This synthesis will be of interest to general managers of transit agencies, managers of management information systems (MIS) departments, and information systems personnel, as well as operations, scheduling, maintenance, finance, and other management personnel concerned with improving information flow and data base development. The synthesis identifies the current direction and key factors of selected transit agencies that have successfully implemented MIS. The synthesis documents the range, variety, and benefits derived from the current information and examines how effectively information from special-purpose systems is integrated into the overall information systems environment and used across departmental boundaries. The application and level of sophistication of MIS used by transit agencies in North America vary widely. This report of the Transportation Research Board focuses on the general direction of change in transit MIS and on specific integration efforts that are applicable and transferable to the transit industry as a whole. Based on a comprehensive review of MIS functions and environments of the surveyed agencies and on discussions carried out during site visits with key staff at seven major transit agencies, critical success factors are identified. Several general barriers that apply to most transit agencies are discussed, as well as a pronounced need to create an effective, broadly based user group to assist in making the appropriate investment in information technology. (A)
Abstract