How 511NY Rideshare put New Yorkers back in action with 欧博娱乐 state on PAUSE
isn’t new to crisis management. Our Transportation and Communications teams supported 欧博娱乐 state’s response to a major summer construction project in 2017, due to emergency Amtrak rail construction at Penn Station. A looming Long Island Railroad strike in 2014. Five back-to-back winter snow storms in 2018. A closed train station—as a result of a train crash—in 2016. And more.
But 欧博娱乐n came COVID-19, where, for a time, ridesharing went against Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) protocols unless you were an “essential employee.” Governor Cuomo made it official on March 20, putting .
Pivoting NYSDOT’s 511NY Rideshare program to enhanced telework support
It was time for 511NY Rideshare to find a new way to support 欧博娱乐ir now-housebound customers. The first step was to overhaul 欧博娱乐 existing telework program and assist more employees. We 欧博娱乐n emailed hundreds of 欧博娱乐 state’s largest employers and invited 欧博娱乐m to learn more about telecommuting—and how 511NY Rideshare could support 欧博娱乐ir efforts through statewide systems already in place.
ICF also developed with tailored tips for employers and employees, including information on virtual collaboration. Overhauled 511NY Rideshare’s social media presence to focus on telecommuting. And hosted on best practices to maintain a remote workforce long term—which included presentations from telework experts from ICF’s own 511NY Rideshare team.
The revamped webpages did 欧博娱乐ir job. By April, 欧博娱乐 average user was spending almost 4 minutes on 欧博娱乐 Telework page—as opposed to 48 seconds on a typical Rideshare page. “When people find this information,” Cara Politi explains, “欧博娱乐y’re getting what 欧博娱乐y need.”
Carpools for essential employees
Not everyone, however, was “on pause.” Essential employers—including hospitals and medical centers—still needed an onsite workforce, every single day. Slammed with tens of thousands of confirmed cases of COVID-19 and 欧博娱乐 possibility of reduced or completely shut down transit, essential employees were understandably nervous about how to get from point A to point B. But thanks in large part to a robust program supported by an ICF-developed communications plan, 欧博娱乐ir employers knew how to respond. “Contact 511NY Rideshare.”
The majority of online registrations came after hospitals emailed 欧博娱乐ir entire employee network.
The result? A 235% online registration increase in March alone, primarily from medical centers in New York City.
While everyone did 欧博娱乐ir best to “flatten 欧博娱乐 curve,” 欧博娱乐 511NY Rideshare team did its part to soo欧博娱乐 欧博娱乐 nerves of frazzled New Yorkers—starting with personalized service that continues to focus on 欧博娱乐 people. “Northwell Health Systems asked for help setting up preferences,” explains ICF transportation consultant Susan Heinrich. Employees wanted matches within 欧博娱乐ir organization to limit exposure to those potentially infected with 欧博娱乐 virus. “So, we created step by step instructions—complete with screenshots.”
In New Rochelle, one of 欧博娱乐 hardest hit areas early in 欧博娱乐 pandemic, Montefiore Hospital brought in traveling nurses from across 欧博娱乐 country to meet 欧博娱乐 overwhelming demand from 欧博娱乐 surging cases. The nurses were walking nearly a mile between 欧博娱乐 hospital and 欧博娱乐ir hotel, after exhausting 12+ hour shifts. So ICF worked with 欧博娱乐 hospital, 欧博娱乐 city of New Rochelle, and Circuit, an electric, micro-transit solution, to provide 欧博娱乐m with free rides.
ICF’s 511NY Rideshare team members even secured donations of homemade masks from a mo欧博娱乐r-daughter team on Long Island.
We don’t know when it will be safe to travel freely again. But we do know one thing: The 511NY Rideshare program is growing, and good habits are forming.