Evaluation of

Mayagüez’s Downtown
Circulator
David R. Soto Padín
Faculty Advisor: Didier Valdés PhD
Submitted to Dr. Benjamín Colucci
29 May 2013
 Agenda
• Introduction • Demographics and
• Justification Stated Preference
Survey Analysis
• Objectives
• Important • GPS Survey
Analysis
definitions
• Literature Review • Conclusion
• Study Area • Recommendations
• Methodology • References
 Introduction
• This is the first time Mayagüez has a
permanent form of public transportation
since 1926
• The Mayagüez “Trolley” service is a
downtown circulator that has three routes
and is operated by the municipality
• 10-15 minute headways is the objective
• Operates from 7am-6pm
 The Service

• Route 1: 3.3 mi / 5.3 km

• Route 2: 1.63 mi / 2.62 km
• Route 3: 1.73 mi / 2.78 km
• 2 “Trolleys” per route
• 10-15 minute headways is the objective
• Operates from 7am-6pm
Route 1 Route 2 Route 3
Historical Background

• Soft-launch Jan 2012, inaugurated Oct 2012

• Links five communities within Mayagüez
CBD with Plaza Colón and University of
Puerto Rico Mayagüez
• Links parking garages located on periphery
of the Mayagüez CBD
The Vehicles
Capacity: 24 passengers
The Terminal: Plaza Colón
 Parking Garages
Capacity: 680 vehicles

Capacity: 400 vehicles Capacity: 410 vehicles

Justification (Investments)
• $1.1 million from American Recovery and
Reinvestment Act for purchase of:
• 6 “Trolley” vehicles
• 2 Paratransit vehicles
• $600,000 estimated annual operational cost
to Municipality of Mayagüez
 Justification
• To understand the needs of citizens inclined
towards public transportation; to serve
them better
• Provide information to make informed
decisions on how to improve the public
transportation within the Mayagüez CBD
• Serve as a “pilot” study for other
evaluations of downtown circulators like
the “Trolley” service
 Objectives
✓ Describe the physical characteristics of each
route of the “Trolley” service
✓ Evaluate demographics and trip preferences
of users of the “Trolley” service
✓ Determine basic operating characteristics of
the “Trolley” service
✓ Make recommendations towards improving
service
 Definitions
• Headway – time interval between the
moments two successive transit units pass
a fixed point on a transit line
• Frequency – number of transit units passing
a point on a transit line over a given period
of time
• Cycle time – time interval between two
successive departures of a given transit unit
from the same terminal on a transit line
 Definitions
• Line Capacity – maximum number of spaces
that can be transported past a fixed point in
one direction during one hour
• Service facility – physical location where
vehicle fleet is stored and given maintenance
• Running time – period when vehicle is in
motion
• Stopped delay time – when vehicle has
stopped or almost stopped moving
 Literature Review
• “Urban Transit Operations, Planning and
Economics” by Vukan R.Vuchic, Ph.D.

• “Trolleys municipales darán servicio al RUM” by

Rosa Vélez, Mariam. Prensa RUM. January 2012.

• “Transportación gratis en Mayagüez” by Primera

Hora. 3 October 2012.

• “Travel Time Data Collection Handbook” by

Federal Highway Administration, March 1998

• “Travel Time Data Collection Using Global

Positioning System Technology” by BRW, Inc., July 2000.
Area of Study
 Start

M Literature Review

e 2010 US
Census Data
News Articles
Describing Service
Vuchic’s Textbook on
Public Transportation
Travel Time Data
Collection Handbook

t
h Transit Facility GPS Survey User Demographics

o Study measuring distance and Preference Survey Interviews

Inventory
• Bus Stops
traveled and time data for
each route over a 4-5 day
Study to characterize users of
the system and identify their
• Transit Agency
Officials
d
• Vehicles period. Identifies deviations trip preferences as well as to
• Route Lengths from route, segments prone measure attitudes toward • Bus Drivers
• Parking Garages to delays and shift changes. system.

