1.0 Video
Summer Siddiqi, Joel Suarez Cano, Saverio Corriero, Guy Marcel Ndikumwami
2.0 Summary
2.1 Problem Summary
The problem at hand is that the proportion of people in Winnipeg who choose public transit as their primary mode of transportation is very low, with only 12% of citizens depending on the public transit system as their main method of transportation (Brown, 2023). This suggests that the existing transit system is not meeting the needs of the population. Based on data obtained from Winnipeg Transit’s on-time performance statistics, buses ran late on average 25.12% of the time, and one way to increase reliability in the system is by ensuring more consistent and punctual bus services. As a result, the City of Winnipeg will enhance the reliability, trust, and user satisfaction of its network.
2.2 Solution Summary
The proposed solution consists of a systematic approach involving the use of cameras, particularly cameras facing the buses' direction of travel, and a GPS tracking system aboard buses in Winnipeg. A bus arriving late to a stop along its route is flagged for review by a member of the transit operational team to determine whether the root cause of the delay was due to a preventable cause, infrastructure issue, or an unforeseen circumstance. The next aspect is to interview the bus driver of the particular route to obtain their opinion on the state of operation along the route. A solution can then be deployed to that specific route consisting of operational or infrastructural changes if feasible. Such changes consist of widening the spacing between bus stops, increasing the frequency of buses traveling the route, implementing signal priority, designating bus lanes, and revamping bus stops and shelters.
2.3 Practical Humility Clause
Due to the limited time and resources available for development of our solution, our group decided to identify the main uncertainties surrounding our proposed solution. It was important to understand how our proposal can have an impact both to and from users, bus drivers, and staff. We ensured our solution maintained the privacy of staff and the public when using cameras by using specifically front facing cameras. We also ensured anonymity and an opt out option for the surveyed bus drivers, allowing them to speak openly and honestly without fearing any personal consequences. Finally, the largest uncertainty in our solution is the data gathered from the existing system in the initial steps. This data will have a large impact on the types of interventions later utilized, and allowing our solution to be adaptable to these changes was key to implementing a long lasting and feasible solution.
3.0 Detailed Explanation
3.1 Problem Statement
The problem at hand is that the proportion of people in Winnipeg who choose public transit as their primary mode of transportation is very low, with only 12% of citizens depending on transit as their main method of transportation (Brown, 2023). This suggests that the existing transit system is not meeting the needs of the population. One way to meet these needs is by making the system more reliable. By ensuring consistent and punctual services, the transit system will enhance its reliability, trust, and user satisfaction. Winnipeg buses run late on average 25.12% of the time, and when speaking with experts from Winnipeg, many noted their frustrations in the frequently late buses and inability to depend on the transit system (On-time performance, n.d.; Guber, 2024). Further insight into the punctuality issue is provided by Figure 1 below. The map uses dot size to represent the frequency of late buses at each stop, with larger dots representing increased occurrences of late buses. This visual representation helps identify specific areas or stops where lateness is particularly common (On-time performance, n.d.).
https://lh7-us.googleusercontent.com/cOUtQrFKH8zN-mn5JQJwld6WZ4kN7pJhxtyHozE0jd2PGiPaPwmYWeIi5_hT7isaA0pQ0QAr3BORZHspY9KRHsJgjQeto964GJgd4cvHy6-lfipEmU-1BQlgVTqKpG1vzqe5HGlePeYUTd5Wxomv3g4
Figure 1: Late On-Time Performance Map for Winnipeg Transit for December 2023 (On-time performance, n.d.)