1. NTD CONTRACT OPERATED SERVICES
SENIOR DESIGN PROJECT
PRESENTED BY:
VIVIAN ACERO
ROGELIO FONSECA
ROSIE ORTIZ
JOSE PEDROZA
MONICA TREVIÑO
ANNETTE WONG

2. Project Members
Introduction of METROLift
Problem Description
Deliverables
Assumptions & Constraints
Methodology
Results/Analysis
Conclusions/Recommendations
Questions & Answers
Overview

3. Project Members
Project Facilitator: Randal W. Sitton
Project Manager: Lauren Cochran
Project Owners: Thanh-Minh Pham
Jennifer Fehribach
Subject Matter Expert: Lawrence Schulze

4. METROLift & Services
Van Minivan Taxi Cab Backup METROLift Subsidy
Program
(MSP)

5. Problem Description
 Electronically submit data to National Transit
Database (NTD).
 S-10 Service Form:
 Number of Trips
 Number of Passengers
 Miles traveled
 Data collection from multiple sources:
 Trapeze software
 Contractors
 Dispatch entered data
 Manual input information
Improvement
Opportunity
Large amount of data
collected from different
sources

6. • Document processes for monthly and
annual data collection and submission
of S10 DR/PT form.
• Identify process improvements to
reduce margin of error and manual
process for S10 DR/PT form.
Deliverables
Standardize and document
data entry processes
Reduce manual entry
through automation
Objectives

7. Constraint:
 Insufficient allocated time for actual data
collection and validation.
Assumptions:
 All data reported from Trapeze and contractor
files is correct and complete.
 Data collection process is accepted as
accurate.
Assumptions & Constraints

8. Define Define the problem
Measure Map out current process
Analyze Identify cause of problem
Improve Implement and verify solution
Control Maintain solution
Methodology

9. Define
Analyze the current state:
 Understand METRO data
collection process.
Create matrix tables in Excel:
 Narrow down areas of interest.
 Assumption: Data collected is
accurate.
Evaluate each line in S10 DR/PT
Form.

10.  Quantify current METRO data
collection process.
 Evaluate Trapeze and contractor data
transfer reports.
 Multi-step process followed has been
used for years.
 Print  Manually input necessary data
 Observation:
 Trapeze report can be exported
Measure

11. Transact Trapeze
Documents
Total Time =
80 minutes
Passenger
Trip/Number
Report
Passenger Miles
Report
Time = 40 minutes Time = 40 minutes
Measure

12. Contractor
Documents
Total Time =
60 minutes
First Transit Yellow Cab
Time = 30 minutes Time = 30 minutes
Measure

13. Main Goal: Reduce margin of error
 Manual handling information
 High risk of error
Excel mainly used
 Complex procedures
Analyze each line carefully
 Extensive workbooks
 Reduce redundancy
Solution for
Trapeze and
Contractor Reports
Automate Trapeze
Reports
Create Standard
Contractor Form
Analyze

14. Streamline Excel tabs:
 Unnecessary steps
 Redundancy
 Incorporate simple equations
 Took advantage of Excel formulas
Results:
 Reduced # of steps
 Increased accuracy
Improve
IF Statements COUNTIF
VLOOKUPMAX
Excel Logic

15. Improve
 VBA Macros used for simplifying reports.
 Advantage: Export Trapeze report.
 Problem: Search for needed data.
 Need to eliminate manual input errors .
 No standard form for contractor data.
 Create unified data collection method.

16. VBA Macro Trapeze Report
2 reports
 Passenger Miles
 Passenger Trips/Number
6 different sections
1. Initial set-up
2. Summary Creation
3. Total Calculation
4. Weekday/Holiday Calculations
5. Holiday Check
6. Holiday Functions

17. VBA Macro Contractor Report
 Standard form for all
contractors.
 Van & Van Lite
 Weekday and weekend
calculations.
 Validation:
 Total days/month
 Revenue miles/hour

18. EXCEL VBA MACRO
DEMO

19. Control
 Saved macros on project manager’s computer
and shared-drive.
 IMPORTANT If different software is used,
VBA macros won’t apply.
 Work instructions created:
 Trapeze Macro
 Contractor Macro
 Contractor Template

20. Results
Trips Report Processing Time Miles Report Processing Time

21. Results

22. Results

23. Analysis
 Number of steps decreased
 Trapeze  from 8 to 5 steps
 Contractor  from 6 to 4 steps
eliminated  100% error free
Processing time decreased
Trapeze  69%
Contractor  67%

24. Analysis

25. Conclusion
• S10 DR/PT data entry process has been streamlined
• Consequently, S10 DT/PT data entry process has been
streamlined as well.
• Trapeze and contractor manual entry has been
eliminated by 100%.
• Recommendations are now used on data collected for
the month of March.

26.  Theoretical ideal system: Automatic
data collection and automatic
reporting.
 Ultimate ideal system and
technologically workable system: Use
of relational database management
system (Microsoft SQL).
 Data in a single location
Recommendations

27. Recommendations
 Recommended system: Implementation and control of VBA macros.
 This uses the resources currently available to METRO and presents a
free and clever solution to a complicated problem.

28. Thank you!
Q&A