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Sustainable Working and Travelling, All big ticks

BT Grass Routes: The Adastral Park Travel Plan

ways2work Award

Grassroutes is a voluntary travel plan for the 100 acre multi-company business campus, launched June 2008, with a four year prime objective to reduce the number of single occupancy vehicles by 10% with a corresponding increase in more sustainable travel modes – walk, bike, bus, share and working smarter. The programmes in place are linked to business benefits, aligning with wider CSR objectives.

The Story

A wide range of information and incentives have been initiated, for both business and commuter travellers, for all employees on site, including:

a permanent information point and website;
site-centric sustainable travel maps;
individual travel plans;
additional cycle shelters, new locker / drying room, bike maintenance training & segregated cycle path on to site;
bus and train season ticket discounts, and mobile ticketing;
re-introduction of a railway shuttle bus;
dedicated prime location car share parking bays, and electric vehicle charging points;
flexi-working options

These measures have been developed and implemented through a high profile and regular marketing campaign by a dedicated travel plan manager. Within 6 months of the initial launch, over 90% of respondents to the travel survey were aware of the travel plan.

In addition to the site specific aspects, BT also founded and lead a regional Sustainable Travel Forum, which includes the county council and other large and small organisations to share best practice and develop our local travel needs.

The Story in Numbers

The shuttle bus was introduced to help reduce business travel costs and encourage greater use of the train. Since launch it has exceeded expectations:

Saving over £200,000 of net business travel cost
560,000 fewer road miles taken off the local roads
Reducing local emissions by 168 tonnes of CO₂ & GHG emission

BT has also seen a 13% point increase in the number of people who regularly flexi-work from home, with an increased average of 1.5 days per week away from the office, with resultant annual savings of:

1.45 million SOV miles
472 tonnes CO2 emissions

Impact

Business Impact

A dedicated double decker bus, fitted out with tables, electrical charging sockets and free wifi. This has created an opportunity for staff and visitors to have started work before they arrive at site, and continue working as they make the trip
An earlier service was introduced to allow employees to park at site and be in London for 9.10am, and a later service returning from Ipswich Station in the evening, enabling staff to maximise their time away from the office, negating the need to get caught up in congestion and saving on station car parking fees
Extended route providing a fast and direct service between Adastral Park and a satellite town centre office, halving the journey time compared to the public bus route
A simple and consistent timetable avoids any confusion for the passengers

Environmental and Social Impact

Increased to an average of 1.5 days per week, saving an average 90 minutes commuter time per week
It is widely considered that these people tend to work longer hours as they are not now commuting, whilst giving the individuals increased control and flexibility to balance their work and home commitments
Assuming an average £30k salary this is equivalent to £1,250 additional ‘free’ work to the business per person per annum (indicative only)

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