Tag Archives for: COVID19

CurbTrac Assembles Industry Leaders to Innovate on COVID-19 Response with Clean Driver Program

May 11, 2020

 

 

CurbTrac Assembles Industry Leaders to Innovate on COVID-19 Response with

Clean Driver Program

 

 

Pilot Grubhub Program Held in Philadelphia

 

 

 

 

Philadelphia, PA  – In response to the COVID-19 pandemic, CurbTrac, a technology innovator in the parking and mobility industries, has launched the Clean Driver Program in partnership with ParkMobile, ParkOps, and Ballparc. The Clean Driver Program provides turn-key solutions for Transportation Network Companies (TNC), taxi companies, food delivery service providers, and corporate fleets to keep drivers and customers safe during the COVID-19 pandemic through PPE distribution sites and automotive sanitation services.  The Clean Driver Program is made possible through the combined efforts and teamwork of numerous parking and mobility technology partners.  Commenting on the launch of the program, CurbTrac CEO Charley DeBow said, “By combining the technology platforms of industry leaders like Park Mobile and Ballparc, alongside the staffing network of Park Ops and the logistics expertise of CurbTrac, The Clean Driver Program provides  clients with a cost-effective solution to quickly and efficiently distribute PPE kits directly into the hands of their drivers as well as provide a sanitation service for fleet operators.”

 

“ParkMobile is proud to be a part of this initiative to keep people safe and reduce the spread of COVID-19,” says Jon Ziglar, CEO of ParkMobile. “Drivers can easily use the ParkMobile app to reserve an appointment at the distribution site where they can pick up their PPE kits or have their cars sanitized.”

 

 

Another technology component of the Clean Driver Program is Ballparc, who will utilize their scanning validation functionality to track driver reservations that are redeemed within their reservation window. Ballparc’s CEO, Taylor Chapman said, “Ballparc is honored to be a part of this program and with partners that are willing to step up and think outside the box when called upon during these unprecedented times. This program is a great example of how vital innovation will continue to be in our rapidly changing industry.”

 

During the initial pilot for the Clean Driver Program in Philadelphia held this past week, CurbTrac distributed personal protective equipment (PPE) kits to food delivery drivers, courtesy of Grubhub.  The initial pilot program was also supported by the Philadelphia Parking Authority who provided the space for the distribution site. “Ensuring the safety of our community during these times is incredibly important, especially as delivery is one of the only ways restaurants are able to stay open right now,” stated Eric Ferguson, Senior Vice President of Logistics at Grubhub. “While we’ve already extended an easy way for our driver network to access PPE, our partnership with CurbTrac’s Clean Driver Program further extends our efforts and gives drivers in Philadelphia a quick and easy way to pick up the supplies they need – and at no cost to them.”

 

International Parking & Mobility Institute CEO, Shawn Conrad, also weighed in, stating, “IPMI firmly believes in addressing mobility at all points of a journey – from the first mile to the last, and addressing all aspects along the way. Customer safety and the patron experience remains the first and most important priority. We are proud of all of our members who are innovating, pivoting, and changing the way we handle disruptions to public and private transportation and operations in response to the COVID-19 crisis. The Clean Driver Program by CurbTrac represents the best of our industry – applying creativity, spurring innovation, and bringing communities together. This program, and others like it by IPMI members, serve to achieve big picture goals: protecting public health during the crisis; creating new employment opportunities for those in our industry and beyond; allowing us all to travel more freely and carefully as we reopen cities, campuses, and destinations; and helping our economy recover by getting us all moving again.”

 

For more information on the Clean Driver Program, visit www.cleandriverprogram.com.

 

 

About CurbTrac

Founded by leaders in the mobility payment vertical, CurbTrac is a Philadelphia-based technology company creating innovative solutions for the parking and mobility industries.  The company’s leading product, a centralized parking payment database, provides municipalities, universities, and private parking operators with a fully integrated, multi-app payment system.  The Clean Driver Program is CurbTrac’s latest product and leverages its flexible software, and vast network of partnerships across the US, to quickly scale customized solutions to providing COVID-19 safety measures for Transportation Network Companies (TNC).  The Clean Driver Program launched in Philadelphia to support GrubHub drivers in partnership with the Philadelphia Parking Authority.

 

About Grubhub

Grubhub (NYSE: GRUB) is a leading online and mobile food-ordering and delivery marketplace with the largest and most comprehensive network of restaurant partners, as well as more than 22 million active diners. Dedicated to connecting diners with the food they love from their favorite local restaurants, Grubhub elevates food ordering through innovative restaurant technology, easy-to-use platforms and an improved delivery experience. Grubhub features over 350,000 restaurants and is proud to partner with more than 165,000 of these restaurants in over 3,200 U.S. cities and London. The Grubhub portfolio of brands includes Grubhub, Seamless, LevelUp, AllMenus and MenuPages.

