The Self-Test
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ARTHUR N. GAUDET CMILT PRESIDENT ARTHUR N. GAUDET & ASSOCIATES, Inc. at Runcutter.com EXPERIENCE AND QUALIFICATIONS
Arthur N. Gaudet has been involved with transit management and planning for over forty years. His experience in transit led to the founding of Arthur N. Gaudet & Associates in 1987, providing transit management services, operations reviews and departmental management audits, route design, scheduling and run cutting, safety services, rail and rubber tire alternatives analyses, and financial planning.
He recently served on the oversight committee for Transportation Research Board Project A-29, “Controlling System Costs: Basic and Advanced Scheduling Manuals and Contemporary Issues in Transit Scheduling.” He is also the author of a series of articles, published in Bus Ride Magazine. Mr. Gaudet’s series of articles dealt with route and system design, scheduling, run cutting, and restoring transit service in response to service disruptions.
In 2003, he developed “The Runcutter Coursetm, a two-day intensive course in service design, scheduling, and runcutting (preparing operator work schedules). This course has been presented over 25 times, to over 400 attendees in the last seven years.
For over 20 years, the largest component of business has consisted of service planning, scheduling and run cutting. Properties have ranged from a 250+ vehicle, four garage fixed route operation in Dallas, 100+ vehicle Los Angeles MTA and Foothill Transit fixed route private sector contractors, and a 100+ vehicle paratransit operation in Dallas; through 40 - 130 bus operations in Phoenix, Suburban D.C. and Houston, Texas; to operations with less than 20 vehicles.
We prepare numerous runcuts each year, for properties throughout the country, including several large private-sector contracts in the Los Angeles, California region.
Some of our other projects in the last decade have included:
Route restructuring in Albany, GA.
Scheduling Department Review/Route Productivity Analysis for MARTA, in Atlanta, GA.
Feasibility Study and System Design/Scheduling for a visitor’s shuttle, Grapevine, TX.
Participation in a full review of the New Orleans Regional Transit Authority’s schedules and runcut, leading to efficiency recommendations that would generate over $5 million in annual savings.
Participation in a review of Sun Metro, in El Paso, Texas. This review studied Operations and Scheduling functions, as part of Sun Metro’s Long Range Plan development.
Scheduling/Planning Department functional reviews for Capital Metro, in Austin, Texas; and Hartline, in Tampa Florida. These reviews focused on the planning and scheduling function, as it interfaces with operations. Comprehensive Operational Analyses, Short Range Transportation Plans for Hammond, Indiana and Las Cruces, New Mexico. Service redesign for Lorain County, Ohio, changing the system from variable frequencies (up to 90 minutes requiring multiple transfer connections), to systemwide 60 minute frequencies with a single, timed-transfer pulse point.
In 1999, we helped Kankakee, Illinois rationalize its route structure, again implementing a pulse transfer system, and reducing overall passenger travel times. By eliminating large loops with their associated out-of-direction travel, realigning routes, and interlining vehicles, we achieved essentially the same service level with fewer vehicles.
In early 1999, we were selected as the project manager for a major service expansion in the Washington, D.C. area. As part of that project, our review of vehicle utilization and blocking generated savings by reducing the number of vehicles needed, without affecting the public schedule. Phase 1 of the plan, under study for ten years, called for a combination of Express Buses and Feeder Service, replacing service that had not changed in twenty years. Our work resulted in a smooth transition as all routes and schedules changed at once, and as a new Park and Ride facility opened. During the start-up, we also actively participated in shake-down of the new Park and Ride facility.
Also during 1999, we assisted Fort Smith, Arkansas as the property transitioned from a Demand-Response operation to a combination of Fixed Route and Demand-Response.
Another 1999 project in Ithaca, New York had Arthur N. Gaudet & Associates participating in Tompkins Consolidated Area Transit’s service redesign. An essential ingredient of this project included over 60 hours on the street, evaluating and modifying detailed route design, safety issues, and running times. We continue our relationship with Ithaca, working with staff and labor representatives at least twice each year to cut their runs.
We also worked with Racine, Wisconsin on major service revisions. These included implementation of a timed transfer (pulse) system, night service, and route modifications to serve large demand generators. The modifications also focused on the work trip, as part of the welfare-to-work initiative. Funding for service expansion came from rationalizing unproductive/low productivity service. Subsequently, we conducted a transfer point relocation study, and prepared a route and schedule redesign for the move to the new Transit Center.
Another project was the analysis of 47 bus routes operated out of four garages in the District of Columbia, designing route networks that could be operated by private contractors..
In 1997, we completed a run cut for a new contractor on the West Coast. By reblocking and interlining service for this 105 peak bus operation, we generated savings exceeding $95,000 per year.
In 1996, we participated with another consultant in preparing the Operations Manuals for Dallas Area Rapid Transit's new East and West Transit Centers. This plan led to the successful implementation of DART's first off-street transfer centers in Downtown Dallas.
Arthur N. Gaudet & Associates, Inc. is or has been the scheduler/run cutter for several private sector contracts operating from 25 to 127 vehicles, each requiring two to four run cuts per year. Gaudet's scheduling practices for these clients typically result in average pay per driver assignment exceeding 39.5 hours, with scheduled overtime under one percent. For some properties experiencing driver shortages, we have modified our run cutting techniques, using a balanced allocation of reasonable overtime to help offset the staff shortage.
While private sector labor agreements typically do not contain restrictive and costly work rules, we have also worked in such environments. In Wichita, Kansas, for example, a change in run cutting procedures reduced spread time, reduced overtime, and reduced guarantee payments. Simultaneously, work weeks were reduced from six days to four or five days. The end result was not only a projected savings of more than $20,000 per year, but the first run cut posted in recent memory which drew no protests from drivers or the Union.
