Simulation-based planning for bus operation in Mexico City

Abstract

moreover, there is no plan for their development or improvement and those factors, combined with an appalling management, results in terrible and inefficient microbus networks.

In order to check the status of microbuses and aiming for an informed change or a system redesign (either the route or the vehicle, if needed), this research, proposed a simulation-based planning combining land use and GI data, vehicle’s mechanical characteristics data and a demand generation model. The simulation is tested in a study case in one of the microbus routes in Mexico City with several scenarios with the main objective of choosing the most feasible option for the route according to users, operational and social costs.

The contribution of the simulation proposed, compared to other typical simulations, is the consideration and inclusion of the mechanical characteristics reflected in a speed profile adjusted to the route. This speed profile will provide a real estimation of the fuel consumption and pollutant emissions of the vehicle proposed. Moreover, even though the simulation does not provide optimal results, it gives necessary information for a future decision-making.

One of the backbones of a city is the existence of efficient means of transportation that can satisfy the citizen needs and can provide an easy, secure and reliable mobility throughout the city. Buses stand out as one of the most common and widely use means of transportation, regardless the type, configuration or business model. In Mexico City, microbuses (around 6.5 m long) are the most common chosen by people to commute. However, these are also the least develop and there is a lack of data or information of them