 

CurbTrac:

Lisa DeBow, Principal, Cloudburst Advisory Group

(202) 262-4261

media@curbtrac.com

 

Grubhub:

Natalie Gerke, Senior Manager, Communications

(850) 554-5416

ngerke@grubhub.com

Walker Consultants – Curbing the Impact: Curb Management Strategies for Maintaining the Health and Safety of Your Community During Challenging Times

April 30, 2020

 

 

 

Walker Consultants – Curbing the Impact: Curb Management Strategies for Maintaining the Health and Safety of Your Community During Challenging Times

 

 

A temporary curbside pickup zone in St. Paul, Minnesota.

 

COVID-19 has forced cities across the nation to quickly respond to the changing needs of the curb. Most communities have ordered the closure of non-essential businesses and anywhere people may gather: gyms, theaters, and restaurant dining rooms. Despite these closures, restaurants are offering takeout and delivery orders, increasing the immediate need for more curbside pickup space and short-term parking. This has required cities to quickly reconsider how their curbs are managed to address these changing needs.

Many cities are evaluating how parking and management of curb space can continue to support businesses while attempting to reduce the health and safety risks to community members. These efforts have centered around converting prime curb spaces to pickup zones or short-term parking and relaxing enforcement. Based on the needs of most cities during this time, some strategies to consider include:

 

Curb Management Strategies

  • Designate spaces for short-term parking and pickupin the closest, most convenient on-street spaces, especially near restaurants.
  • Reduce physical contact with meters/equipment by temporarily suspending payment/time-limits or switch payment exclusively to mobile payment.
  • Implement a “parking ambassador”model of enforcement where officers use signage instead of direct contact to educate and guide people to properly use short-term spaces and loading zones and relax or eliminate citations.
  • Temporarily cease citations of on-street residential parking restrictionsto make it easier for residents to stay home and relaxing enforcement near pharmacies and grocery stores.
  • Close parking lotsat parks and beaches to limit crowds.
  • Adequately clean dockless and docked bike and scooter share equipment and instruct riders to use gloves.
  • Integrate curbside pickup locations on city websites and mobile parking apps.

 

How are Cities Responding?

San Francisco Bay Area – Multiple cities (Oakland, San Jose, San Francisco) have temporarily suspended parking enforcement including metered and time-restricted parking. Tickets will still be issued for any parking violations that may impact safety: parking in red zones, in front of fire hydrants, etc. Some Bay Area communities are also considering forgoing street sweeping parking violations.

“SFMTA has made a number of changes related to parking enforcement to aid our residents during the COVID-19 pandemic. This includes temporarily suspending enforcement of some regulations, such as 72-hour parking limits, other time limit parking and peak-hour towaway zones. These actions will make it easier for San Francisco residents to shelter in place and maintain social distancing.”
– Ted Graff, Director of Parking, San Francisco Municipal Transit Agency

Rockville, Maryland – Temporarily designated 40 on-street spaces in their Town Square district as 15-minute curbside pickup spots.

Seattle, Washington – Converted spaces in front of restaurants into temporary three-minute loading zones to allow people to quickly pull in and out for curbside food pickup.

Tempe, Arizona – Offering 30 minutes of free parking at 600 metered spaces.

Lexington, Kentucky – Converted several paid parking spaces into “curbside pickup only,” offering two hours of free parking at meters, and switched enforcement to time limits instead of payment.

Pasadena, California – Suspended enforcement of overnight parking bans and time limits in residential neighborhoods, as well as enforcement of street sweeping restrictions. Offering free curbside pickup parking and 20-minute free parking at metered spaces.

“The change in converting metered spaces to 20-minute spaces was made with the goal of maintaining on-street access to restaurants for meal pick-up by patrons and delivery services. Our enforcement changes were made to help our residents with the economic impacts of the pandemic.”
— Jon Hamblen, Parking Manager, City of Pasadena 

The State of California – Closed parking lots at many state parks and beaches to limit crowds. California encouraged people to walk, run, hike, and bike in their local neighborhoods and to maintain a safe distance from each other.

Get in Touch

Want to talk to a Walker Consultants expert about managing your curb? Contact Chrissy Mancini Nichols, Walker’s curb management lead at cmancini@walkerconsultants.com

 

Curb Management Strategies During COVID-19

Advanced Parking Concepts (APC) Residential Food Delivery Assistance Program continues

April 21, 2020

 

Advanced Parking Concepts (APC) Residential Food Delivery Assistance Program continues

 

 

Advanced Parking Concepts (APC) Residential Food Delivery Assistance Program continues to roll. During this Covid-19 pandemic, APC’s dedicated staff is committed to keeping our clients safe.

