Meeting_Body
REVISED
SYSTEM SAFETY, SECURITY AND OPERATIONS COMMITTEE
APRIL 12, 2018
Subject
SUBJECT: METRO RAIL CAPACITY STUDY
(MOTION 2017-0922 RESPONSE)
Action
ACTION: RECEIVE AND FILE
Heading
RECOMMENDATION
Title
RECEIVE AND FILE report on Metro Rail capacity in response to Board Motion 2017-0922.
Issue
ISSUE
On January 25, 2018, the Board of Directors (Board) approved Motion #2017-0922 (Metro Rail Capacity Study) under Item 47, requesting staff to analyze current ridership as a percentage of maximum capacity for passengers at all existing rail stations during weekdays, weekends, peak, and off-peak hours. This report responds to the motion's request.
While there is generally capacity on the rail network during the non-peak periods, during the peak hours, trains on all rail lines meet and exceed the maximum capacity on a trip by trip basis as ridership demand pulses to the line from connecting bus and rails service, work shift start and end times, school bell times, etc.
Discussion
DISCUSSION
Detailed rail ridership is collected continuously through a series of riding checks. The number of checks performed on a monthly basis is only large enough to permit estimation of ridership by line and day type. On an annual basis these checks can be aggregated to provide a more complete picture of ridership by station, direction, and time of day. The most recent annual ride check compilation spans FY2017.
Unlike the Metro bus system, rail cars are not all presently equipped with Automated Passenger Counters (APC's). APC's are provided as part of the current P3010 light rail vehicle (LRT) car order, however, staff is working to finalize the process and methodology for data capture and validation, which will include a one year FTA testing and approval process. Similarly, a retrofit of the P2000 LRV will incorporate APC's. However, delivery of the retrofitted P2000 LRVs will not begin until the start of 2020, with FTA testing and validation which...
Click here for full text