DTPW joins forces with rideshare companies to launch GO Nightly program
Target Audience: The target audience for the GO Nightly program was late night transit riders, particularly frontline workers and essential workers who work at hospitals or doctor's offices who either start or end their shifts between the hours of midnight and 5 a.m.
Strategy Objective:In order to continue to provide late night service to those essential workers between the hours of midnight and 5 am, the department entered into a partnership with rideshare companies. DTPW partnered with rideshare companies Uber, Lyft, and Transportation America to introduce an on-demand service program for late night trips. This partnership, which resulted in the GO Nightly program, allowed DTPW to not only continue to serve late night riders, but also make better use of those vehicles running overnight routes and place them into high-demand routes during daytime service. Program information was posted at the bus stops for each route included in the program; GO Nightly was promoted via the department's social media accounts and mobile app, and a press release was issued to local media.
Situation Challenge: As ridership numbers began to decline in late March 2020, the department noticed that late-night routes in particular were transporting fewer and fewer riders. Although DTPW quickly worked to adjust services and reduce hours of operations, some Metrobus overnight routes were still operating with very few passengers. The department needed a solution to be able to continue to provide late night service while also making the best use of their vehicles.
Results Impact: By introducing the GO Nightly program, the department was able to continue to serve late night riders and also place into service additional vehicles during peak daytime hours. The majority of the additional buses were placed on high-demand routes in order to better facilitate social distancing. The program first launched in April 2020 and within the first month saw nearly 2,000 trips. On average, there were 8,196 GO Nightly trips a month between April and November 2020. Since the service launched while transit fares are suspended, all trips taking via the GO Nightly program have been free for riders.
Why Submit: The Go Nightly program was established to ensure that those transit riders who use DTPW services – particularly Metrobus and Metrorail – between the hours of midnight and 5 a.m. are able to continue to rely on Miami-Dade Transit to get where they need to go safely. The program was quickly launched on April 8, 2020, less than one month since services were adjusted due to the onset of the pandemic. The department acted swiftly in ensuring that resources were properly allocated in the best interest of the rider. Not only was entering into a partnership with Uber and Lyft more cost-efficient for the department, but it also allowed DTPW to continue to provide an essential service while simultaneously working to help flatten the curve and stop the spread of COVID-19.