 

 

A special shout out to Tom Carter of the Toledo Ticket Company and John Van Horn of the Parking Today Magazine, for repurposing & donating 1000 premium shopping bags to our effort.

advancedparkingconcepts.com

New City Revenue From Familiar Sources – Matt Willenbrink, Fybr 

April 20, 2020

 

 

 

New City Revenue From Familiar Sources – Matt Willenbrink, Fybr 

 

It’s no surprise that thousands of U.S. cities are anticipating significant budget cuts this year. The widespread financial chaos isn’t sparing any sector, and communities large and small are hurting. Sharp declines in tax revenues due to closing businesses are already causing cities to slash expenditures and, barring new developments, we can soon expect reductions in local public safety agencies, police department staff, public works, and more. It makes sense then, that investigating ways to rapidly inject revenue into cities has taken on a new urgency.

 

The federal government has stepped in and offered relief packages designed to save cities from trimming services, raising taxes, or succumbing to financial ruin.

As part of the $2 trillion package that the president signed into law last month, lawmakers authorized some $150 billion to be used to help sustain states and large cities. Yet even these measures come with restrictions that many cities will find prohibitive, and the amounts offered on a city-by-city basis may well be insufficient to stave off collapse.

 

In this fevered search for money, a look at upgrading and contemporizing existing city assets using Federal relief dollars is a smart place to begin. Untapped revenue and impressive ROI can be found in a city’s approach to parking, as recently seen in San Francisco’s SF Park program. Federally funded through the Department of Transportation’s Urban Partnership Program, SF Park used innovative technology to optimize their parking infrastructure by placing a parking sensor in every space. This allowed them to collect and utilize real-time data to identify parking availability and implement demand-based pricing.

 

Historically, San Francisco had used parking management methods that emphasized flat meter rates and short time limits. These “one size fits all” methods were not only outdated, but ineffective, and by failing to be responsive to actual parking conditions, valuable revenue was left on the table. Prior to their use of parking sensors, San Francisco couldn’t accurately track utilization, and had no basis upon which to price accordingly. In the end, by embracing innovation, San Francisco’s overall city parking revenue went from $66M annually to $99M within three years.

 

Many cities currently don’t charge for parking in the first place. This doesn’t mean that utilizing parking sensors can’t make them money, however. In those cases, using sensors to help enforce time limits on free parking by measuring actual usage allows them to better utilize their existing free parking inventory. Variable time limits can be applied based on sensor data to allow for more parking turnover where it’s needed most.  In areas where shorter parking sessions abound­­­—in front of banks or post offices, for example — capping parking duration at one hour is often more appropriate than allowing multi-hour or even all-day parking. Higher turnover directly correlates to more business, and correspondingly, more tax revenue for cities.

 

A look at city lighting reveals no shortage of wasted energy (and money) and most city streetlighting is ripe for a cost-cutting upgrade. Many streetlights are illuminated all night long, and some even remain lit during daylight hours, serving no practical purpose. By installing smart sensors and an integrated lighting network, streetlights can be dimmed at times in which they are not needed, and can remain fully illuminated when they’re needed most. This simple measure can rapidly and severely reduce energy expenditures, and pass the savings directly into the city’s coffers.

 

While extreme times often call for extreme measures, our nation’s cities needn’t look toward the most rash and radical budgetary solutions first. Instead, by working with the assets they already have, seizing upon “low hanging fruit” like parking, and embracing innovation, they can smartly uncover new ways to make, and save, money at a time when it’s needed most.

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#WESTFIELDCARES LAUNCHES TO SUPPORT ORGANIZATIONS ADDRESSING VULNERABLE POPULATIONS IN THE LOS ANGELES COMMUNITY DURING COVID-19 PANDEMIC

April 14, 2020

 

 

 

#WESTFIELDCARES LAUNCHES TO SUPPORT ORGANIZATIONS ADDRESSING VULNERABLE POPULATIONS IN THE LOS ANGELES COMMUNITY DURING COVID-19 PANDEMIC

 

Los Angeles, CA, April 14, 2020  — Westfield shopping centers in Los Angeles have launched #WestfieldCares, a program to highlight organizations and the charitable work they are doing to confront the effect the COVID-19 pandemic is having on vulnerable populations in our community. The program, part of the company’s response to the COVID-19 crisis along with monetary and in-kind donations, is intended to help drive awareness and additional donations for non-profits that serve groups such as those experiencing homelessness, economically disadvantaged families, seniors and children.“Westfield is a proud member of the Los Angeles community, with the city being home to our corporate headquarters along with a number of our flagship shopping centers. As a company and individually we are devastated by the effects of the COVID-19 pandemic has had on our community,” said Marcus Reese, executive vice president of Public Affairs for Westfield’s owner Unibail-Rodamco-Westfield.  “Through #WestfieldCares, we intend to celebrate the work of our non-profit partners and encourage others to do what they can to serve those most in need during this difficult time. We will meet the challenges ahead and emerge from this crisis stronger than ever.”

