RIDE THE RAIL

No Blue Line Metro Service: Know Your Travel Alternatives

As of December 2020, WMATA's multi-year Platform Improvement Project (PIP) hit a milestone by passing the 50% completion mark, with 11 of 20 total stations now completed -- and the project continues to push forward. Beginning Saturday, February 13 to Sunday, May 23, WMATA will perform the next phase of its PIP to repair and reconstruct platforms at two stations on the Blue Line: Addison Road and Arlington Cemetery. As a result, there will be NO Blue Line service. To help you plan accordingly, goDCgo has outlined some of your travel alternatives below.

During this time, FREE shuttle bus service will be available. Additional Yellow Line trains will replace Blue Line trains between Franconia-Springfield and Mt Vernon Square. Silver Line trains will continue to pass through but not serve Addison Road while the station is closed to minimize service impacts outside the construction area.

All About Affordable, Alternative Transportation

Washington, DC is heavily invested in providing affordable, alternative transportation options to residents across all eight wards of the city, regardless of income. To help meet that goal, DC has a number of transportation programs that provide discounted access to Capital Bikeshare, dockless vehicles such as scooters, and catching a cab, among others.

Attract New Tenants with Sustainable Transportation Incentives

Carver Apartments, a 63-unit building situated in the District’s LeDroit Park neighborhood, has created a car-lite community ready to embrace sustainable transportation. After Carver Apartments opened in 2019, Dominique Danielle, Marketing Manager at Urban Investment Properties (UIP), developed a transit-friendly campaign to attract new residents.

New Pilot Program Launching in the New Year!

goDCgo is proud to announce the Employer Ambassador Pilot Program. This program will involve a few select employers in the District that are looking to enhance their transportation programs, foster a culture of sustainable commuting, and reduce their carbon footprint. These employers will receive one year of guided support, including a custom sustainable transportation plan to develop or improve their commuter benefits program offering an effective and efficient opportunity for employees to commute to work. With a more holistic approach to providing services to District employers, we hope to make a bigger impact within organizations that will create lasting changes in employee commutes.  

Points, Perks, and Participation! 
The new pilot program will be based on a points system that will recognize employers with commuter benefit programs that support employees who choose sustainable commutes. Employers can earn points for workplace features and policies that support alternative commute choices, such as telecommuting, bike racks, dedicated carpool parking, subsidies, or other incentive programs. Points can also be earned by regularly encouraging sustainable commute choices by hosting events, sending newsletters, or participating in goDCgo promotions. Employers can earn additional points by increasing the number of employees who choose sustainable transportation choices and participate in commuter programs. Employers have a fantastic opportunity to level up their individual programs and benefit offerings while competing with the other employers in the pilot program to see who can accumulate the most points! 

Future of the Ambassador Program 
Existing Employer Ambassadors not involved in the pilot program can still receive goDCgo complimentary services and level up their designation. Based on the results of the pilot program, goDCgo may choose to implement these changes program-wide. All in all, we’re excited to launch the pilot program to help participating employers get going, earn points, and upgrade their commute programs!  

Interested in Participating?
Spots are limited and it's first come first serve! Contact goDCgo Employer Client Service Manager Rebecca Johnson to express your interest or sign up for an informational webinar to learn more.

Benefits of a Formal Telework Policy

With the onset of the coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic, many employers were quick to adapt to maintain business continuity by allowing employees to telework on a part- or full-time basis. Organizations that had formal telework policies in place pre-pandemic experienced a pretty smooth transition, while those with no policy or informal policies faced greater operational challenges. Creating a formal telework policy is a great way to keep issues from arising and to offer guidance to managers on how to handle issues when they do arise.
 
What Is a Formal Telework Policy?
A formal telework policy is a document that clearly lays out the details about teleworking, including when and for how long employees can telework and guidance for situations that emerge when working remotely. Informal policies are when managers allow telework based on their discretion and typically on a case-by-case basis. With an informal policy, there is no company-wide protocol or guidance.
 
Why Should You Create a Formal Policy?
Informal policies are subjective and can seem unfair. When a manager decides one employee is allowed to telework and another isn’t, it can cause confusion, lead to rumors of favoritism, and create animosity in the workplace. More importantly, it creates a looming uncertainty for those who have not been deemed eligible to participate.
 
By taking the time to write down a policy that outlines specific guidance, related policies, and procedures employers create clarity and transparency. But it’s not just the teleworking employees who benefit; a written telework policy provides guidance to managers and supports the organization and its business continuity in emergency situations such as the COVID-19 pandemic. With a written policy that addresses common telework issues, managers can also feel confident letting their employees telework since they know what should and will be done if an employee abuses the independence of working remotely.
 
Items Commonly Addressed in Formal Telework Policies

Use Public Transportation to Explore Outdoor Artwork in Washington, DC

The District of Columbia is not only our nation's capital, but it's also a home for many creatives. In addition to the staple Smithsonian museums, the city offers plenty of FREE must-see sites that are outdoors and easily accessible using public transportation. In all eight wards, you can find a variety of street art, sculptures, and murals beaming vibrant colors and celebrating a range of cultures, music, iconic figures, historic moments, inspirational messages, and more.

In fact, the DC Department of Public Works (DPW) created the MuralsDC initiative to help clean and beautify our nation’s capital. Since its pilot in 2007, MuralsDC has painted 133 murals across every ward of the city – that's more murals than any other entity in the District.

Commuting to School During Covid-19

Although teachers, staff, and students no longer will be returning to school this month, it's important for school administrators to plan and prepare for safe commuting when students do return. We've compiled a list of ways your school administration can prepare to support the commutes of your teachers, staff, and students.

Promote Commuting with Care
No matter what form of transportation your teachers, staff, or students use, encourage them to commute with care. That includes wearing a face covering/mask, using hand sanitizer, and staying 6 feet away from other passengers when possible.

Be Prepared: Include Transportation in Your Emergency Plan

Is your workforce prepared for natural disasters like flooding, hurricanes, and earthquakes; extreme heat or cold; snow or ice storms; or pandemics like the coronavirus (COVID-19)? The public health emergency requires new levels of preparedness to stay safe, even while workers are spending more time at home. Knowing what to expect ahead of time—and what’s expected of you—goes a long way toward protecting your business and keeping employees safe.

Due to COVID-19, many organizations had to quickly adapt and allow employees to start teleworking without a formal policy in place. In fact, a growing number of employers plan to continue allowing employees to telework for the foreseeable future. Working from home may be the "new normal" moving forward. To help you better adjust, goDCgo provides complimentary assistance in developing a formal telework policy for your company as well as guidance on developing an effective transportation program for employees. 

Late-Night Commuting Solutions for Essential Workers

If you work nontraditional or late-night hours, you may find that you are left with fewer commute options to get to and from work. Since the public health crisis, public transit and other commonly used travel options have become even more limited in order to encourage people to stay home, practice social distancing, and ultimately protect the safety and well-being of commuters.

Commuting After Dark: Tips for Commuting Safely During Covid-19

On Sunday, November 1 at 2am, we will depart from Daylight Savings and fall back to Eastern Standard Time. According to our friends at National Geographic, “Daylight saving time in the U.S. began in 1918 as an attempt to save energy during the throes of World War I, following Germany's earlier shift in 1916. The idea was to maximize sunlight hours during the longer days of the year by taking an hour of morning sun, when many are sleeping, and adding it to the end of the day.”