KKO helps many of its clients with performance audits to evaluate the effectiveness and efficiency of the organization in meeting its goals. To evaluate its effectiveness, KKO objectively measures the organization against its stated goals and benchmarks its performance relative to peers. To evaluate efficiency in achieving organizational objectives, KKO evaluates what resources are consumed pursuing those objectives and compares the results with engineering standards and industry benchmarks.
 
 
MBTA/Amtrak Cost Analysis

KKO performed cost analysis of Amtrak’s three-year extension to the 1995 Operating Agreement for the provision of commuter rail services. KKO evaluated the proposed contract extension price with prior year budget and actual data and conducted a cost analysis in accordance with FTA Best Practices Manual guidelines and Federal Acquisition Regulation Sections 15 and 31.

For the Massachusetts Bay Transportation Authority, KKO worked to improve the financial performance of the South Station passenger rail terminal as a retail and office center as well as a passenger station. Working with the MBTA private counsel and Transit Realty Associates, KKO developed and recommended a program of lease and management adjustments that resulted in the station's first positive cash flow for the Authority since the station's 1988 renovation.

Commuter Rail Study for Amtrak

In conjunction with Amtrak's Planning and Development Department, KKO conducted a study of the seven commuter rail services provided by Amtrak. The focus of the study was to identify the current methods and procedures used for fulfilling reporting requirements by the seven commuter rail operators which include:

• Boston's MBTA service
• Virginia Railway Express
• San Diego Coaster service
• Maryland's MARC service
• Los Angeles' Metrolink service
• Connecticut Shoreline East service
• Peninsula Commuter service

To conclude the study, KKO conducted a video conference to share its findings with representatives of each service and offered recommendations for new records management methods and performance measures.

 

 

 
Delaware Otsego Management Audit

For the Delaware Otsego short line railroads, KKO, with Mercer Management Consulting, conducted a management audit that focused on several functions of the rail administration including staffing and compensation levels of management and administrative staff, purchasing and procurement procedures, and the suitability of computer systems in use for the support of operations.

For a private client in the telecommunications industry, KKO participated in a Cambridge Systematics project to develop a computerized rate evaluation system. For this project, KKO implemented programs to estimate consumer responses to changes in telephone rates. This "nested logit" model is used to evaluate alternative rate policies via microcomputer.

For the Wisconsin Department of Transportation, KKO, as a subcontractor to Cambridge Systematics, Inc., completed a system of Fortran programs for the evaluation of alternative airport investment strategies.

KKO and Associates, L.L.C. Five Vine Street Andover, MA 01810 Phone:   978-475-4079 Fax:   978-662-3282