About
A working group of transit finance professionals
TFLEx began with its first workshop in March 1999 and has grown into an active nationwide network of transit finance leaders.
Purpose
The conference shaped the ideas of a few leading finance professionals into an active nationwide working group. TFLEx enables transit agencies to share and exchange information of interest, including financial strategies, training materials, procurement scopes of work, policies and procedures, and best business practices.
To keep a small and diverse membership that supports interaction, trust, sharing and openness, TFLEx purposely limits membership to about fifty transit agencies, a multi-modal mix of large and small transit properties.
Vision
Advancing the training and development of transit professionals in Finance.
Mission
TFLEx exists as a strategic alliance of transit agencies formed to leverage mutual strengths and continuously improve transit finance leadership, development, training practices and information sharing. The purpose of TFLEx is to evolve the finance function into a value-added business partner within each transit authority.
Member benefits
Semi-annual workshops
Members meet twice a year to explore topics of mutual interest, share relevant experiences, and develop best practices. The facilitated workshops involve every attendee in the discussion and provide continuing education credits. Because TFLEx is run by your transit finance colleagues, topics carry forward to the next workshop, the forum calls, or a special interest group.
Forum and Special Interest Group calls
Between workshops, members meet on Zoom to stay engaged and address timely issues. Calls cover topics put forward by members, follow up on matters from the last workshop, and provide continuing education credits.
Training and professional development
TFLEx has developed a body of reference material to educate finance staff new to transit, published as the Guide for Transit Newbies. Modules include transit history, bus and rail operations, key performance indicators, the federal regulatory framework, sources of capital and operating funds, grants management, fare policy, paratransit operations, procurement, and capital projects.
Sharing the best finance practices in transit
TFLEx maintains a catalogue of transit-focused best practices in finance processes and procedures for members to share, and facilitates the exchange of business, financial, controls, and cost management practices both within and outside the transit authority.
Comparative metrics
Sharing insight on comparative metrics is an ongoing workshop activity. The story behind the key performance indicators generates lively discussion and lets systems with positive trends share their successes.
On-demand targeted research
In response to member requests, TFLEx provides transit-targeted research on best business practices and coordinates peer evaluations by recognized transit finance experts, helping member agencies find areas where best practices can help them meet and exceed customer expectations.
"These are my people"
And, of course, there is the invaluable networking, from great discussions at the workshops to being able to send a quick email to your newly made friends.