Benchmarking Practice
and Comparative Analysis
Benchmarking enables the analysis of performance through the comparison of key performance indicators among peers, but also includes comparative analysis of strategies, service delivery models, organizational structures and procedures, use of tools, etc. in order to highlight comparative strengths and weaknesses of approaches.
Dr. Hemily brings an in-depth understanding of transit strategic management, operations, and planning, combined with a broad knowledge of developments and experiences in public transportation in the United States, Canada, and Europe, all of which facilitates his ability to benchmark practice and conduct comparative analyses.
A Selection of Projects:
International Review of Public Transit Fare Systems
- Researched and prepared broad international review (in French) on fare systems and structures for the Montreal Autorité régionale de transport métropolitain (ARTM)
- Report provides an overview of fare systems and structures in the transit industry in North America and abroad, and outlines major industry trends related to pricing systems and structures, the relationship observed between fare structures and deployment of advanced fare collection technology, and various innovative practices that may be relevant to the ARTM and its partners
Focus Areas: Applied Research, Benchmarking Practice and Comparative Analysis, Innovation, Policy Analysis and Implementation
Transit and New Shared-Use Modes – Key Questions from the Transit Agency Perspective; a Discussion Paper
- Prepared for USDOT and ITS America
- Objectives of the Discussion Paper were to identify and categorize the key questions transit agencies should be asking themselves as they try to position themselves in the new arena of urban mobility and emerging shared-use modes, and to recommend supportive initiatives
- Key questions identified through discussions with experts have been categorized as follows: Policy Goal and Objectives; Transportation Planning; Data, Transit Planning / Service Design and Delivery; Relationship of Shared-Use Modes to DRT and Transportation Demand Management; Role of Technology – Travel Information; and Role of Technology – Payment
- View Transit and New Shared-Use Modes – Key Questions from the Transit Agency Perspective; a Discussion Paper
Focus Areas: Applied Research, Benchmarking Practice and Comparative Analysis, Innovation, Policy Analysis and Implementation
The Use of Transit ITS Data for Planning and Management, and Its Challenges; a Discussion Paper
- Prepared for USDOT and ITS America
- There is a growing recognition among the most progressive transit systems that the data that would be created by Transit ITS (e.g. Automatic Vehicle Location, Automatic Passenger Counting, Advanced Fare Collection) is an incredibly valuable resource, which can be used to create information to enhance planning and management, and support business processes and decision-making.
- Objectives of this Discussion Paper were to: provide a high-level overview of the potential uses of Transit ITS data for planning and management purposes; identify the various challenges in using the data; recommend research and other initiatives that would enable transit agencies to make more effective use of the data, and position the transit industry for a future of ubiquitous data and data-driven decisionmaking
- View The Use of Transit ITS Data for Planning and Management, and Its Challenges; a Discussion Paper
Focus Areas: Applied Research, Benchmarking Practice and Comparative Analysis, Innovation, Policy Analysis and Implementation
Challenges in Deploying and Achieving the Full Potential of Transit ITS; a Discussion Paper
- Prepared for USDOT and ITS America
- Transit ITS technologies have been developed and refined over the last 20 years, but there continues to be significant challenges faced by transit agencies in deploying Transit ITS and in reaping the many potential benefits offered by these systems
- This Discussion Paper provided a high-level strategic discussion of the many organizational and technical challenges facing transit systems, and makes suggestions aimed at the transit industry on possible avenues for addressing these challenges
- View Challenges in Deploying and Achieving the Full Potential of Transit ITS; A Discussion Paper
Focus Areas: Applied Research, Benchmarking Practice and Comparative Analysis, Innovation
Ongoing Support for USDOT’s Public Transportation ITS Activities
- Provided ongoing support for the public transportation ITS activities of the U.S. Department of Transportation (USDOT) on behalf of ITS America for ten years
- Included conducting research, preparing discussion and white papers, identifying research needs, providing support for USDOT’s Public Transportation ITS Advisory Group, organizing workshops, etc.