Recent work with several California Properties concentrated on implementing lunch breaks and work-break periods, required under California’s Wage Order Number 9.
We evaluate all facets of operations as they are impacted by scheduling decisions. An audit of a medium-sized property's operations department discovered an opportunity to save in excess of $25,000 per year, in real dollars and increased productivity, by altering CNG bus assignment strategies. In Springfield, Illinois, creative vehicle blocking reduced the stress on the Maintenance Department, by reducing the number of bus pullouts needed.
Our ability to generate such savings comes from intimate familiarity with street operations. During his varied assignments, Mr. Gaudet has been responsible for maintaining transit service, and training Dispatchers and Field Supervisors to respond to disruptions in a number of cities. These situations have varied from minor schedule delays, street blockages, mechanical failure, pedestrian and vehicle accidents to a reported bomb on a bus in downtown Los Angeles and restoration of service/operation of emergency service in the immediate aftermath of the Northridge Earthquake. In addition to his bus experience, he has experience in maintaining rail service, including response to line blockages and the integration of charter/special moves with scheduled passenger service.
Through years of experience with street operations, he has set the highest priority on maintaining passenger service while resolving service disruptions, always keeping the passenger in mind. In addition to his experience with street operations and one-on-one training of Dispatchers and Field Supervisors, Mr. Gaudet has authored documents as varied as operations and administrative Policies and Procedures bulletins; Emergency Contingency (e.g., Strike) Plans; Bus and other Procurement Specifications; Safety and Security Reviews and Recommendations, and general Bus and Rail Operations planning documents.
Fellow: National Transit Institute – 1999-2001 Term
Member: Chartered Member (CMILT) Chartered Institute of Logistics and TransportCommunity Transportation Association of America
Arthur N. Gaudet & Associates' Projects have included:
Los Angeles, California (LAMTA, LA DASH, and Foothill Transit); Dallas, Houston, Laredo, and Tyler, Texas; Great Falls, Montana; Racine, Wisconsin; Numerous other properties: First Transit, Client Route Design, Scheduling, Run Cutting, Operations Assistance, Alternatives Analysis, Financial Reviews, Section 15 (NTD) Assistance, Interim Management Services
Los Angeles, California (LAMTA); Yolo County California; Sonoma, California; Jefferson Parish, Louisiana: Veolia, Client Scheduling, Runcutting, Wage Order 9 (Lunchbreak Law) implementation
Los Angeles, California (Foothill Transit); Houston, Texas; Burlington County New Jersey; Charles County, Maryland: Numerous other properties: MV Transportation, Client Scheduling, Runcutting, Cost Projections
Los Angeles and Riverside County, CaliforniaTransportation Concepts, ClientRuncutting, Garage Location Analysis.
Aspen, Colorado Street Railway Associates, Client – Budgeting RFTA, Client – Scheduling Assistance Austin, TexasCapital Metro, Client – Planning and Scheduling Management Review
Brockton, Massachusetts BAT, Client – Scheduling & Operations Review
Bridgeport, Connecticut GBTA, Client – Runcut Review
Brownsville, El Paso, Galveston, Houston, San Antonio, Waco, Texas National Interstate Insurance, Client - Safety and Risk Management Consulting
Buffalo, New York NFTA, Client – Scheduling & Operations Review
Chapel Hill, North Carolina Chapel Hill Transit, Client Scheduling and Runcutting Assistance, Runcut Training
Chattanooga, Tennessee CARTA - Stone & Webster, Client Downtown Circulator Design, rail & rubber tire alternatives analysis, budgeting
Dallas, TexasMcKinney Avenue Transit Authority, Client Financial Planning and Grants Administration
Dallas, Texas DART - LKC Consulting Services, Client Transfer Center Operating Procedures Manual preparation
El Paso, Texas The Goodman Corporation/Sun Metro, Client Operations and Scheduling Departmental Reviews, Long Term Operations Planning
Fort Smith, ArkansasCity of Fort Smith, Client - Service Design and Fixed Route Implementation Frisco, ColoradoSummit Stage, Client – Service Design Assistance and Training Grapevine, TexasGrapevine Convention and Visitors Bureau, Client – New Service Feasibility Study Hammond, IndianaNorthwestern Indiana Regional Planning Commission, Client Hammond Transit System Analysis and development of new Service Design.
Indianapolis, Indiana The Goodman Corporation/Indianapolis Public Transit Corporation, Client Staffing Analysis, Scheduling and Runcutting review and assistance.
Ithaca, New York Tompkins Consolidated Area Transit, Client - Scheduling, Route Design, Runcutting
Kennedy Space Center, Florida Delaware North Company, Client - Analysis of tour shuttle operation
Las Cruces, New Mexico – City of Las Cruces, ClientComprehensive Operational Analysis and Development of Short-Range Transit Plan
Lorain County, Ohio - Lorain County Transit- Service Planning, Route Design, and Scheduling
New Orleans, LA PTM Management, Client Scheduling Practices Review, Schedule Development
Sarasota, Florida SCAT, Client – Scheduling & Operations Review
Stockton, California RTD, Client – Scheduling, Route Analysis, Runcut Assistance
Tampa, Florida – Hartline, Client – Planning and Scheduling Management Review
Victoria, British Columbia BC Transit - Sypher:Mueller International Inc., Client Heritage Streetcar Ridership Projection
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When we hear any of these statements, we immediately suspect we can save money and improve the quality of the drivers' lives. Any of these statements can raise red flags, areas that deserve a closer look. Do any of these sound familiar? We've always done it that way. Scheduling/Run Cutting is a nuisance, let's just get it over with. Our Drivers/Union can't/won't/aren't smart enough to adapt to change. |
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