MTA Transportation System, Essay Example

Information technology is becoming increasingly prevalent in many service industries. In particular, the MTA, which is responsible for running New York City’s transportation system uses these computer systems to coordinate the dispatch of busses and trains across the five boroughs. It is essential for these practices to be refined in a manner that brings optimal services to individuals throughout the city. As such, a knowledge of logistics must be implemented in a manner that allows MTA staff to make informed decisions about the individuals that need to travel to certain locations, what time these individuals will generally be making these trips, and how to ensure that the bus and train system is accessible to all individuals that would need its services. To do so, data is needed to determine the bus and train schedules, based on the frequency of travel for various members of the population. For example, information technology evidence indicates that it is preferable to send large numbers of busses and trains to Manhattan, rather than the far parts of the outer boroughs because these areas are less populated. To gain this information, the MTA studies the amount of Metrocard swipes, system that the city uses for train entry, to determine which stops people frequent and at what times. As a consequence, the city is able to adjust train and bus schedules to accommodate the different people that will need to use them.

Overall, it appears highly beneficial to implement this information technology system because it helps the MTA save money. Doing so allows the city to optimize use of its busses and trains, ensuring that the transportation it dispatches will be mostly full. In addition, it must determine how it could allow inhabitants of the city to commute in a convenient manner because many of these individuals have few other transportation options. Therefore, this practice is beneficial as a money saving and customer satisfaction technique. On the other hand, it is important to consider the expense of the system. While it is challenging to determine how much money the implementation of the Metrocard system cost the MTA over time, it currently has plans that would update the system. This would cost the organization $450 million. Therefore, it is apparent that using the latest technology is expensive, but doing so is necessary to maintain the efficiency with which the transit system operates. The MTA subway and bus system in New York City is considered to be one of the best public transportation systems in the world. Thus, it is expected that it will implement funds in order to maintain their ability to serve their customers effectively and efficiently.

Overall, it appears that the cost of updating the system and continuing its use is beneficial. It is expected that the new MTA Metrocard system will provide more data to the MTA in addition to allowing individuals to pay for use of the subway using their cell phones and other automatic payment methods. While this improvement would cost $450 million, individuals believe the upgrade will be worthwhile due to the efficiency it will introduce to the system. As New York City becomes more crowded, there is a greater incentive to clear subway platforms more quickly. Thus, it is plausible that the MTA will receive more business for implementing this quicker method of payment. Individuals that typically take cabs may begin to think that subway and bus transportation is more convenient in terms of timing and cost efficiency, so their increased participation in subway use will increase MTA profits. Furthermore, many individuals that inhabit New York City spend approximately $116 per month on a Metrocard. Since thousands of individuals use this transportation system each day, it will not take a very long time for the city agency to make back the money that it is planning to lay out for this deal. This point of view is important because is stresses the need to invest money in building infrastructure. When new infrastructure is built or old infrastructure is repaired, it is easier to improve the efficiency of practices. Therefore, the MTA’s plans to overhaul the current Metrocard system will be beneficial. They will now be able to understand data such as the zip code of the purchaser that could be used to further optimize the ways that public transportation is dispersed in the near future. Information is the key to success, and the MTA and the residents of New York City would benefit by implementing this new information technology initiative.