Formulation of database & performance indicators for land passenger transport in Sri Lanka

Abstract

Statistical information on transport activities serve an important role for transport related decision making. As such many developed countries maintain common transport databases to store transport data in different transport related organization. These data are important to understand the changes of transport variables and to evaluate transport benefits and impacts. However responsible bodies for collection of data, storage and analysis have not been established in Sri Lanka and this is a common issue for all transport authorities and other transport related institutions, organizations for planning transport related projects and policy decision making. Due to lack of transport databases, performance indicators are not used for proper evaluation and planning. Formulations of transport databases and Performance Indicators minimize the deficiencies in transport sector directing transport regulators and planners to get remedies for the existing issues. The main objective of this study is to identify different types of Key Performance Indicators (KPI) which are applicable to measure key aspects of performance in Land Passenger Transport Sector such as quality, efficiency, safety etc. Outcome of this study is to provide an initiative to formulate common transport data base and KPIs in order to evaluate the Land Passenger Transport in Sri Lanka. This study reflects a brief analysis of performance in Land Passenger Transport Sector. This performance evaluation is carried out by means of KPIs derived on available transport variables in different transport organizations. Key observations of this study reveal that formulation of KPIs with a special emphasis on sectoral performance and user perspectives is essential to address the existing Land Transport issues. Improving a proper mechanism is needed to collect necessary data from relevant institutions in order to formulate above KPIs. In addition establishment of a responsible body for transport data collection is essential to formulate a common transport data base.