E-tool for Business Processes to Improve Travel Time Reliability

Flannery, Aimee; Meszaros, Jenny · 2015 · ROSA P / National Research Council (U.S.). Transportation Research Board

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Summary

This paper reports on SHRP 2 Reliability Project L34, which developed an interactive electronic tool (e-tool) to help transportation agencies evaluate and improve business processes that affect travel time reliability. The project was motivated by the need to implement findings from the earlier SHRP 2 L01 project, which identified core operations business processes and a seven-step methodology for integrating them. The L34 e-tool aims to provide a mechanism for agencies to systematically document current processes, identify gaps, and remove barriers to sustaining improved operations. The research team, led by Applied Engineering Management Corporation, developed the e-tool by first reviewing existing software tools in transportation, education, public works, and labor sectors to determine functional requirements. The resulting e-tool consists of two modules: an Orientation Module, which educates users on the seven-step business process integration methodology through tutorials and quizzes, and an Application Module, which allows stakeholders to map and analyze their specific business processes. The seven steps include identifying influences, defining reliability goals, documenting current processes, developing changes, assessing changes, documenting the new process, and institutionalizing it. To lower barriers to entry, the tool uses less formal business process mapping rather than strict Business Process Modeling Notation (BPMN), facilitating easier collaboration among stakeholders. The e-tool was pilot-tested at two locations: the New Hampshire Department of Transportation, focusing on winter weather management, and the North Central Texas Council of Governments, focusing on incident management. Participants were briefed on the tool and worked with researchers to map their specific management areas. Feedback indicated that having an outside party review and facilitate the discussion of current business processes was highly beneficial, as it provided an unbiased perspective and helped focus stakeholders on specific improvements. Participants also noted that the Orientation Module was useful for educating staff prior to using the Application Module. The pilot tests revealed that the tool effectively facilitated discussion between stakeholders who might not otherwise interact and helped document information flows to identify areas for improvement. The study concludes that the e-tool is a valuable resource for state departments of transportation, metropolitan planning organizations, and local agencies to evaluate their operational processes and allocate resources effectively. The tool helps agencies visualize connections between operational components and identify opportunities for better integration. Recommendations for future development include expanding the e-tool with additional case studies to help users identify with specific management areas and addressing data gaps found in the original L01 research. The e-tool is designed to be intuitive and directly applicable to agency business needs, with plans for it to be hosted by the Federal Highway Administration and the Transportation Research Board.

Key finding

Pilot test participants found that using the e-tool with an external facilitator helped identify gaps in current business processes and facilitated stakeholder discussion, leading to actionable insights for improving travel time reliability.

Methodology

other

Provenance

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