News and Events » Publications » Case Studies

Case Study: SORTA

Metro saves time and resources thanks to enhancement component

Background

As a Trapeze client since 1992, the Southwest Ohio Regional Transit Authority (SORTA) operates Metro fixed route bus service, and Access paratransit service. Metro provides about 23 million rides per year and brings about 20% of downtown Cincinnati’s workforce into the city.

Operating 365 days a year, Metro employs about 900 people, most of which are drivers and mechanics. Metro has a fleet of 388 busses, all of which operate on a biodiesel fuel blend. Out of the 23 million passenger trips per year, 80% of them are related to economic development, such as work trips and shopping.

Challenges

For a decade and a half, SORTA has forged a strong business relationship with Trapeze and have been using a large variety of products to improve their operations. The suite includes solutions like FX/BB, INFO-Agent, INFO-Web, COM, OPS, SIT, PASS, PASS-COM, and PASS CERT.

Recently, SORTA was facing a challenge regarding how accessible information was for their transit operators, and how much time was spent on manual processes. After careful planning and inspection, Trapeze was selected to provide OPS-Web, an additional component to the core operations management product.

“We wanted the OPS-Web to lower the calls to the payroll clerks with questions. The operations managers could now be the first line of questions and work with the operations clerks to correct incorrect data entry,” said Georgia Pinis, IT Project Manager from SORTA.

Solution

After upgrading their Operations Management software to Trapeze OPS, it was a logical step for SORTA to implement the OPS-Web enhancement. This add-on component allows individual transit operators to securely view personal information online, including bidding requests, daily work assignments, timekeeping and employee information. Depending on property settings, operators may also be authorized to update select information.

Results

According to Georgia, the main factor that contributed to the success of the project was the collaboration between SORTA and Trapeze. “Trapeze personnel were always available to help us with any issue,” she explains.

As a result of implementing OPS-Web, the agency has seen significant improvements in terms of time savings and timekeeping.

“Operators don't come in to get the 14 day sheet anymore, saving us a lot of time. Being able to see what they are to be paid for before payday also helps us get info corrected before timekeeping. I only see this getting better going forward and reducing manual checks. With information like vacation balances now being available in OPS-Web, instead of on their checks, we will have even more time this spring as we put all this info in,” continued Georgia.

Conclusion

Adding the enhancement component, OPS-Web, has proven to be a beneficial selection for SORTA. This addition allows transit operators to perform many tasks on their own.

The payroll clerks can be more productive, now that they have been freed up of inquiries from operators. Automating the processing of payroll information and timekeeping, has simplified paperwork and saved SORTA a considerable amount of time.