Advisory Committee Meeting #6
April 11, 2012
Worcester Union Station
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PROJECT TIMELINE
AC
Meeting
AC
Meeting
Oct 2011
Nov 2011
AC
Meeting
AC
Meeting
Dec 2011
Jan 2012
Develop
Statewide Transit
Vision, Goals, and
Evaluation Criteria
Feb 2012
AC
Meeting
AC
Meeting
AC
Meeting
March 2012
April 2012
AC
Meeting
May 2012
June 2012
Issues Definition and
Evaluation
Identified several and
narrowed to 10 initiatives
Existing Conditions and Transit Trends
RTA Profiles
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Scenario
Development,
Analysis,
Recommendations
Final
Recommendations
PROPOSED INITIATIVES
Service Improvement
Develop Service Standards/Guidelines √
2. Improve Service Planning √
3. Develop Consistent Data and Reporting √
4. Enhance Public Information √
1.
Funding
Improve Contracting
6. Improve Capital Planning √
7. Identify Additional Funding
8. Develop More Effective Funding Process
5.
Other
Foster “Cross-Border” Collaboration √
10. Better MassDOT/RTA Collaboration √
9.
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5. IMPROVE CONTRACTING
Issues
RTAs often face unexpected cost increases
Costs have been rising much faster than ridership
RTAs may not be benefiting from robust competition
Potential Solutions
Shift MA contracting to fixed-fee approach
Increase use of incentives/penalties in contracts
Best Practices
National research (CUTR) recommends contracts on a fixed-price basis
PVTA
Outcome
Lower and more predictable costs
Greater cost predictability
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7. ADDITIONAL FUNDING
Issues
Additional funding needed to expand/improve service
Federal and state funding will not increase substantially in short-tomedium time frame
Potential Solutions
Increase fares to fund additional service
Develop partnerships with universities and colleges
Develop partnerships with schools and others
Best Practices
MA: PVTA, MART, GATRA
Nationally: RIPTA, Pittsburgh, Mankato (MN), Seattle
Outcome
Additional funding to maintain and improve service
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8. FUNDING PROCESS
Issues
Current process:
– Does not tie funding sufficiently to need
– Is not sufficiently predictable or transparent
– Does not balance state and federal funds
– Does not encourage innovation/experimentation
Potential Solutions
Develop new operating and capital funding processes
Best Practices
Nationally: NY, PA, IA, WA, VA,
Outcome
Funding that better matches need and that encourages
innovation and performance
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Break-Out Group Discussion
Divide into 3 groups
Facilitator is assigned to each group
Spend 30 minutes per topic
Focus on constructive guidance
Respect everyone’s opinions and viewpoints
Ensure everyone has opportunity to speak
Report back after each topic is discussed
Facilitator will do reporting
Technical advisors available to answer questions
as needed
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Break-Out Group Discussion
What do you like/don’t like about initiative?
What would be the most important
considerations?
How could this be applied to Massachusetts?
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Next Steps
Deadline for submitting additional Initiative
comments: April 20
Next AC meeting: Thursday, May 24 1030am
Develop a draft action plan across 10 initiatives
Focus on achievable recommendations
Incorporate input from last 3 AC meeting
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