CTA Wins Richard Driehaus E-Governance Award

Chicago Transit Authority
“Implementation of ProjectNet”

“Faced with a formidable infrastructure improvement need, the Chicago Transit Authority (CTA) formed a partnership to help with the pre-design, design and construction of its multi-billion dollar transportation capital improvement program. In addition to developing an ISO 9000 quality program, CTA’s team simultaneously implemented a comprehensive Web-based project management system, ProjectNet, to consolidate and enhance workflow efficiency gains.

"ProjectNet is used during all stages of the project life cycle planning, design, construction and operations. It provides CTA staff, consultants, contractors, outside agency personnel and customers immediate access to information as it is being posted, enabling rapid incorporation of feedback from multiple stakeholders, preventing mistakes from taking root, improving the rate and retention of good ideas and compressing review and approval time. Records retained for long-term use prevent inefficient re-invention of the wheel.

"No other transportation system has adopted Web-based project management, on a programmatic scale, to manage capital programs in a coordinated manner and yield systematic performance improvements. Comparing performance on the Douglas Branch Rehabilitation program to performance prior to the Web-based system reveals a 260% increase in the number of problems resolved in 18% less time. As a result of these innovations, this 3.5-year project may be complete 255 days ahead of schedule and has save $1.7 million dollars. This translates into minimized inconvenience to the traveling public and potential reduction in project costs. This process and technology innovation demonstrates a commitment to sound stewardship of public trust.”

Text above is taken from The Government Assistance Program at Depaul University Annual Recognition Event and presentation of the Richard H. Driehaus Public Innovator Awards, November 14, 2003

About the Public Innovator Awards
The Richard H. Driehaus Foundation and the Government Assistance Program at DePaul University presented the first Richard H. Driehaus Public Innovator Awards on November 14, 2003 to three public service teams judged to have improved service delivery, addressed problems and demonstrated measurable results. There were 48 applications and 3 awards:

Public Innovator in E-Governance
Chicago Transit Authority
Implementation of ProjectNet

Public Innovator in Physical Design
Chicago Department of Environment
Green Bungalow Initiative and Chicago Center of Green Technology

Public Innovator in Capacity Building
Office of the Clerk of the Circuit Court of Cook County
“Cook County Integrated Criminal Justice Information Systems Strategic Plan”