Room: International AB
Sponsor(s)
 
Session Description
9:00-10:30 –
Scheduling Unleashed: Turning a Technical Function into a Strategic Driver
and
Unlocking the Benefits of Modern Transit Technology
Scheduling is more than a technical necessity—it holds the untapped potential to become a primary driver for achieving an organization’s strategic goals. Despite being a cornerstone of transit operations, its full value often remains underutilized. This session invites you to uncover the hidden opportunities within scheduling, leveraging it to maximize impacts on customer experience, driver experience and cost savings. Through real-world case studies, we will delve into how leading organizations elevate scheduling by aligning structure, processes, HR practices, and strategy. Special focus will be placed on the alignment and collaboration between planners and schedulers, highlighting how increased synergy can unlock new opportunities and enhance strategic outcomes.
At the same time, many public transit agencies are investing in technologies such as AVL, APC, and smart fareboxes—but are they fully capitalizing on the wealth of data these systems generate? While the overwhelming amount of data presents challenges, it also offers a wealth of opportunities to improve decision-making, operational efficiency, and service quality. However, to fully harness the power of this data, it’s crucial to implement strategies that enable both schedulers and planners to leverage this information effectively. This session will explore how technology-driven data can inform both short-term scheduling and long-term planning, highlight ways to overcome data silos between planning, scheduling, and operations, and present practical strategies for using data to optimize service reliability and workforce management.
10:30-10:45 –
Break
10:45-11:30 –
The Strategic Role of Schedulers in Collective Bargaining
Negotiating your drivers’ Collective Bargaining Agreement is a critical process which directly ties to the agency operating budget, the workforce’s quality of life, and the ability to hire (and retain) drivers. This session explores the critical role of transit schedulers during collective bargaining negotiations, emphasizing their unique ability to align actual and future operational requirements with workforce expectations.
It examines key strategies, such as pre-negotiation analysis of collective bargaining agreements, scenario-based modeling, and data-driven approaches, to highlight how schedulers should contribute to creating practical, sustainable agreements. The discussion addresses the schedulers’ influence on improving operational efficiency, employee satisfaction, and overall service delivery, while identifying challenges and mitigation strategies, including collaborative workshops and pilot programs. By tapping in the value of schedulers’ technical expertise and strategic insights, this session underscores their valuable role in fostering balanced agreements that enhance transit system reliability and promote a healthier, more satisfied workforce.
11:30-12:00 –
Round table topics, breakouts, open forum
Speaker(s) / Presenter(s)
With degrees in Operations Research and Computer Science, Michel has dedicated his career to public transit. A passionate advocate for scheduling, he founded CSched in 2008 with a dedicated team of schedulers. He has transformed CSched into a beacon of innovation, assisting agencies worldwide in optimizing their operations.
In the last 17 years, Michel led several scheduling efficiency audits, helping transit agencies to save collectively over a hundred million dollars annually without cutting any service. In partnership with various unions and agencies, he also facilitated win-win solutions in Collective Bargaining Agreement (CBA) negotiations.
Michel is a fervent proponent of sharing the intricacies of the scheduling craft and the importance of taking data-driven decisions. As a change agent, Michel tirelessly advocates for the implementation of scheduling best practices.
Andrew is a seasoned transit planning and scheduling professional with 20 years of experience in public transportation. Currently serving as Supervisor of Transit Scheduling at Grand River Transit, he oversees the development of cost-effective vehicle and operator schedules, ensuring efficient service delivery. Previously, Andrew held leadership roles at Halifax Transit and managed transit planning, scheduling, and infrastructure projects. As the owner of Portwine Consulting Inc., he has provided expert scheduling services and professional development training. With a strong background in transit data analysis and workforce management, Andrew has contributed to major transit initiatives, including network redesigns, scheduling software migrations, and operational optimizations.
Moderator(s)
Blair Allen – Grand River Transit
Blair Allen, RPP, MCIP, MASc – Blair is the Manager of Transit Development at Grand River Transit (Region of Waterloo), overseeing the coordinated integration of the GRT Business Plan. Blair received the Canadian Urban Transit Association (CUTA)’s William G. Ross Lifetime Achievement Award in 2024 in recognition of his significant transit planning contributions and dedication to enhancing public transit in Waterloo Region over a 36-year career.
Gerry McIlhone – Brantford Transit
Bio Graduate of University of Waterloo and Niagara College
Manager of Transit Operations, city of Brantford
Previous senior management roles with City of Hamilton, Niagara Parks Commission, VIA Rail Canada
Volunteer leader with Canada Games, community youth basketball and other community games and events