A look into the Southern California Metrolink

1. to Work
Eli Brewer
Vicki Chen
Jason McMillian
ME176

2. Motivation
! Los Angeles (LA) urban sprawl
! U.S. Census: Population Change 2000 – 2010
19.1 %
9.3 %
3.1 %
(City 2.6%)
41.7 %
5.8 %
Ref: http://quickfacts.census.gov/qfd/states/06/06071.html
ME176

3. Objectives
! Analyze the Metrolink Rail (91 Line) from Downtown Riverside to
Fullerton
! Do a cost/benefit analysis in comparison with
! Commuting by Car
! Retrofitting for Wi-fi and Tables – Technology Car
! Creating a Business Class Car
LA Union Riverside – Downtown
Station
Commerce Buena Park West Corona Riverside – La Sierra
Norwalk/
Santa Fe Springs Fullerton Anaheim North Main
Canyon Corona
ME176

4. Outline
! Baseline Intro. & Analysis
! Car Alternative & Analysis
! Tech. Car Alternative & Analysis
! Business Car Alternative & Analysis
! Table Comparison
! Recommendations
! Limitations and Improvements to Analysis
ME176

5. Baseline Case
Cost:
! Double-Decker
! Used: $35,000
! Tables
! Refurbished: $435,000
! Electrical outlets
! New: $2,200,000 seated
! 136-162
! Cost to user/mi: $0.0156
passengers
Ref: http://www.trainweb.org/chris/rotem.html
Ref: http://www.sltrib.com/news/ci_9749907 ME176

6. Metrolink Rail – 91 Line
! Average Weekday Ridership:
2,398 passengers
! 84% work commute
! Average one-way trip length:
36.6 miles
! 83% have car available
LA Union Riverside – Downtown
Station
Commerce Buena Park West Corona Riverside – La Sierra
Norwalk/
Santa Fe Springs Fullerton Anaheim North Main
Canyon Corona
ME176
Ref: http://www.metrolinktrains.com/pdfs/Facts&Numbers/Fact_Sheets/91L_Demographics_Fact_Sheet_2011.pdf

7. Assumptions
! Scope: State Route 91 between Riverside & Fullerton
! Costs/Benefits normalized per train traveler mile
! Every person on the Metro represents one less person on the
roadway
! The “user” is a rider of the Metrolink
! The “public” include those in their cars on the freeway as well as
those not on the freeway
! People can be 40% productive on the baseline train, their
productivity would jump a modest 3% with the WiFi, and up to
50% on the Business Class car
! Metrolink would recoup any loses within 50 years
ME176

8. Some Parameters
ME176

9. Baseline Analysis (cost per train traveler mile)
User Benefit User Cost Public Benefit Public Cost
Ticket Price -- 0.156 -- --
Congestion -- -- 5.41 x 10 -4 --
Emissions 0.0173 0.000986 1.89 x 10 -6 2.39 x 10 -7
Safety 1.04 0.0977 0.00741 --
Productivity 0.234 -- -- --
Time -- 0.628 -- --
Auto 0.573 -- -- --
Operation
Subsidy 8.23 x 10 -9 8.23 x 10 -9 -- 8.23 x 10 -9
Total 1.88 0.883 0.00796 2.47 x 10 -7
ME176

10. Alternative Case: Car
! Pros
!Mobility
!Versatility
! Cons
!Cost
!Maintenance
!Ownership
!Insurance
!Cost to the user/mile: $0.585
!Safety
!Traffic
Ref: http://volvo-240.seebyseeing.net/ME176

11. Impact of Congestion
! Riverside-San Bernardino in 2010
! Extra travel time = 31 hrs/commuter/year
! Excess fuel consumed = 17 gals/commuter/year
! Cost:
31hrs x $16/hr + 17 gal x $4/gal = $564
Ref: http://tti.tamu.edu/documents/mobility-report-2011.pdf ME176

12. Alternate Case: Automobile
!"#$%&'()&"*)&%)*+(,()&-.,(/
0$()&1(2(3% 0$()&4#$% 567,."&1(2(3% 567,."&4#$%
!"#$%&'()"#% ** ** ** **
+,-.%/0,- ** 12134 ** 5243'6'51*4
78"//",-/ ** 121539 ** 923:'6'51*3
;<=%&> 121:33 521? ** @2@A'6'51*4
(),BC#0D"&> ** ** ** **
!"8% ** 12E9E ** **
FC&,'GH%)<0,- ** 12E39 ** **
I"J" ** ** ** ***
FBB%B'K<L,) ** ** ** **
M%N'!)<"-'+<) ** ** ** **
;CL/"B> ** ** ** **
!,&<O/ 121:33 @2@? 1214?@ @2?:'6'51*E

