DETERMINANTS OF SUPERIOR PERFORMANCE IN PUBLIC TRANSIT. FINAL REPORT

This study evaluated eight high performing public motor bus transit agencies of different sizes and operating characteristics to identify the common factors underlying their performance. The study was specifically concerned with the use of strategic management within high performing systems. High performance was defined in terms of efficiency (hourly operating cost and utilization of labor, vehicle, and maintenance resources). Study agencies were selected from among the more than 300 federally-assisted bus systems, utilizing the Irvine Performance Evaluation Method (IPEM) and Section 15 data for 1980 to 1983. Site visits were conducted at the eight agencies and case reports were written of the findings. Major findings of the study were that none of the high performing systems were supported by dedicated local operating assistance, which created a strong incentive to control costs; that a majority were contract-managed; and that all but one had generally operated under multi-year labor agreements, which managers had sought in an effort to control labor expenses. One group of systems continued to be operated in a manner similar to their operation under private ownership, in which service decisions were based on maintaining high farebox recovery. As public systems they had avoided marketing unprofitable services which would have caused operating costs to escalate. In a second group of systems, managers had implemented short-range planning or strategic management in an effort to maintain performance. Inability to forecast funds had complicated the strategic management efforts in all agencies. Results from the research provide case examples of the use of the Irvine Performance Evaluation Method to analyze the management of transit systems. The report describes the principles and characteristics of the IPEM procedure thoroughly. Transit managers interested in implementing a performance evaluation system in their agencies may find the report particularly useful for this purpose.

• Corporate Authors:

  University of California, Irvine

  Institute of Transportation Studies
  4000 Anteater Instruction and Research Building
  Irvine, CA  United States  92697

  Urban Mass Transportation Administration

  University Research and Training Program, 400 7th Street, SW
  Washington, DC  United States  20590
• Authors:
  • Fielding, G J
  • HANSON, L
• Publication Date: 1987-8

Media Info

• Pagination: 161 p.

Subject/Index Terms

• TRT Terms: Bus transportation; Management; Performance evaluations; Public transit; Transit operating agencies
• Identifier Terms: U.S. Department of Transportation; Urban Mass Transportation Act
• Old TRIS Terms: Ost university research; Transit management; Umta section 11
• Subject Areas: Administration and Management; Highways; Motor Carriers; Planning and Forecasting; Public Transportation; I72: Traffic and Transport Planning;

Filing Info

• Accession Number: 00474167
• Record Type: Publication
• Source Agency: Urban Mass Transportation Administration
• Report/Paper Numbers: UMTA-CA-11-0029-87-2
• Contract Numbers: UMTA-CA-11-0029-1
• Files: TRIS, USDOT
• Created Date: Oct 31 1988 12:00AM