By Tom Weber, KWMU
St. Louis, MO – MO-DOT is encouraging workplaces to get ready now for what will be the region's biggest construction project ever. Crews will start rebuilding 12 miles of Highway 40 next year.
Employers around the region have been getting letters and pamphlets from MO-DOT this summer that offer ideas on cutting traffic.
Some ideas you've heard before, like taking Metrolink or carpooling. But MO-DOT spokeswoman Linda Wilson says the biggest help would be if bosses flex hours.
Instead of everyone working 8-4, let some people start work at 6 or even 10. "Some jobs really lend themselves to flex hours and some don't, but if you can get some of the population not driving between 7 and 8 in the morning, and 4 and 6 in the afternoon, it really can make a huge difference," Wilson said, in an interview.
Wilson says flex time is a way of life in some other cities where rush hour is much worse, but it hasn't been as needed in St. Louis.
"Basically, everyone just spread themselves out, and it works wonderfully. So really, an hour can make a huge difference on getting the cars all spread out through rush hour."