Essential Service Plan – Pandemic 2020

About the Program

Category: Transportation (Best in Category)

Year: 2021

In early 2020, the COVID-19 virus began to spread throughout the world and ultimately to the United States. It was unclear how the spread of the virus would impact business practices in the United States or how the transit industry would be impacted. The spread of COVID-19 would ultimately grow to become a pandemic. By early March 2020 most transit providers throughout the country began developing contingency plans for service delivery.As businesses, governmental agencies and shopping establishments were forced to shut down under the state’s “Stay at Home” orders, a need for transportation existed for healthcare workers and residents in need of food and other essential services. Montgomery County’s commitment was unwavering and quickly put a plan in place to address the immediate needs as well as adjusted multiple schedules to meet the demand. Beginning March 15, 2020, Ride On began to gradually reduce service levels as ridership demand and bus operator availability began to drop. Six separate service plans were developed and operated between March 15, 2020 and September 27, 2020 best matching operational resources to ridership demand. In a time of crisis, transportation is and has always been the link to sustainability.