MASS TRANSIT: A PERSPECTIVE FOR THE FUTURE

After 15 years of federal funding, the author feels that transit management may have become overly reliant on external financial resources rather than controlling costs. Increased efficiency, performance and productivity in established maintenance functions are necessary. Transit has historically been labor intensive with at least 75 percent of operating expenditures going to labor, the major portion of this being bus operator wages. Most of the remainder of labor cost involves the maintenance function. More effective management of maintenance and increased productivity involve the following: Cost control, organization for the maintenance function, supervisor selection and training, management information systems, preventive maintenance, performance indicators, job standards, technical training for maintenance, and absenteeism. Materials, supplies and maintenance equipment must also be carefully managed.