LTA launches funding plan for companies to promote flexi-travel

Grants for firms to help ease rush-hour crush
By Royston Sim, The Straits Times, 31 Jul 2014

COMPANIES can soon tap more government funds to promote flexible travel arrangements, in a move to ease the crush on public transport in the morning.

The Land Transport Authority (LTA) has launched a "Travel Smart Network" to provide grants that employers can use to encourage staff to commute outside of peak hours or use alternative transport such as cycling.

Announcing this yesterday, Senior Minister of State for Transport Josephine Teo said: "We want to bring more employers on board, and make flexi-travel more readily available."

A company can apply for and receive grants of up to $510,000 over three years from the LTA. This comprises a $30,000 voucher to engage approved consultants to develop travel demand management plans, and grants of up to $160,000 a year, for three years, to co-fund initiatives such as bicycle parking and morning programmes for early birds.

Mrs Teo said a "sufficient amount" has been set aside for this programme, but did not disclose how much.

The authority has approached companies based near MRT stations with more than 200 employees. Several have expressed interest, including the Singapore Exchange (SGX) and DBS Bank.

The move is an expansion of an existing trial with 12 companies which have set up flexible work arrangements.

It also builds on a free travel scheme for commuters who exit at 18 city-area stations before 7.45am. That scheme, which has moved about 7 per cent of commuters out of the morning peak hour of 8am to 9am, was extended for another year in May.

Employees of companies in the network will have a higher chance of winning cash rewards on INSINC, a travel demand management scheme. One winner will win $1,500 in a monthly lucky draw.

On why the LTA is approaching larger companies, Mrs Teo said the earlier trial of 12 firms has shown that a critical mass is needed for flexi-travel schemes to work. Even so, she said the Government is "very happy" to support smaller companies that want to come on board.

SGX chief executive Magnus Bocker said the challenge will be to change day-to-day patterns.

Future Cities Laboratory transport researcher Alexander Erath thinks the LTA should open the rewards scheme to smaller employers as well, as it could spur more of their staff to take part.

Post by Land Transport Authority – We Keep Your World Moving.

Firms can use LTA grant for facilities like bicycle racks

By Royston Sim, The Straits Times, 31 Jul 2014

ARRANGING for morning exercise sessions is one way companies can tap government funds to encourage their employees to travel to work early.

The Land Transport Authority (LTA) yesterday launched a Travel Smart Network to help companies shoulder the cost of developing flexible work arrangements.

This is to build on existing travel demand management schemes, and move more commuters out of the congested morning peak hour.

Besides a $30,000 voucher to engage a consultant, a company can get a grant of up to $80,000 a year, for three years, to build transport infrastructure. The LTA will fund 80 per cent and the company, 20 per cent.

A company can get another grant of up to $80,000 a year, also for three years, to pay for promotional activities which will be co-funded on a 50:50 basis.

The infrastructure and activities that can be funded include:

- bicycle parking facilities such as lockers and racks, or the conversion of carparks to bicycle parks;

- shower facilities;

- Travel Smart Day or forums to promote flexible travel arrangements;

- morning programmes such as exercise sessions or breakfast vouchers for early birds;coordinator to drive flexible travel plans.

Senior Minister of State for Transport Josephine Teo said the amount each company gets depends on what it puts in place.

"It is not a blank cheque, they do have to put in some effort."

She added that a "sufficient amount" has been set aside for this programme, but did not disclose the amount.

The Travel Smart Network expands on an LTA trial involving 12 firms which have put in place initiatives such as staggered working hours and tele-commuting.

These organisations said one challenge they face is the mindset that flexi-work could affect one's performance appraisal.

At Citi Singapore, employees are allowed to devise work schedules that fit them best. They could have a compressed work week, or have flexible start and end times.

However, its head of human resources Evangeline Chua said a stumbling block is the reluctance of managers to implement flexible work arrangements, for fear that it could affect daily operations.

There is also a general mindset among staff that they may be overlooked or negatively perceived by their colleagues if they utilise flexi-work options, she said.

Another company on the trial, audit firm KPMG, said about 13 per cent of staff eligible for flexi-work have taken it up. Staff turnover has fallen since such schemes were put in place, said Mr Stephen Tjoa, partner for people, performance and culture.

Mrs Teo said employers should make it possible for staff who come in early to go home earlier.

She added that companies under the pilot have found flexi-travel schemes beneficial.

"They find that they benefit from having happier, more productive, more engaged employees. They are able to attract and retain talent to a better extent."

Thumbs up for bid to ease rush-hour crush
Firm backing for LTA's scheme to give grants for flexi-work plans
By Walter Sim, The Straits Times, 2 Aug  2014

COMPANIES based near MRT stations have backed a government move to provide grants promoting flexible travel arrangements.

The Land Transport Authority's (LTA's) Travel Smart Network initiative, launched on Wednesday, hopes to ease the public transport crush during morning peak hours by helping employers bear the costs of developing flexible work plans.

In a trial starting in 2012, feedback from 6,000 people in 12 organisations showed 20 per cent changed their work arrangements and reduced their peak-hour travel by 12 per cent.

The LTA has approached some companies near MRT stations with more than 200 employees - the "critical mass" required for flexible travel schemes to work.

Firms like DBS and Standard Chartered Bank have shown interest, saying the scheme complements their flexi-work policies.

Senior Minister of State for Transport Josephine Teo has said the Government will be "very happy" to support smaller companies - those with fewer than 200 staff members - that want to participate.

Mr Kurt Wee, president of the Association of Small and Medium Enterprises, said that with 70 per cent of Singapore's workforce employed in SMEs, the impact on public transport congestion will be "very large".

Companies with at least 40 employees should be allowed to benefit from the scheme, he added. This figure, he said, is sizeable enough to allow for flexibility. But firms with fewer than 20 employees have less capacity for flexibility, and as such may need to keep to more regular hours in line with client schedules or banking hours.

The scheme allows each firm to apply to the LTA for grants of up to $510,000 over three years.

These comprise a $30,000 voucher to engage approved consultants to develop travel demand management plans, and grants of up to $160,000 a year for three years to co-fund initiatives such as bicycle parking and morning programmes for early birds.

Mr Low Cheong Kee, managing director of hardware store HomeFix, which employs 100 people at its Tai Seng HQ, said the grant will supplement its flexi-work scheme, which allows employees to come in earlier or later as long as they clock the required hours.

Ms Elaine Brick, associate director for transportation at consultancy Aecom, which conducted the LTA's trial, said there has been better staff morale, productivity and work-life balance as well as reduced journey times.

But a "mindset shift" is required to tackle barriers, such as fears of negative perceptions from other colleagues. Ms Brick said: "There must be a certain level of trust... and a shift in focus to quality of work, rather than quantity of work delivered."

This was reflected in measures adopted by companies in the trial.

At KPMG, the 13 per cent of eligible staff on flexi-hours must inform clients and colleagues of their whereabouts through voicemail or out-of-office messages.

Law firm Rajah & Tann has a support system allowing supervisors and colleagues to provide back-up when needed. At Citibank, 70 per cent of staff start work before 8.30am or after 9am.

And at the Public Service Division, senior management "lead by example". Assistant executive Agnes Phang, 57, said supervisors have been supportive of her work arrangement, adding: "I'm able to spend more quality time with my mother in the evening."