A WA government workplace travel planning initiative has endured for almost a decade, with three new employers signing on to the program
By David Goeldner | October 21, 2010
Western Australia’s TravelSmart Workplace program had its annual get-together this week announcing three more organisations adopting the program as part of their employee travel arrangements.
TravelSmart is jointly run by WA’s Transport and Environment departments, providing workplaces with travelling options across all-modes to take pressure off car use and parking facilities.
A spokesperson for the Department of Transport says it takes most companies between six and 12 months to fully develop and register their employee’s travel plans.
Transport Minister Simon O’Brien says the program has assisted more than 40 organisations, employing about 38,000 individuals, to complete travel plans.
“In developing their plans, organisations survey employees, consult with stakeholders and then produce a list of actions for that workplace,” he says.
“The aim of these travel plans is to reduce solo car trips and promote alternatives like car-pooling, walking, cycling and public transport.”
Organisations commencing the TravelSmart program this month include the City of Cockburn, south-west beyond Fremantle, engineering firm Parsons Brinckerhoff and St John of God Hospital at Subiaco.
The St John of God Hospital is Perth’s biggest private hospital, and completed workplace travel plans to reduce staff reliance on private vehicles and free-up more parking for hospital patients, the Transport Department Spokesperson says.
He says the plans developed for the hospital includes the promotion of Transperth’s services, alerting staff to timetables and frequency of bus services.
Travel plans can also include actions such as developing cycling facilities, marketing travel options, provision of incentives, and policy changes to encourage use of travel alternatives.
“Organisations to join the program have thought about how managing travel for their staff meets corporate and social responsibilities to reduce their company’s carbon footprint,” says the spokesperson.
The TravelSmart program has been operating in its current format since 2001, and plans all work-related travel including getting to work, travelling during work time, and long distance business travel.