o
l •
•
Preliminary Statistical Analysis
Descriptive Statistics
Identify strategic use of infrastructure •
•
Preliminary Statistical Analysis
Descriptive Statistics
Identify Typical Trip characteristics of Users

o
• Measure operating characteristics

Integrated
Analysis

g
y
Conclusions and Recommendations

End
 Socioeconomic and
Ridership Survey
• 9 questions relating to demographics
• 5 questions about rider’s typical trip
• 3 questions about rider’s current trip
• 2 open answer questions
 Demographics
Education Level Gender Age
5%
16%

43% 36%
44%
48% 56% 25%

4%
23%

K-12
Not Say 65+ 50-64
College or Currently Enrolled in University Male Female
26-49 18-25
Graduate or Some Grad
 Demographics
Marital Status Household Size Weekly Transportation Expense
3%
11% 6% 10%
21% 10%
26%

2% 2%
30%

64% 31% 84%

Married Live Together

1 2 3 to 4 $50-$100 Less than $50
Not Say Single
5+ n/a $0
Divorced
 Demographics
Household Size Marital Status
3%
10% 11%
26% 21%

2% 2%
30%

31% 64%

1 2 3 to 4 5+ n/a Married Live Together Not Say

Single Divorced
 Demographics
Public Transportation Near Home Live in Mayagüez CBD

2%

34%

46% 52%
66%

Yes No Rather not Say Yes No

 Typical Trip
Preferred Mode of Transportation
150.0

112.5

75.0

37.5

0
Public Transportation Walking Car Bicycle No Answer
 Typical Trip
Trip Period
150.0

112.5

75.0

37.5

0
6-9am 9am-12pm 12pm-1pm 1-3pm 3-6pm
 Typical Trip
Preferred Trolley Route
125.0

93.8

62.5

31.3

0
Route 1 Route 2 Route 3 Combination Rarely N/A
 Typical Trip
Commute Time Time it takes to Park Car

10% 9%
28% 20%
11%

12%

53% 5%
51%

Less than 10 minutes

Less than 10 minutes
10-30 minutes
10-30 minutes
More than 30 minutes
More than 30 minutes
Does not apply
Rather not say
No answer
 Current Trip
Purpose of this trip Transportation Modes Used Today

1%
2% 5%

22%
42% 48%
5%
67%

8%

Business-School Public Transportation + Walk

Leisure Public Transportation + Bike
Personal-Medical Errands Public Transportation + Car + Walk
Rather not say Public Transportation + Car + Bike
No Answer Given
Additional Comments

• “Es bien chévere que los estudiantes estén

colaborando con el municipio para mejorar el
servicio del Trolley”
• “It is so wonderful to know that students
are collaborating with the Municipality to
improve the ‘Trolley’ service”
 Additional Comments
Problems or Negative Feedback
35.00

26.25

17.50

8.75

0
Trolley Conditions Unreliable Service Route 1 Problem Conduct on Trolley Shift Change
 Additional Comments
Improvements Suggested
40

30

20

10

0
Service Extension Better Information Bus Stop Conditions Expand Service Hours Station Locations Pay for Service Implement ITS
 Additional Comments
Overall Feedback
70.0

Shift Change Problems

52.5
Implement ITS
I would pay for the service
Revise Station Locations
Conduct Problems on Trolley
Expand Service Hours
Colegio Route Problem 35.0
Unreliable Service
Improved Bus Stop Conditions
Poor Trolley Conditions
Better Information
Service Extension
Positive Feedback 17.5

0
Positive Negative Improvement
 GPS Survey

• QStarz BT-Q1000x obtained thanks to

Professor Didier Valdés
• Route 2 was observed over a 5-day period
• Routes 1 and 3 were observed over a 4-day
period
 GPS Survey
Average Velocity by Hour Route 1
8.0

7.2

6.4

5.6

4.8

4.0

3.2

2.4
7-9am 9-11am 11am-1pm 1-3pm 3-5pm 5-6pm
 GPS Survey
Average Velocity by Hour Route 2
5.20

