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The Blue Line Televillage Demonstration is currently in the planning stages. The center will be located at one of the three stations along the Metro Blue Line in Los Angeles or the City of Compton. The center is expected to open in Fall 1994. Depending on funding the center will provide tele-education, tele-services, and possibly tele-working facilities. One unique feature of this center is that it will provide social services to people who would either have to travel to receive the services, or may not be able to obtain the services otherwise. The size of the center has not yet been determined, but 4 to 10 workstations are expected.

The Long Beach Telebusiness Center in Southern California is currently in the planning stages. The projected opening date is September 1994. The 5000 square foot center will have 10 private offices and 40 additional workstations. The site has been chosen at the interchange of the 710 and the 405 freeways. The site is one block from the freeways and is surrounded by amenities including restaurants and child care. Just behind the business area is a residential neighborhood. A preliminary marketing analysis has shown that 61,810 employees commute out of the South East Harbor Region of Los Angeles County every day. Eight thousand employees who commute out of the area live within a one-mile radius of the center. Center marketing will be primarily aimed at employees near the center, but will include the entire region. Marketing strategy is currently being planned and will include a package for corporate executives and public service announcements both on television and radio. A unique feature of the center is that its use will be provided by local hotels to their patrons. For example, an international visitor can take the hotel's shuttle-bus to the center and work or teleconference. The initial start-up costs will be provided by public funding and corporate sponsorship. The center is expected to be self-supporting after three years.

The Pomona Telecommuting Center in Los Angeles County plans to open in January 1994. The location is central to four major freeways and within walking distance of the Los Angeles Metrolink commuter rail system. The 1700 square foot center has five private offices and three partitioned office spaces with a total of ten workstations. The center also has a conference room, reception area and a kitchen. The site administrator has received interest from many corporations, and currently has commitments from four telecommuters. Marketing activities include talking to commuters directly at the Metrolink station and at bus stops as well as contacting large and small businesses. The administrator has noticed that small employers with less than 35 workers are easier to target than large corporations, who seem to be afraid of alternative work environments. As part of the evaluation of the center, the City of Pomona plans to compare the usage from local residents, workers who arrive on the Metro, and workers who arrive using the freeway.

The Rancho Palos Verdes Telework Center in the south west area of Los Angeles County is in the market assessment phase. To begin this assessment, a marketing consultant will be hired. Currently, the center has no direct funding from the city of Rancho Palos Verdes, but is seeking local return funds from Propositions A and C. It is envisioned that the center will use an existing building and focus on many goals. Among those goals will be a reduction in traffic congestion, improved air quality, convenience for employees, and increased employee productivity.

The Santa Clarita Telebusiness Center is also in the planning stages. The expected opening date is March 15, 1994. The center has an extensive list of features including: 3500 square feet with 15 workstations and 5 private offices, a videoconference room with a 40 - 50 person capacity, fax, copy and mail services, a fiber optic link, and a shuttle service for the Santa Clarita Valley. Adjacent to the center is a TMA office and the Valencia Industrial Association office to facilitate the exchange of information concerning telecommuting and other commute alternatives. A marketing analysis has shown that 60% of workers in the Santa Clarita Valley commute out of the valley each day. The round-trip commute distance ranges from 75 to 125 miles. Also, Santa Clarita residents average 40% higher income than those in the Los Angeles region as a whole, implying that there are more white collar workers, hence more potential telecommuters, in the Santa Clarita Valley. The center is located within walking or biking distance for some telecommuters, but the Santa Clarita Valley has a good public transit system that can also serve to eliminate commute vehicle trips. Marketing activities cannot start until the final funding arrangements are reached, but marketing is expected to include newspaper articles, radio advertisements, and direct contacts with employees and corporate executives. Also, interest has been expressed by schools to use the conference room as a classroom, and by local hotels to provide a work setting for traveling businesspeople. For the first and second years, the center will receive funding through the Los Angeles Metropolitan Transportation Authority, although fees will be charged for certain services and rates for center use will be applied as the center becomes self-supporting.

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