We are living through challenging times as the world comes to terms with the global spread of coronavirus (Covid-19). While this crisis has upended our way of life, we could not be more proud to be a part of the transit industry community. The responses from our transit partners have inspired us daily.
Around the world, we’ve seen transit (public transport) step up to this unprecedented challenge. Whether it’s by maintaining services for our transit dependent community members through rapidly changing service schedules, taking the necessary steps to protect transit operators (drivers) and riders, or through herculean system wide sanitization efforts to prevent the spread of the disease, transit agencies (and transport operators) have responded to this emergency with incredible resilience, courage and focus.
The Masabi team has put together this compilation of resources as our small way of trying to do something useful. While you’re on the frontlines, continuing a crucial service in helping people and key workers get where they need to go, we want to make sure it's easy for you to find the resources you need to operate your systems during this difficult time.
From the whole team at Masabi, we are very proud to be your partner and your industry colleagues.
We hope that this information will help agencies prepare for and tackle the Covid-19 pandemic. If we can provide help in any way please reach out to us, we will do everything in our power to assist you during this critical time.
Table of contents:
Transit agency (transport operator) resources
We have pulled together documents from experts around the globe who are helping to provide useful resources to transport agencies and operators. Here are the best ones we have found:
- UITP. The International Association of Public Transport (UITP) is a non-profit advocacy organization for public transport authorities and operators which has also led from the front with the wealth of resources it has made available for members. These include:
- Transportation Research Board of the National Academies.
- Canadian Urban Transit Association (CUTA).
- Community Transportation Association of America (CTAA). This page is a collection of useful resources and news vital to transit operators during the Covid-19 outbreak: https://ctaa.org/covid-19-resources/
- National Association of City Transportation Officials. A list of resources from NACTO https://nacto.org/program/covid19/ who continually update this page with guidance and tools, including:
Impact on ridership
While the global stay at home measures have resulted in decreased ridership, we know that transit is our lifeblood. Ensuring that grocery and health workers can go to their places of employment so our communities and healthcare systems can keep functioning is crucial during this critical time. Here are some resources that might help you better understand how riders are riding your system through this period:
Funding news
It’s crucial transport providers get the necessary funding to ensure they can keep services moving while they are no longer getting significant revenues through fares. Here are some resources we’ve been following:
Useful information, offers and tools
- From Trapeze - The Trapeze team is working on offering practical resources and assistance to help authorities and operators to adapt to this situation. They have a range of existing support tools on their client support portal, which is being augmented with specific Covid-19 resources and training webinars. https://trapezegroup.co.uk/helping-customers-manage-through-covid-19/. You can register for access here: https://info.trapezegroup.co.uk/trapeze-community-registration.
- From Trapeze - A useful podcast. Comfort’s Corner- The Latest Covid-19 Impacts on Transit: https://www.transitunplugged.com/comforts-corner-episode-one
- From Transit - Resources for transit agencies responding to coronavirus.
Transit are keeping riders informed with the latest updates from their transit agencies: https://transitapp.com/coronavirus-response
- From Intelligent Transport and Masabi - This webinar looks at the impact of Covid-19 on Fare Payments and discuss the latest trends. A New Fare Payments Reality: Ticketless, Cashless and ‘as a service’, 29 April 2020 3:00PM (BST): https://www.intelligenttransport.com/transport-webinars/97684/a-new-fare-payments-reality-ticketless-cashless-and-as-a-service/
- From VIA - Responding to Covid-19 (webinar): How to optimize transportation resources during emergencies: https://register.gotowebinar.com/register/3963243944134788364?source=ViaEmailsEnglish
- From Optibus - Helping Transit Agencies Prepare for Covid-19 With No-Cost Contingency Plans: https://www.optibus.com/helping-transit-agencies-prepare-for-covid-19-with-no-cost-contingency-plans/
- From Uber - Here to help: Supporting transit agencies to keep cities up and running: https://www.uber.com/newsroom/transit-support/ (In places where fixed-route or demand responsive services need to be cut back or suspended, transit agencies can temporarily fill service gaps by offering subsidized Uber trips to their riders.)
- From Bonfire - Need to bring your procurement process online? Access Bonfire free of charge until July 31, 2020, with no purchase obligation required. https://gobonfire.com/working-remote-webinar-program/?
- From Human Transit.org - Watch or Listen: How Can Covid-19 Transform the Transit Conversation? (Podcast with Remix): https://humantransit.org/2020/03/watch-how-can-covid-19-transform-the-transit-conversation.html
- From Metro Magazine - Webinar, Talking Transit Through COVID-19 & Beyond. Tue, Apr 7, 2020 11:00 AM PDT (7:00 PM BST): https://event.webcasts.com/starthere.jsp?ei=1299954
- From Moovit - Adapt quickly and effectively to Coronavirus. Moovit's COVID-19 Response Solutions: https://learn.moovit.com/covid19/?
- From Mass Transit Mag - Best Practices in the Sterilization of Transit Property: https://www.masstransitmag.com/safety-security/article/21132532/sterifab-best-practices-in-the-sterilization-of-transit-property?
- From Swiftly - How Are Public Transit Agencies Responding to COVID-19? Transit Agency Response and Official Recommendations: https://blog.goswift.ly/how-are-public-transit-agencies-responding-to-covid-19-5d9369f5220f
- From UITP - Guardians of Mobility: from the front lines in Bergamo, Italy: https://www.uitp.org/news/guardians-mobility-front-lines-bergamo-italy
- From 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: https://www.smartcitiesdive.com/news/ford-mobility-fixed-to-flex-transit-coronavirus/575580/
- From Transloc - Free demand response software and planning services to help you move people now. No cost. No strings attached: https://go.transloc.com/fixedtoflex-application
General information on the diseases
Transit agency Covid-19 trends
Reduced services
Transport agencies are reducing services in response to the reduction in people traveling. They are still however on the frontlines, continuing a crucial service in helping people and key workers get where they need to go.
Cashless and ticketless ways to pay
Transport agencies and operators are promoting safe ways to pay so passengers do not need to use cash, a ticket office or ticket vending machines - reducing the chance of infection and the spread of Covid-19. Here are a few examples:
Temporarily suspending fares
Some transport agencies and operators are temporarily removing the need for people to pay fares to help keep operators (drivers) and passengers safe during this pandemic.
More on-demand transit
We have started to see agencies implement more on-demand responsive transport options:
Maintenance and capital projects
Agencies use this time to work on maintenance and to accelerate major capital projects.
Sales tax revenue reductions
Increase in public-private partnerships
Post pandemic trends
We are sure there is more great content out there. If you know of any, please do share it with us and we will add them to this resource. If you have any questions, or you are looking to introduce a safe way for passengers to pay, please do drop us an email and we will do what we can to assist.
My email is james.gooch@masabi.com
Stay safe.