Software used by the Department of Public Works streamlines work across Scranton
Routeware, an innovative software used by the Department of Public Works (DPW), is operating well, members of Mayor Paige G. Cognetti’s administration told Scranton City Council in a caucus earlier this month.
“By streamlining some of our everyday tasks through this software, we’re able to provide more efficient services to Scranton residents,” Mayor Cognetti said. “Improving how we pick up refuse and recycling has a genuine impact on the people we serve every day. By refining the effectiveness of these routes, we can also reduce the environmental impact our DPW vehicles have on the environment.”
Routeware, previously known as Rubicon, is being used to manage daily service and constantly improve the efficiency of refuse and recycling pickup throughout Scranton. The City first signed a contract with Rubicon in April 2022, at which time the routes were documented and digitized for the first time in City history. On December 9, 2024, system optimization was completed, ensuring that service was being delivered consistently across the City and drivers were not servicing opposite ends of Scranton on the same day.
For decades prior to the successful rollout, many DPW pickup routes were little more than “paper routes,” DPW Director Scott Gassenmeyer said during a City Council caucus held February 11. Routes were shared between drivers with minimal tracking.
“It was completely inefficient and hard to do. If somebody came in to drive it, they’d have to hopefully have the person that was on that truck every day to guide them through the route,” Gassenmeyer said.
Following optimization in December, ongoing improvements including real-time changes have made sure that drivers’ feedback was being logged and that the system was capturing critical data across all service areas.
“We sit down with the drivers almost every single day,” Gassenmeyer said. “The employees are committed, operating efficiently, coming and working with management and the IT professionals that we have in the City to make this as seamless as it can be on a daily basis.”
The City has 41 drivers that can now be assigned any route at any time to haul away items across Scranton, further ensuring coverage if another driver calls off.
“Our number one priority is to get the refuse and recycling off the streets every day,” Gassenmeyer said.
DPW driver feedback shared with City Council was also positive. Employees said they can fill routes easily without having to stop along the way to ask co-workers where their next pickup was located. Optimized routes no longer take drivers to multiple unconnected sections of the City. Before, some routes had up to 30 minutes of travel time between stops.
“Through optimization, you’re not going to Green Ridge and later that same route going to South Side. That has all been eliminated,” Information Technology Director Jack Reager said.
In addition to providing optimized trash and recycling pickup to residents, the software will be used to track future cost-saving measures like fuel usage, maintenance, daily vehicle inspections, and more.
The initial three-year contract with Rubicon was for $165,227.40. Since then, IT has invested in multiple pieces of hardware to eliminate the cost to lease equipment. In legislation to be introduced by City Council this week, the software-only cost of Rubicon will be $33,805.20 per year for the next five years.
ABOUT THE CITY OF SCRANTON: Incorporated in 1866, the City of Scranton has a population of approximately 76,000 residents and is the sixth-largest municipality in the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania. Scranton City Hall is located at 340 N. Washington Ave., Scranton, PA 18503. Residents requiring services should visit www.scrantonpa.gov
ABOUT MAYOR PAIGE G. COGNETTI: Paige G. Cognetti was sworn in as the 36th Mayor of Scranton in January 2020. Her administration is focused on driving economic growth, upgrading infrastructure, ensuring public safety, fostering government transparency and efficiency, and improving residents’ overall quality of life.
Officials Say DPW Software Has Trash and Recycling Pickup on the Right Route | Press Release
Last modified: February 27, 2025
