Retooling Metro’s Capital Planning & Programming Processes
Washington Metropolitan Area Transit Authority (WMATA)
Strategic Capital Investment Planning, Process Improvement Solutions, Development of Technology Solutions, Training
Summary
The Washington Metropolitan Area Transit Authority (“WMATA”) has over $40 billion in physical assets that support the second-busiest rail transit and sixth-busiest bus system in the United States. However, significant capital investments are needed for replacement, repair, or rehabilitation to maintain a state of good repair.
Under Craddock Group leadership, the combined team with members from AECOM, Agiliko, and Parsage, was engaged to assist in developing a multi-year Capital Planning framework, strategy, and database to address asset needs and align capital investments based on organizational and regional transit priorities. Our continued engagement includes resources for program execution in support of the implementation of the strategy and processes.
Approach
1. Data Collection
Incorporate lessons learned from previous capital planning experience to support annual agency-wide initiatives and investments anticipated to preserve, replace, repair, promote safety, and increase reliability or capacity in Metro systems and assets over the next 10 years.
2. Technology Solution Development
Consolidate data into a web-based Capital Planning Tool that incorporates asset condition information and establishes project baselines through leveraging available asset data. Highlight and track targeted capital investments and establish business intelligence tools to enable informed decision-making.
3. Leadership Engagement
Engage with WMATA leadership to set priorities and gather information from operations, maintenance, and engineering groups to validate capital needs; proposed capital investments including scope, schedule, and budget; and manage future work planning and implementation strategies.
4. Deployment Planning
Develop communication and reporting mechanisms to transmit and execute the overall strategy to WMATA employees, increasing transparency and encouraging broad participation in the Capital Planning process.
Developed 10-Year Capital Plan and 6-Year Capital Improvement Program that was presented and approved by the WMATA Board which highlight the organization’s capital investments and strategies over a long-term horizon, including investments needed to restore and maintain safety, reliability, and state of good repair of the system and prepare for a sustainable and equitable future of the region.
Released interactive Capital Program Dashboard to communicate the results of the capital programming process across WMATA. Implemented measures and documented organizational roles and responsibilities to help instill accountability across Metro, ensuring that the organization has baseline capital project data to communicate to stakeholders and track performance.
Results
Results
Developed 10-Year Capital Plan and 6-Year Capital Improvement Program that was presented and approved by the WMATA Board which highlight the organization’s capital investments and strategies over a long-term horizon, including investments needed to restore and maintain safety, reliability, and state of good repair of the system and prepare for a sustainable and equitable future of the region.
Released interactive Capital Program Dashboard to communicate the results of the capital programming process across WMATA. Implemented measures and documented organizational roles and responsibilities to help instill accountability across Metro, ensuring that the organization has baseline capital project data to communicate to stakeholders and track performance.
