Topic Précis
Wen Li, Tom Zhang, Jae Kim & Marcel Grzeszczyk
ESC102S – Praxis II – F3008-05
Looking at TTC Commuters as a Community
Overview1. Definition of Community
2. Stakeholders
3. Definition of Need
4. Definition of Quality of Life (QoL)
5. Current Problems
6. Next Steps in Research
Community
• A group of people identified by common characteristics or interests
To Be Specific:• We chose the community of TTC Subway
commuters on the SYonge-University-Spadina Line
TTC Subway Commuters
• Estimated Total population: 876,000
• Majority: people who work and study in downtown Toronto.
• Common interest: - Avoid traffic - Get to destination efficiently
About This CommunityBusiest Stations Estimated
passenger trips
Bloor-Yonge 212,600
St George 138,800
Union 102,500
Finch 101,900
Eglinton 79,700
Sheppard-Yonge 75,200
Dundas 67,600
Station to StationReference: Union Station
Average travel time(without delay)
Finch 30 min
Sheppard-Yonge 25 min
Eglinton 15 min
Bloor-Yonge 8 min
Dundas 4 min
St. George 8 min
Stakeholders
The main stakeholders include:
• The Commuters (Users)• The TTC
(Operators)• Bombardier
(Manufacturer)• City of Toronto (Infrastructure)
Conceptual Need• Need (noun): Something, either physical or psychological, that is required
by human beings to maintain/improve their life
• The needs may be classified into the gravity of negative consequences, caused by the lack of need. (Maslow’s pyramid)
Specific Need
Optimized travel times through the reduction of preventable delays on
TTC subways
Quality of LifeThe extent to which human needs are fulfilled in
relation to one’s own well-being
Problems for the TTC Subway Community
• Delays are frequent, and reduce efficiency.
• Caused by several reasons– Inappropriate triggering
of PAA.– Garbage in railway
causes fire.– Doors do not close
promptly.
Passenger Delays total 256 hours in 2011
Passenger Assistance Alarms (PAA)• Yellow belt that extends the length of the train.• Used for fire, illness, accidents, etc.• 950 non-emergency delays in 2012.
Delays by:
90+ hours of delay in 2012
Smoke in Tunnels
• Majority is caused by garbage fire on tracks.
• Riders have to take shuttle buses instead.
• Smoke caused 260 delays in 2012.
Delays by:
Average: 5 delays per week, 11min per delay
Doors Not Closing Promptly
• During rush hours, doors sometime take more than once to close.
• Effect accumulates cascades through the system.
• Japan has pushers to maximize people inside.
Delays by:
Japanese Pushers during rush hour
Next Research Steps
ConcreteAbstract
Indirect
Direct
Retrieving raw data for causes and lengths of delays – are they preventable?
Reference designs – emergency alarms, door closing mechanisms
TTC press release on subway data
Interviewing commuters
Contacting Bombardier about train design