Ford Mobility offers struggling transit agencies software, consulting amid COVID-19
Source: Smart Cities Dive Published: April 7, 2020
Dive Brief:
Ford Mobility's portfolio of smart transit subsidiaries — TransLoc, Ride Systems and DoubleMap — launched an initiative to provide transit agencies with free demand response software, consulting and planning services as they adjust to industrywide changes amid the COVID-19 outbreak.
As the severity of the pandemic grows across the U.S., many transit agencies have shut down or dramatically reduced fixed route services, resulting in some labor cuts and obstacles for essential workers to get to their jobs. The initiative, Fixed to Flex, was launched to assist agencies in transitioning their fixed route services to flexible route services, while still utilizing the same vehicles and employees, Justin Rees, CEO of Ford Mobility's smart transit branch, told Smart Cities Dive.
Rees said the platform is available to any agency that wishes to apply for it, including operators servicing hospitals, medical centers and research institutions where transportation is critical.