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