4.64

4.08

3.52

2.96

2.40
7-9am 9-11am 11am-1pm 1-3pm 3-5pm 5-6pm
 GPS Survey
Average Velocity by Hour Route 3
7.00

6.08

5.16

4.24

3.32

2.40
7-9am 9-11am 11am-1pm 1-3pm 3-5pom
 GPS Survey
Route 1 Route 2 Route 3 Average velocity (mi/h)

7am-9am

9am-11am

11am-1pm

1pm-3pm

3pm-5pm

5pm-6pm

0 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8
 GPS Survey
Average Headways
25.00
Route 1 Route 2 Route 3

20.00

15.00

10.00

5.00

0
7-9am 9-11am 11am-1pm 1pm-3pm 3pm-5pm 5pm-6pm
 GPS Survey
Average Headways
25.00
Route 1 Route 2 Route 3

20.00

15.00

10.00

5.00

0
7-9am 9-11am 11am-1pm 1pm-3pm 3pm-5pm 5pm-6pm
 GPS Survey
Frequency per hour
7.0
Route 1 Route 2 Route 3

6.0

5.0

4.0

3.0

2.0

1.0

0
7-9am 9-11am 11am-1pm 1-3pm 3-5pm 5-6pm
 GPS Survey
Frequency per hour
7.0
Route 1 Route 2 Route 3

6.0

5.0

4.0

3.0

2.0

1.0

0
7-9am 9-11am 11am-1pm 1-3pm 3-5pm 5-6pm
 Line Capacity
• Using Vuchic’s formula for line capacity:

C = 60Cv • n / hmin
• Capacity utilization coefficient α

α = P/C
where P is utilized capacity
 Line Capacity
Using minimum headways
Line Capacity per Month Using average headways
28000

21000

14000

7000

0
Route 1 Route 2 Route 3 Ideal Route (h=15 min.)
 Line Capacity

• Transporte Integrado de Mayagüez provided us with an

estimate of 29,500 monthly passengers utilizing all
three routes of the Mayagüez “Trolley” service

• Using hmin: α = 29,500 / 68,455 = 0.43094 = 43.1%

• Using havg: α = 29,500 / 63,511 = 0.46449 = 46.4%

 Shift Changes
• Average time for first shift change: 34.5 minutes

• Average time for second shift change: 42.2 mins

• Average time lost in shift changes per day per route:

76.77 minutes
11.63% of “Trolley” operating time
 Conclusions

• The driver shift changes that are programmed

between 9-11am and between 1-3pm significantly
affect the reliability of the route during those
hours (headways increase, frequency decreases).

• Traffic from 11am-1pm reduces speeds of Routes

2 and 3 significantly.
 Conclusions

• The segment of Calle Candelaria between Calle

Pilar Defilló and Calle Betances provokes severe
traffic delays to Route 3.

• The segment of Calle Méndez Vigo between Calle

Pilar Defilló and Puerto Rico Highway 2 provokes
severe traffic delays to Route 3.
 Conclusions

• It is common for Route 1 to change from the

mapped route without previous notice.

• This confuses passengers who have informed

themselves with the map information and also
leaves students waiting within the university
stranded. This reduces the reliability of the route.
 Recommendations

• Explore a solution where the shift change

time is reduced significantly. Possibly:
• Have “Trolley” drivers check in and check
out at Plaza Colón
• Relocate service facility to a location within
the Mayagüez CBD
 Recommendations

• Improve geometric design of the following

intersections to reduce stopped delay time
of Route 3 of the “Trolley” service:
• Calle Candelaria and Calle Betances
• Puerto Rico Highway 2 and Calle Méndez Vigo
 Recommendations

• Consider expanding the service to other

communities of the Mayagüez CBD such as:
• Barrio Salud
• Barrio Playa (Coast) and Dulces Labios
 Recommendations

• Route 1 needs to adhere to the

publications and announcements that have
been published.
• Either the publications need to be updated
or some other alternative needs to be
explored to improve service to Colegio.
 References

• Vuchic,Vukan R., PhD. Urban Transit

Operations, Planning and Economics.
QStarz QTravel Software
Thank you for your time!