Transit Finance Learning Exchange

The Fall 2008 TFLEx Conference will be held in Boston, MA, hosted by the Massachusetts Bay Transportation Authority (MBTA) on September 8th and 9th, with the business meeting on the 10th. More information on the agenda, registrations, and travel arragements will follow.

TFLEx Special Interest Groups

At the Chicago Conference the members agreed to establish some special interest groups among our membership. A special interest group is a community with a particular interest in a specific technical area. It is usually abbreviated SIG. Members of a SIG cooperate to produce solutions, identify trends and resources (or work through common frustrations) within their particular area.

TFLEx is starting with three SIGs, Budgets, Grants, and Information Technology, to try out the concept and see what kind of response we receive. If these first three groups are successful, we will try some more early next year.

Who are the targeted users to be in the SIG? Any TFLEx website user that deals with this technical area as part of their job responsibilities.

How much time will it take? To get started, each member will have to set up a website account, answer emails and postings from other users, and to check the website occasionally. The time involved should be minimal. The group may decide to work on some special projects, like surveys or best practice white papers, but that is up to the members.

How will the members benefit? Every SIG member will be familiar with the other members, so that they know who to call if they need something, and more importantly that they feel comfortable enough to contact them.

How does someone join? First they have to have a website account. Go to http://www.tflex.org/start.asp?switch=registernow and complete the form there. Your account will be activated within a day or two. Once you have access to the account, open you profile by clicking the "My Account" link in the upper right had corner. Click the "Edit SIGs" button below your "business card." Check the SIG you wish to join, Budgets, Grants, or Information Technology from the list, and then click the "Save special interest groups" button at the bottom of the page.

When will this start? The groups are always taking new members. Contact the group leaders (listed below) to sign up now! The group leaders are:
Budgets - Gary Kirkman
Grants - Steve Schindel
Information Technology - Milton Stanley

Any questions? Contact Ray Garton (see his profile in the directory, we do not list email address and phone numbers on public web pages to reduce spam).

TFLEx Accomplishments

TFLEx members meet twice annually to share best practices and "needs and leads," learn from industry experts and work together to develop and maintain the ongoing TFLEx Business Plan. These are facilitated workshops where all members are able to participate in roundtable discussions.

TFLEx members identified a need to educate finance staff in the field of transit without extensive costs. Transit 101 was developed as a web-based instructional tool to bring information regarding the transit field to the desktops of staff members whether in finance or other departments. Modules deployed to date include Federal, State, and Local Funding; Procurement; Paratransit Operations: Fare Policy; and Regulatory Framework. Others are in development with a total of 26 planned.

Sharing management tools such as benchmarking, activity-based costing, process mapping, balanced scorecard, key performance indicators, and best practices has been an ongoing activity of members attending the bi-annual workshops. Transit systems taking the lead in these practices share their successes and "opportunities" with their fellow members.

Membership in TFLEx provides access to entire TFLEx website. Here members share such information as:

TFLEx has a goal of 30-35 members. While membership is filling up fast, we still have room for additional members. Annual membership dues are determined by agency size

Membership included attendance at the bi-annual workshops for a nominal fee. Click here for more information on how to join.