RTAC CNA and TAM

CNA

Annually, RTAC takes on the critical task of updating and prioritizing the capital needs of all downstate transit grantees in Illinois.  This work is accomplished in partnership with a leading transit consultant through the use of a Capital Needs Assessment (CNA).   The CNA is a  survey of Section 5311 grantees across the state which lists and evaluates revenue vehicles, stations, administrative and maintenance facilities, and guideway infrastructure to compile a comprehensive capital asset inventory. This inventory represents the transit assets of all 56 rural and small urban agencies providing transit services outside of Chicago.

Analysis of the inventory by the CNA model allows IDOT leadership to estimate Downstate transit needs for the next 10 years and has aided their advocacy for transit improvements since 2002. The CNA model also determines the current state of good repair (SGR) backlog for transit in Downstate Illinois, similar to the estimate The Federal Transit Administration (FTA) provides for the nationwide transit condition to the US Congress in the Conditions and Performance Reports.

TAM

All agencies that receive federal financial assistance and own, operate, or manage capital assets used in the provision of public transportation to create a Transit Asset Management (TAM) Plan. Agencies can meet this requirement either through an Individual or Group TAM Plan. The goal of the TAM Plan is to promote the coordinated activity of agencies to realize value from their assets by balancing costs, risks, opportunities, and performance benefits while tying investment priorities to the agency’s goals, objectives, and overall mission.

In Downstate Illinois a group TAM coordinated by IDOT, IPTA, and RTAC collects the TAM information for the 54 Tier II agencies (two Tier I agencies do not participate in this group: St. Clair County Transit District, and Rides Mass Transit District).  The group TAM leverages data from the annual CNA to meet the four required elements:

1) An inventory of capital assets, including all assets already reported through the CNA annual survey process;
2) A condition assessment, including conditions estimated by the existing CAN model and new facility condition assessments done by agencies;
3) A decision support tool, through modification of the existing CNA model; and
4) Investment prioritization, including agency input on prioritizing transit investments utilizing the improved data available in the annual CNA process and modified CNA models.