Vehicle Operator Recruitment, Retention, and Performance in ADA Complementary Paratransit Operations (2010) / Chapter Skim
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Pages 108-123
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From page 108... ...
The goal is to generate competitive cost proposals that also accurately reflect competitive vehicle operator wage rates and fringe benefits and result in a more stable vehicle operator workforce. The objective of this portion of the research was to collect best practice examples of procurement documents that directly or indirectly resulted in a fair vehicle operator compensation package and to determine how positively those strategies effected operator recruitment and retention.
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From page 109... ...
Lessons Learned The data obtained in this study provided a strong and compelling case for the positive effect that certain ADA paratransit contractor procurement and contract provisions have on operator recruitment and retention of the paratransit contractors. The following are lessons learned: • Transit agencies that included clear expectations of a stable, experienced operator workforce in their RFPs often did report lower rates of operator turnover.
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From page 110... ...
City Transit Agency Living or Minimum Wage Standard in RFP Incentives and/or Penalties for Maintaining Adequate Workforce or Covering Runs Mentioned in RFP Evaluation Criteria Columbus, OH COTA Moderate Moderate Moderate Good Dallas, TX DART Moderate Moderate Good Denver, CO RTD access-a-Ride Good Good Good Good Everett, WA Community Transit Kalamazoo, MI Kalamazoo Metro Transit Good Good Los Angeles, CA Access Services Madison, WI Madison Metro Transit Moderate Good Good Nashville, TN Nashville MTA Moderate Moderate Moderate Orange County, CA OCTA Good Good Good Lake Worth, FL Palm Tran Good Moderate Phoenix, AZ Phoenix Public Transit Moderate Moderate Moderate Moderate Moderate Moderate San Diego, CA San Diego MTS Moderate Moderate San Mateo County, CA Redi-Wheels Good Seattle/King County, WA Access Transportation "Stable, Experienced Workforce" Table 10-1. TCRP project F-13 survey respondents indicating moderate or good success with operator recruitment/retainage as a result of procurement/contractual provisions.
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From page 111... ...
DART and the Fort Worth Transportation Authority (the T) jointly operate 35 miles of commuter rail transit (the Trinity Railway Express or TRE)
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From page 112... ...
The Contractor Perspective The Executive Director of Special Transit had a slightly different take on the provisions in the RTD's procurement/ contractual document, indicating that the provisions had perhaps less significant impact on vehicle operator recruitment in actual practice but also acknowledging that the liquidated damages for uncovered runs did provide an impetus for Special Transit's maintaining a sufficient roster of operators. She stated that the challenge for Special Transit is to balance the potential for liquidated damages against the cost of having excess operators, since the Call Center contractor (First Transit)
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From page 113... ...
is a local public agency organized as a public benefit corporation that operates ADA complementary paratransit service. ADA paratransit service is provided for the Los Angeles County Metropolitan Transit Authority (LACMTA)
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From page 114... ...
. It is governed by a nine-member board appointed by the Los Angeles County municipal fixed-route operators, the Los Angeles County local fixed-route operators, the City of Los Angeles, the County of Los Angeles, the Transportation Corridor Representatives of the Los Angeles branch of the League of Cities, the Los Angeles County Commission on Disabilities, and the Coalition of Independent Living Centers.
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From page 115... ...
Use of Contractors for ADA Paratransit Beginning in 2009, nearly a quarter of Metro Transit's paratransit operations are in-house, with the remainder of the work contracted to Transit Solutions, Badger Cab Company, and Badger Bus. All customers call Metro Transit, and transit agency staff either serves the customer themselves or delegates the work to one of the three contractors.
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From page 116... ...
, Orange County, CA The Orange County Transportation Authority (OCTA) serves Orange County through bus, commuter rail, Express Lanes, and paratransit service.
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From page 117... ...
we've received only one performance incentive. They are challenging incentives to meet." He explained that the complaint standard is the toughest and perhaps the strongest in the country, so the company has never met it.
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From page 118... ...
recruiting employees because the pay is higher than other companies. MV Transportation increased hourly pay for the Palm Tran contract, and the general manager reported that this has helped to retain operators.
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From page 119... ...
The Contractor Perspective The General Manager for MV Transportation reported that the success it has had working with the City of Phoenix is due to a "successful, true partnership" between the two organizations. He gave credit for the positive working relationship to the City's understanding of the operation, saying: "[The Director of Transportation Contract Services]
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From page 120... ...
San Mateo County Transit District (SamTrans) , San Mateo, CA The San Mateo County Transit District is the administrative body for the principal public transit and transportation programs in San Mateo County: SamTrans bus service, RediWheels paratransit service, Caltrain commuter rail, and the 120 Performance Measure Incentive LiquidatedDamages Contractor shall achieve a monthly noshow rate of under 5% $2,000 per each month no-show rate is below 5% Any month in which no-shows are greater than 7.5% may carry a damage of $1,000, and $2,000 in which noshows are greater than 10% Contractor shall ensure that all trips arrive within the established MTS On-Time Performance Window $5,000 per month may be paid Contractor for each month that 90% or more of trips arrive in the MTS established On-Time Window none Contractor shall ensure that hold times don't exceed an average of two (2)
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From page 121... ...
The Contractor Perspective The General Manager for MV Transportation reported that "We have a low turnover rate at Redi-Wheels, mainly because we have a very good pay rate and fringe benefits." Employees receive 100% full health benefits, paid by MV Transportation, which equates to about $10 per hour for health benefits on top of their hourly wage. As a result, the general manager estimated that the annual turnover rate is about 10% which he felt was "incredible in our industry." He also comments on the current economic climate, which has dramatically changed operator recruitment: "Before, it was difficult to find operators in the Bay area because there is so much competition for jobs in other sectors.
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From page 122... ...
Typically, vehicle operator recruitment and retention comprise 18–20% of the total score. Table 10-5, 122 Criteria Points Percent of Total Training program 25 2.5% Plan to recruit, train staff and perform the work 50 5.0% Evaluation of proposed team and key persons 45 4.5% Proven ability to collaborate with contractor's staff 20 2.0% Plan to transition staff who are currently employed with another operator so that service is not disrupted 75 7.5% Record keeping and retention plan 25 2.5% Customer service plan 75 7.5% Pricing 200 20.0% Other (specifics in contract)
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From page 123... ...
Metro is considering eliminating the CDL requirement, but still requiring the training to address the same content as in the CDL training. It was noted that operator retention has been better at Solid Ground.
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