Improving Employee Workflow at WMATA by Automating Transit Operations

This paper demonstrates the benefits that can accrue from automating many of the processes associated with transit operations management. These processes include employee sign ups, daily dispatching, timekeeping and workforce management. The Washington Metropolitan Area Transit Authority (WMATA) was facing a number of operational challenges prior to implementing a software solution in 2002. These challenges included: (1) A lack of integration between the components of the legacy solution; (2) Inefficient processes and duplication of effort for many standard operational tasks; (3) Lack of standardization and centralization of data; and (4) Inconsistent interpretation and application of pay rules when costing work. These challenges were addressed through the Trapeze operations management technology solution that WMATA implemented. The solution includes modules for bid configuration, automated bidding, daily dispatch, timekeeping, workforce management, and vehicle and yard management. WMATA elected to follow a phased approach in implementing the system and pursued a ‘train the trainer’ strategy as a key element of the implementation plan. Lessons learned from the implementation process are shared in the paper. In general, employees at WMATA are seeing the benefits of the new system. Overall, the turnaround to address and resolve problems is faster and easier. Managers are also noticing greater accuracy from the pick data to the daily dispatch data due to a reduction in manual processes. Information that employees access through the new system is also more consistent because data management is centralized and all users access it using the same software. Beyond these generalized results, more specific results have been observed in various functional areas, including bidding, daily dispatch, long-range work planning, payroll preparation, and workforce management. These results are described at length in the paper. Next steps for WMATA include implementing a vehicle management component for the system, and investigating other systems that can be integrated to extend the functionality of the Trapeze solution.

• Availability:
  • Find a library where document is available. Order URL: http://worldcat.org/isbn/1931594201
• Corporate Authors:

  American Public Transportation Association

  1666 K Street, NW, Suite 1100
  Washington, DC  United States  20006
• Authors:
  • Ricciardi, Tony
  • Gilfoyle, Kevin
• Conference:
  • 2006 Bus and Paratransit Conference
  • Location: Orange County California, United States
  • Date: 2006-4-30 to 2006-5-3
• Publication Date: 2006

Language

• English

Media Info

• Media Type: CD-ROM
• Pagination: 5p
• Monograph Title: Bus & Paratransit Conference Proceedings, April 29-May 3, 2006, Orange County, CA

Subject/Index Terms

• TRT Terms: Bids; Data management; Long range planning; Management; Plan implementation; Transit operating agencies; Workforce
• Identifier Terms: Washington Metropolitan Area Transit Authority
• Uncontrolled Terms: Automation management; Operations control
• Subject Areas: Administration and Management; Public Transportation;

Filing Info

• Accession Number: 01036632
• Record Type: Publication
• ISBN: 1931594201
• Files: TRIS
• Created Date: Nov 1 2006 7:28AM