13. Alternative Case: Retrofit Tech Rail
!
Pros
!
WiFi
!
Increased workspace per person
!
More power outlets
!
Cons
!
Cost
! Installation
! Maintenance

14. On-Rail WiFi
! Benefit of servicing a finite area.
! WiFi technology is only used for
communication on the train car itself to the
passengers devices.
! There are two primary methods of connected
a train to the internet.
!
3G/Satellite enabled
!
Fiber network

15. 3G/Satellite
! Pros
! Cheaper installation
! Uses existing cellular
towers
! Cons
! Costly to upgrade
! Dead zones and
underground
! Slow network speed
Ref: http://www.icomera.com/rail/
solutions/

16. Fiber Network
! Pros
! High network speed
! Stable
! Works underground
! Easier to upgrade
! Cons
! Expensive installation
Ref: http://www.wifirail.net/
Ref: http://www.wifirail.net/pages/NewsBartDiffernce.html

17. Marketing
! Charging for use $$$/year, $$/month, $/day,
$/2hr, $/min or free to use after watching a
advertisement.
! Real time advertising based on location.
! Train telemetry, surveillance and security
would run over the network.
! High density of bodies who are potentially
bored, looking to be distracted, or needing to
be productive.
Ref: http://www.wifirail.net/pages/NewsBartDiffernce.html
Ref: http://www.icomera.com/rail/solutions/

18. Alternative Analysis: Technology Car
(cost per train traveler mile)
User Benefit User Cost Public Benefit Public Cost
Ticket Price -- 0.156 -- --
Congestion -- -- 5.62 x 10 -4 --
Emissions 0.0173 0.00211 1.28x 10 -4 2.39 x 10 -7
Safety 1.04 0.0977 0.00763 --
Productivity 0.252 -- -- --
Time -- 0.628 -- --
Auto 0.573 -- -- --
Operation
WiFi 0.0223 0.000102 -- ---
Train Car -- 0.00789 -- --
Retrofit
Subsidy 8.23 x 10 -9 8.23 x 10 -9 -- 8.23 x 10 -9
Total 1.94 0.891 0.00833 2.47 x 10 -7

19. Alternative Case: Business Class
!
Pros
!
Food and Beverage service
!
Lots of space
!
Comfort
!
WiFi
!
Cons
!
Cost
!
New train car
!
Expensive ticket

20. Alternative Analysis: Business Car
(cost per train traveler mile)
User Benefit User Cost Public Benefit Public Cost
Ticket Price -- 0.156 -- --
Congestion -- -- 5.69 x 10 -4 --
Emissions 0.0173 0.00230 2.01 x 10 -6 9.39 x 10 -11
Safety 1.04 0.0977 0.00779 --
Productivity 0.252 -- -- --
Time -- 0.628 -- --
Auto 0.573 -- -- --
Operation
WiFi 0.0223 0.000102 -- ---
Added Labor -- 0.00203 -- --
New Train Car -- 0.00234 -- --
Subsidy 8.23 x 10 -9 8.23 x 10 -9 -- 8.23x 10 -9
Total 1.97 0.889 0.00837 8.31x 10 -9

21. Table Comparison
Alternative Benefit Cost
1. Baseline 1.883 0.884
2. Tech Car 1.943 0.899
3. Business 1.968 1.022
4. Driving 0.0977 2.242
Comparison Ratio
B(2-1)/C(2-1) 4
B(3-2)/C(3-2) 0.203
B(4-2)/C(4-2) -1.37
ME176

22. Recommendation
! Assuming that wifi brings in 3% more
ridership, the benefits do outweigh the cost
! Recommend Technology Car
ME176

23. Limitations
! Rail User Benefit-Opportunity to meet new people
! Public Disbenefit-Noise pollution
! Ridership increases of the Technology Car and
Business Car are estimates (unknown)
! Some statistics are not specific to the Riverside-
Fullerton transit
ME176

24. Questions?
Eli Brewer
Vicki Chen
Jason McMillian
ME176