Success Stories
WSDOT finds new ways to connect by land and sea
Situation
In the past, WSDOT operated more than 70 independent email distribution lists to push information out to citizens and stakeholders. Maintenance of the lists was labor-intensive and system performance was frequently poor, resulting in service delays in message sending. In addition to being labor-intensive and unreliable, the existing system had limitations for sending communications in case of an emergency, and was unable send text messages to mobile devices.
Solutions
After evaluating the available solutions, WSDOT partnered with GovDelivery, a software-as-a-service provider that uses automated email and text messaging to keep stakeholders informed when new information is available on topics of interest. In November 2008, WSDOT implemented GovDelivery’s Digital Subscription Management solution, in place of its email lists, to automatically send updates on everything from Pierce County traffic updates, mountain pass conditions, and construction reports, to employment opportunities. “We use GovDelivery to automatically generate email [and wireless] communication to parties interested in WSDOT projects,” said Jim Culp, WSDOT Web Coordinator.
Results
WSDOT’s GovDelivery solution was put to the test during the January 2009 snowstorm. Complete with flooding, avalanches and drifting snow, the storms impact was tangible and the true value of the GovDelivery system was proven. Highway I-5 and mountains passes were closed; there were 60 highway closures and power outages causing servers to go down. System administrators from WSDOT were able to access the system remotely to send nearly 77,000 email updates in one day through GovDelivery, reaching its stakeholders with no problem. “The 2009 snow emergency was proof of its performance in a crisis. We were getting messages out when we otherwise wouldn’t have been able to.”
