f Your Transportation System


tem, all of which involve various planning, management, opera- tions, financial, and sustainability components. Inspection Cycle, Stage 1:Your vehicles receive daily safety


checks (tires, lights, turn signals, mirrors, radios, emergency exits, etc.) to ensure the fleet runs smoothly. AuditCycle, Stage 1: Inspect yourT-Systemfor the effective-


ness of existing services by:


Mileage-based wear and tear


3


Can features be upgraded?


Key systems rehabilitations


4


Can service area be expanded?


Major overhaul OR replacement


5


Revisit methods of providing service?


• holding focus group sessions and regularly conducting rid-


ership opinion surveys on desired services and service quality; • objectively evaluating route design and efficiency and the


proximity of stops to key campus origins and destinations, espe- cially with respect to the demand for services as measured by board and alight counts; • objectively critiquing the condition of shelters, and the


quality of transportation information such as schedules, system maps and other printed materials available at shelters and other sources; • focusing on the opportunity to improve route coverage,


reduce service duplication and enhance campus accessibility; • ensuring route names provide a clear identity with campus


access points and destinations; • assessing the need for different or additional driver training


regarding passenger courtesy/information/communication skills; and


• identifying improvements for scheduling, staff and bus


fleet assignments. Inspection Cycle, Stage 2:Your vehicles receive weekly and


monthly reliability checks and minor preventive maintenance (cleaning, filters, heat andAC, electrical systems, etc.) to prevent more serious damage to key components. Audit Cycle, Stage 2: Inspect yourT-Systemfor opportunities


to deliver services more efficiently by: • developing a statistical profile of key indicators for service


levels, personnel, vehicles, fuel, routes, service frequencies, tracking the indicatorsmonthly; • service levels, and develop alternatives and recommenda-


tions regarding operations; • quantifying the financial implications of alternative service


arrangements; • reviewing driver schedules and ensuring that route service


times are coordinated with demand requirements; • routinely examining maintenance data, logs and defect


reports to identify problemtrends and identify potential cost sav- ings and reliability improvements by modifying service frequen- cies and restructuringmaintenance responsibilities; and • ensuring that focus group feedback for additional service


is balanced with available resources, and if necessary, linked to any necessary changes in the prevailing transportation fee struc- ture and/or changes to other funding sources (such as parking). Inspection Cycle, Stage 3:Your vehicles receive mileage-


based wear and tear inspections (replacement of consumables, such as tires, oil, brakes, filters, cooling system, suspension, etc.) to ensure ongoing serviceability. Audit Cycle, Stage 3: Inspect your T-System for opportuni-


ties to provide new services and features by: • determining the costs and benefits to riders from imple-


menting technological improvements that can be installed at shel- ters, on buses/shuttles, and distributed through theweb andWi-Fi to improve customer information; • identifying new routes, stop locations, and the potential to


operate off-campus shuttles at various times of the day, and dur- ing night and weekend hours; and • improving transit service access and convenience, particu-


larly through distribution of electronic information through bus shelters and website information, text messaging and cellular technologies. Inspection Cycle, Stage 4: Your vehicles receive periodic


rehabilitation (in-kind component upgrades, such as GPS sys- tems, air conditioning and cooling systems, electronic sign com- ponents, etc.) to extend the life of the fleet at acceptable costs. Audit Cycle, Stage 4: Inspect your T-System for service


expansion opportunities through additional funding by: • examining service coverage areas, reviewing service


demand responses, and by validating requests for servicemodifi- cations; • examining fees, discussing programfinancial performance


and projectionswith the university administration, benchmarking peer institutions, and working with student groups to move toward instituting or changing transportation fees; • exploring internal and external opportunities to supplement


income through advertising and other means, while remaining consistent with campus policies and protocols; • assessing the above strategies with respect to existing and


future transportation operating costs, budget implications, and funding sources, including the possible effect, if any, on other student fees; • exploring other funding alternatives, such as Congestion


Mitigation and Air Quality (CMAQ) programs to fund Trans- portation ControlMeasures; and • exploring the feasibility of charging university departments


for special shuttles or dedicated bus routes serving specific aca- demic programs or sponsored events, and university subsidies for faculty/staff ridership on campus shuttles, particularly if a stu- dent transportation fee is initiated or in place. Inspection Cycle, Stage 5: Your vehicles receive a ten or


twelve year overhaul (everything but the shell, such as new engines, transmissions, seats, etc. – OR are retired at the end of their serviceable lives) to reduce operating costs while upgrading services. Audit Cycle, Stage 5: Inspect yourT-System for new ways of


providing services by: • quantifying the demand associated with population


Continued on Page 24 DECEMBER 2009 • PARKING TODAY • www.parkingtoday.com 23


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