With construction-induced traffic nightmare looming, Seattle embraces the telecommute

Chyann Jackson, who works for Delta Dental of Washington, sets up a company-issued laptop in her apartment building's common room. (Greg Gilbert/The Seattle Times/TNS) OUTS: SEATTLE OUT, USA TODAY OUT, MAGAZINES OUT, TELEVISION OUT, SALES OUT.

SEATTLE: Five years ago, as tunnel-boring Bertha was about to arrive in Seattle, local transportation officials huddled together to talk about what they could do to ease the traffic disruptions that would inevitably come during the tunnel's construction. 

One of the ideas they came up with: Make it easier for workers to work without going to work. Each person working from home is one less person driving through downtown or taking up space on a crowded bus.