RNR Consulting was commissioned by the Toledo Area Regional Transit Authority (TARTA) to conduct an assessment of Trapeze FX / Blockbuster version 7, the Fixed Route Scheduling and Runcutting system utilized by the agency, and Trapeze PASS version 7, TARTA’s Paratransit Scheduling Services Management System. This initiative was specifically aimed at examining the current utilization of available Trapeze modules, in order to determine whether the software package meets the goals and objectives of both TARTA and TARPS. The project involved conducting a review of the current configurations of the applications, as well as determining whether all functionalities are optimally utilized by agency personnel. The project team was additionally tasked with examining the relevant features of the new version 9 of the Trapeze modules, assessing whether a possible upgrade could lead to a significant improvement in the overall efficiency of TARTA’s operations.

In order to gather the required information related to the system usage and existing issues with the application and supporting IT environment, RNR Consulting conducted interviews with key Trapeze PASS, FX, and Blockbuster users. The assessment of the software package, lead to the creation of a recommendations list, which was based on the interview findings, supported by additional research, review and analysis, as well as first hand experience with the Trapeze applications. As the final outcome of the project, RNR Consulting determined changes to the system configuration that provided immediate remedies to multiple issues, which were faced by agency personnel. In addition, long term solutions, including training opportunities and hardware updates, were also explored.