Focus Areas: Applied Research, Benchmarking Practice and Comparative Analysis, Innovation, Policy Analysis and Implementation
YRT Transit Technology Review
- Conducted a benchmark for York Region Transit (YRT) of their current status of technology deployment, and an international review of new technological developments that might be of benefit to the service YRT provides
Focus Areas: Applied Research, Benchmarking Practice and Comparative Analysis, Innovation
Canada Transportation Act Review; Background Paper on Transportation-Related Technological Innovation
- Conducted a broad international benchmark review and strategic assessment of Canadian involvement in surface transportation technology for the Canadian Transportation Act Review Secretariat, and on behalf of ITS Canada
- Questions to answer included: How is Canada positioned with respect to transportation technology? How does it compare to the situation in peer countries? What useful observations and lessons learned can one gather from the situation in other countries and the strategies and initiatives they have pursued?
- View Surface Transportation-Related Technological Innovation in Canada and Abroad Report
Focus Areas: Applied Research, Benchmarking Practice and Comparative Analysis, Innovation, Policy Analysis and Implementation
Regional Transportation Strategy – Context Setting Analysis
- Project team member for the development of a Regional Transportation Strategy for the Greater Vancouver Transportation Authority – TransLink
- Prepared three reports for TransLink: an analysis of major trends affecting the transit industry; an analysis of exemplar practices among transit systems; and a benchmarking of TransLink’s system performance against a comparable peer group
Focus Areas: Benchmarking Practice and Comparative Analysis, Policy Analysis and Implementation
Support for Metrolinx’s Transportation Operations and Technology Activities
- Served as Senior Advisor to provide technical support in a variety of activity areas at the Greater Toronto Transportation Authority (Metrolinx)
- Areas included: regional fare integration, regional service coordination, development of regional traveler information tools, exploration of ITS needs, dissemination of ITS standards, dissemination of best practices related to Transit ITS including organizing a regional workshop on Transit Signal Priority, identification of issues and research on cross-boundary accessibility and community transportation, etc.
Focus Areas: Applied Research, Benchmarking Practice and Comparative Analysis, Innovation, Policy Analysis and Implementation
A Profile of Canadian Transit Ridership
- Project team member of study conducted for the Canadian Urban Transit Association (CUTA) to develop a demographic and socioeconomic profile of transit ridership across Canada, and to identify market segments that present opportunities to increase transit ridership.
- View A Profile of Canadian Transit Ridership
Focus Areas: Benchmarking Practice and Comparative Analysis, Policy Analysis and Implementation
Transit Signal Priority (TSP): TSP Planning and Implementation Handbook
- Researched and conducted a national survey and case studies on experiences in implementing TSP across North America for the Intelligent Transportation Society of America and the U.S. Federal Transit Administration (FTA)
- Prepared a TSP Planning and Implementation Handbook for practitioners
- View Transit Signal Priority (TSP): TSP Planning and Implementation Handbook
Focus Areas: Applied Research, Benchmarking Practice and Comparative Analysis, Innovation
Governance Issues Related to Operations and Maintenance (O&M) of New Bus Rapid Transit (BRT) System
- Project conducted for York Region Transit, to research and provide guidance on various issues related to the O&M of a new BRT system
- Included institutional models for contracting O&M, public-private partnership contracts, governance and management issues, technology stewardship for new transit ITS systems, etc.
Focus Areas: Benchmarking Practice and Comparative Analysis, Policy Analysis and Implementation
CUTA’s Statistical Benchmark Report
- As Manager of Research and Technical Services at the Canadian Urban Transit Association, enhanced the structure and quality of CUTA’s national statistics program, and developed a special Statistical Benchmark Report
- Included design of peer groups and selection and definition of key performance indicators, in order to compare performance of transit systems within comparable peer groups
Focus Areas: Benchmarking Practice and Comparative Analysis