Date of Award
2004
Document Type
Dissertation
Degree Name
Doctor of Education
Department
Fischler Graduate School of Education and Human Services
Advisor
Elizabeth Brennan
Committee Member
Gloria Wolfson
Committee Member
Maryellen Maher
Keywords
Baptist Health South Florida, BHSF, bicycle commuting, bicycling, bus transportation, campus planning, carpooling, Chief Executive Officers, commuting, compressed work weeks, congestion management, cost efficiency, development research methodology, employee transportation, employee travel behavior, facility access, flextime, implementation planning, literature reviews, medical campuses, metrorail, Miami, operational efficiency, organizational reports, parking facilities, patient access, parking congestion, public transportation, roadways, service providers, supplier access, survey analysis, telecommuting, traffic alternatives, traffic congestion, traffic control, traffic regulations, transportation planning, United States, vanpooling, visitor access, walking, work hour flextime, workplace transportation, workforce mobility
Abstract
This project studied the impact of traffic congestion on Baptist Health South Florida (BHSF) medical campuses. More than 10,000 employees driving their individual vehicles to and from work caused congestion. In addition, suppliers, service providers, patients, and patients’ visitors added to the daily traffic needing access to and parking within the complex. Operational procedures, particularly at peak hours in the morning and afternoon, were significantly impacted by excessive automobile traffic congestion on the roadways and in overcrowded parking garages.
This project sought to address the following 6 questions: (a) What successful traffic alternatives have been applied elsewhere and what are the most salient aspects of these programs that could be applied to BHSF?; (b) Of the options determined to have a positive effective on traffic conditions, which corrective measures most appeal to those involved in or party to the traffic congestion?; (c) What specific measures are most cost efficient, are easiest to implement, and have the greatest impact to the magnitude of the congestion problem?; (d) What specific corrective measures are most applicable to the specific conditions at BHSF and which will be most effective in remedying the issue quickly and easily?; (e) What model of presentation should be applied to the plan, and in what format should the plan be best written for ease of application with employees and others involved in the traffic problem?; and (f) Given a plan for implementation, how should the plan be implemented, and if implemented, how should it be evaluated? These questions were addressed through literature reviews and a comprehensive analysis of existing organizational reports and surveys. The study was conducted utilizing the development research methodology. The researcher developed and presented a detailed plan and set of recommendations in a comprehensive solution package to the Chief Executive Officers of BHSF.
The researcher of this project pursued answers to 7 questions with the intention to gather facts, statistics, and best practices at other organizations. The research revealed that many countries, including the United States, are experiencing traffic congestion. Miami is rated as one of the most congested cities in the country. Because BHSF facilities are all located in Miami, it became apparent to leadership that providing options to address this issue may result in operational efficiency. The researcher provided successful traffic alternatives utilized at other organizations. These varied from flextime, compressed work weeks, carpooling, vanpooling, public transportation such as the bus or metrorail, bicycling, biking, and walking. However, not all of these options are feasible at BHSF. The most salient aspects of these programs that could be applied to BHSF are carpooling, vanpooling, telecommuting, bicycling, work hour flextime, and compressed work weeks.