Using #WestfieldCares, the company’s centers and its employees are posting on social media some of the ways they are working within their communities to celebrate and encourage giving back, with the hope of inspiring others to do the same. Locally, Westfield initiatives include support of the following organizations:

  • Partnered on a matching campaign with the American Red Cross in support of its LAUSD School Lunch Program;
  • Provided monetary donations to support ongoing community outreach and COVID-19 programs by Mid Valley YMCA, Brotherhood Crusade, Miguel Contreras, LA Gay and Lesbian Center, PATH Homeless Initiative,LA Family Housing, and Culver City Education Foundation;
  • Provided in-kind donations including urgently needed food and supplies for Allies for Every Child’s Early Development Center, Ward AME Economic Development Corporation, Home Instead Senior Care, Boys and Girls Club of SFV, and San Fernando Valley Rescue Mission;
  • Westfield Century City provided space at the center for UCLA Health to conduct blood drives and have partnered with One Medical to administer COVID19 testing;
  • Westfield Fashion Square is using its community room for blood drives in partnership with the American Red Cross; and
  • Westfield Fashion Square partnered with MEND Urgent Care, Councilman David Ryu, Quest Diagnostics, and The Sherman Oaks Chamber of Commerce for weekly drive-through COVID-19 testing.

Westfield shopping centers in Los Angeles have also engaged to thank first responders and medical professionals at Children’s Hospital of Los Angeles; Kaiser Permanente LA; Methodist Hospital of Southern California; Henry Mayo Newhall Hospital; the Los Angeles Police Department, West Los Angeles Division; the Culver City Fire Department; and The Arcadia Police Department who are all putting themselves in harm’s way each day on behalf of the communities they operate in.

For more information on Westfield relief efforts and how you can get involved with #WestfieldCares, please visit https://www.westfield.com/westfieldcares. Organizations that wish to participate can email WestfieldCares@urw.com.

 

For further information, please contact:

Christina Mendez, Unibail-Rodamco-Westfield

Christina.Mendez@urw.com

 

 

About Westfield

With its portfolio of six shopping centers located in the greater L.A. region, Westfield makes a hugely positive economic impact upon our local community.  The company is a proud supporter of a number of local philanthropic and community-based organizations, including: Project Destined, the Los Angeles Homeland Security Advisory Council (HSAC), the Los Angeles County Museum of Art (LACMA), Allies’ for Every Child, Habitat for Humanity, the Culver City Police Department and Unified School District, the Boys & Girls Club of the Santa Clarita Valley, the Boys & Girls Club of the West Valley, and the California Institute of Arts (CAL ARTS).

www.westfield.com

 

Propark Mobility Provides Non-Clinical Services During COVID-19 Health Crisis 

April 02, 2020

 

 

Propark Mobility Provides Non-Clinical Services During COVID-19 Health Crisis 

 

 

Hartford, Connecticut – Propark Mobility announced today that the company is providing non-clinical services to healthcare organizations across the country, through its CleanCo division, in response to the COVID-19 global health crisis. 

“CleanCo has been providing cleaning and maintenance services to the parking industry for decades,” explained John Schmid, Propark’s Chief Executive Officer. “During these challenging times, we felt that it was important for us to step up as a company to help in the fight against coronavirus, specifically when it comes to hospitals and healthcare facilities.” 

By providing important non-clinical services such as supplemental cleaning and sanitization, environmental services, internal patient transport, concierge services, and more, Propark and CleanCo are able to alleviate that responsibility from healthcare workers, allowing them to provide better care for their patients. Additionally, the company offers traffic and transportation control, to include congestion alleviation for COVID-19 testing facilities. 

“We understand that each patient, visitor and healthcare worker is going through a personal journey in one way or another,” said John Reimers, Chief Operating Officer of Propark Mobility. “By leveraging our staff to support these non-clinical areas of importance, we’re helping to make our healthcare professionals more effective, in a time where there is so little bandwidth during this crisis. We feel that we bring a critical element that is needed right now at hospitals across the country.” 

With services deployed within 48 hours, and no long-term commitment required, hospitals and healthcare facilities can get immediate support for their non-clinical needs by logging on to www.propark.com/cleanco. 

About Propark Mobility 

Propark Mobility is one of the country’s largest privately-owned parking companies, providing full-service parking and mobility services for over 500 hospitality, healthcare, commercial and off-airport locations, in over 75 cities across the United States. For more information, please visit www.propark.com.