Featured Projects
National RTAP's "ProcurementPRO"
Federal Procurement Technology Project
INTRODUCTION
NRTAP has tasked the firm of Main Street Connections with the interpretation of FTA procurement policies and to make recommendations when using federal funds to finance projects. These interpretations are to be incorporated into a comprehensive procurement software package in order to assist transit providers
in the purchase of products and services within the transportation industry.
NRTAP is seeking a software program that enables all transit agency personnel, both experienced and those new to the procurement process, the ability to acquire in a userfriendly manner, transit products and services following federal procurement guidelines. The program that was developed and is now referred to as ProcurementPRO has been thoroughly tested with the ultimate goal of accessing the program through the NRTAP’s website and used as an interactive procurement guidance tool for the transit professional. This program has been reviewed by the Federal Transportation Administration (FTA), State Department’s of Transportation, and transit agencies nationwide.
PURPOSE AND NEED
ProcurementPRO was developed based upon recommendations from the NRTAP board members, as a comprehensive tool to assist rural transit providers in the procurement of transit related products and services. Products including buses, bus shelters, vehicle maintenance products, as well as services including architectural and engineering services, construction, third party operating contracts, or procuring consultants for transit studies were included within the software. With limited staff and oftentimes, limited resources, it is the intent of procurementPRO to guide users from the beginning to end stages of the procurement process. Because the Federal Transit Administration serves as a primary funding source for these transit products and services, it is imperative that the software offers an easy, but comprehensive method of procuring products according to Federal regulations which is also accessible to rural transit providers nationwide.
View Final Report
PROJECT TEAM
SOUTHERN MAINE
REGIONAL TRANSIT COORDINATION STUDY
INTRODUCTION
Main Street Connections in cooperation with the Greater Portland Council of Governments (GPCOG), South Portland Bus Service (SPBS), Shuttlebus-ZOOM, the Regional Transportation Program (RTP), and the York County Community Action Corporation (YCCAC), presents an analysis of maintenance activities, a
nd to an extent dispatch activities and the direct costs incurred in the performance of those activities for the purposes of seeking efficient coordinated alternatives to reduce overall cost and improve service.
There are costs associated with administering these functions and this report presents a frame-work for analysis of these costs and uses that framework to assess alternative options and their potential benefits. The analysis will be helpful to participating agencies, including the GPCOG, supporting stakeholders, and other responsible agencies and policy makers concerned with system improvements that can utilize resources and infrastructure more efficiently.
The current system for generating subsidies and revenues in support of program, and program related requirements include, but are not limited to: federal-aid, state-aid, local municipal funding partners, local businesses, and farebox revenue.
There are specific costs associated with administering the maintenance and dispatch activities including: Management salaries, wages, and fringe; maintenance and dispatch salaries, wages, and fringe; facility expenses, utilities, parts and supplies, equipment and rolling stock; and contracted services. These costs are incurred by multiple agencies and recorded and presented many different ways from one agency to another. Understanding and comparing costs among agencies is challenging.
Various alternative options are being considered as a result of multi-agency collaboration, increased levels of outsourcing, and reorganization of existing practices. Such ideas include new construction, rental or lease options, outsourcing of all maintenance practices, shared use technologies, vehicle staging alternatives, and cost sharing methodologies to offer each agency their own pattern of costs that promote fair and equitable distribution of expenses.
This report is the product of research undertaken to provide information to support discussions by and between participating agencies, elected officials, and other policy and decision makers associated with the Southern Maine Regional Transit Coordination Study.
PURPOSE AND NEED
The objective was to develop a methodology that can be used to analyze and compare a selected set of alternative means of administering and delivering maintenance and dispatch services. By developing a framework for the analysis the study participants can gain a better understanding of the possibilities and limitations of potential actions of a shared maintenance facility.
View Final Report
PROJECT TEAM
Idaho Transportation Department
Procurement Management System
INTRODUCTION
IdahoDOT Logo.jpgThe Idaho Department of Transportation (ITD) has tasked the firm of Main Street Connections with the interpretation of state procurement policies to be incorporated into the comprehensive procurement software package "ProcurementPRO in order to assist the ITD and their transit providers in complying with the purchase of products and services within the transportation industry when utilizing both state and federal funding.
PURPOSE AND NEED
The ITD seeks to facilitate the procurement process transit agencies and their personnel take on in a more userfriendly manner. The program will determine required federal clauses & certifications, state terms and conditions, and other necessary supporting documentation that that will be required in the development and solicitation of aquisitions for the transit professional.
PROJECT TEAM