Flexi-hours 'may ease' transport crush

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Flexi-hours 'may ease' transport crush

Flexi-hours 'may ease' transport crush

January 10, 2008 - 2:29PM

All state governments should push companies to stagger working hours in Australian cities to cut peak hour congestion, the nation's peak transport body says.

The Victorian government is in discussions with major businesses in Melbourne about offering more flexible work hours, under its proposed Flex in the City program.

The plan is based on a similar program in the US city of Houston and would allow workers to start earlier or later in the day, skip lunch breaks to reduce their hours in the city or work from home one day a week.

The discussions coincide with a three-month trial of an early bird public transport ticket, which gives commuters free travel if they arrive at their destination by 7am.

Both measures are aimed at relieving pressure on Melbourne's crowded public transport system.

Tourism Transport Forum Australia managing director Christopher Brown said the Victorian initiative would encourage more people to travel outside peak hours and reduce congestion on roads and public transport.

He urged all state governments to follow Victoria's lead.

Mr Brown said Flex in the City was "an excellent example of what needs to be done across Australia".

Victoria's acting premier Rob Hulls said staggering work hours would offer more flexibility to staff and thereby increase productivity.

"The fact that the government is speaking to businesses is appropriate and if business can look at ways to, obviously offer more flexible working hours to their employees, I think it's a win-win all round," Mr Hulls told reporters.

The Victorian government has also brought forward the purchase of 18 new trains, which are due by the end of 2009.

"It is important we continue to look at ways to ease congestion in light of the fact there's been a 20 per cent increase in patronage over the last two years," Mr Hulls said.

Opposition public transport spokesman Terry Mulder said the government's failure to invest in roads and rail would force Melbourne families out of bed as early as 5am on cold winter mornings.

Public Transport Users Association president Daniel Bowen said the strategy made sense, but could only work if state governments boosted non-peak hour services.

"It could work, but it's going to need to be done right, with extra services," he told AAP.

Mr Bowen said the Victorian government could do more with its existing train fleet, offering more regular services outside of the peaks.

"For instance, train services in places like London are very frequent all day and that gives people the flexibility to easily travel outside peak times," he said.

? 2008 AAP