 in 1985 would need to make $79,378.44 today.

But according to the website for the city of Costa Mesa, the median household income in Costa Mesa in 2005 was $53,361. In other words, we are making less and paying significantly higher prices for gasoline.

Our aging population factors in, too. As the baby boomers enter retirement over the next 10 years, there will be millions of fewer cars commuting to and from jobs.

As gas prices soar, telecommuting numbers will rise. Why? Because more and more workers will demand telecommuting programs rather than absorb the pay cut brought on by oil at more than $114 per barrel.

While telecommuting is good for employees, the roads and the environment, it also has huge savings for businesses, because they will require less space. A smaller office means less rent and overhead in other areas such as lighting, heating and air conditioning.

So where is this common sense solution among all of the suggestions?

Nowhere. Unfortunately, we are stuck in the old notion that people aren’t productive unless a manager can see them working.

And those who stand to profit from or get job security from a major construction project are not likely to tout the benefits of telecommuting.

We don’t need a tunnel, bridge or a toll at 19th Street and Newport Boulevard. What we need is someone to initiate a campaign to educate all potential businesses on the value and importance of allowing employees to work at home.

It’s a national concept, to be sure, but it has to start somewhere. Why not here in Newport-Mesa?

STEVE SMITH writes a column for the Daily Pilot, titled “Kids These Days.” The column appears every Tuesday.