Curbside logistics which is, on occasion, interchangeable with the curbside management, is the ability to strategically manage vehicle quantity at a wayside loading/unloading zone. Within the context of this paper, it is to denote executing a tactical plan of controlling TNC vehicle allocation when congregating at a street side rendezvous point with their riders.
Because TNC vehicles travel upon an assortment of streets, curbside logistics can affect congestion – especially, if not planned for properly. Whether traversing over an arterial or collector, if is pre-packed, the effect could intensify making an existing traffic crowding condition worse. If the adjacent roads are normally sparse, this could also induce the creation of newly congested circumstances.
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Naturally, the ultimate objective for any driver is to navigate in free-flow traffic. Yet, realistically, vehicles circulate along the physical confines of curbed-streets and other undeveloped roadways, and constricted infrastructure. A planned management approach of delay mitigation incurred from various congestion buckets is the challenge set before TNCs. Any approach selected for implementation must contemplate a concurrence of TNC vehicle supply and non-TNC vehicles. Prudent would be to contemplate weather and road conditions, too.
Taking into consideration the above, an overabundance of TNCs converged, all at once, and in one location. How would the curbside logistics be dealt with? For instance, at a football game. Particularly, if it involves a major league team championship match that was declared a national security event involving? As an illustration the Mass Transit Super Bowl will be discussed.
The Mass Transit Super Bowl was a nickname for the 48th Super Bowl that took place on
February 2, 2014 at the Meadowlands Sports Complex located in East Rutherford, New Jersey. It was part of an overall blueprint that combined publicity and promotion for the game even as it developed coordination amongst the various transportation agencies serving the region. One of the reasons the National Football League (NFL) selecting this particular venue was because of New York City’s massive number of hotels neighboring the arena [23].
At that time, even though TNCs were still in its infancy, Uber was already operating in New Jersey whereas Lyft commenced service later that same year.78 Suffice it to say, as a result
of the extreme security measures, vehicles were forbidden to drop-off nor pick-up people. All vehicles were required, even if permitted entrance, to stay within for complete game duration.79
78 Uber began service on November 11, 2013 and by November 11, 2015 it had conducted 9.5 million rides. https://newsroom.uber.com/us-new-jersey/njturns2/
79 All vehicles entering were subject to screening. The time to carry out these actions contributed to more time loss for the driver.
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Unless TNCs negotiated for and were granted special privileges, to unload and take on passengers within the restricted areas, it would have resulted in a disastrous situation for the drivers. Keep in mind, TNC drivers produce income with every completed ride. If restricted from departing the arrival point, it would place an undue burden on the driver, severely reduce TNC reliability and vehicle supply. Moreover, although TNC fares, for the most part, comprises a per-minute fee it’d become extremely cost ineffective for the rider.
At least 23,000 attendees did not enter the venue via the parking lot area [92]. It is speculated that many of the anticipated attendees selected New Jersey Transit (NJT) as mode choice. NJT is the transit agency serving New Jersey statewide. There was an underestimated number of approximately 7000 riders that when departing the stadium chose rail as their preferred mode.
7.2.1 Strategies
Mentioned earlier was how vehicles entering the compound were heavily restricted. i.e.; vehicles were not allowed to leave the premises. Assume they were authorized to come and go as needed and all 6814 cars were accounted for, how would the facility cope with the curbside logistics.
There are a number of methods that could be applied:
1. App PIN. In Chapter 2, the Literature Review, was a discussion of the app developed for a pilot program designated Go520. Among other things, unique was the app creating a number that served as an identifier for the rider. Upon entering the vehicle, the rider and driver would need to possess matching codes. Amenities, such as this, enhances the security of both parties. The PIN also operated as the rider’s invoice number.80
80 The company that developed the app was Avego which was a TNC at one point. It is now known as Carma, a currently operating TNC.
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2. LED Signage. After the app generates the PIN, the next step would be for the driver, when very close by, to activate an LED sign on the passenger (or driver’s) side displaying the PIN and possibly the name of the rider.
3. Dedicated Loading Zones. Interconnected with the above two items, the driver can enter special designated parking/loading areas strictly for TLCs.
4. New Construction. If there is adequate evidence to cost justification, building a new or expanding an existing structure for dedicated TLC loading zones can be doable.
5. Exclusive TNC Lanes. If a dedicated loading zone is impractical, an exclusive TNC lane may be an economical alternative.
6. Traffic Demand Management. By installing the Meadowlands Adaptive Signal System for Traffic Reduction (MASSTR) it is almost the same as current dynamic traffic modification programs. The traffic lights changing based upon demand. Currently, this system controls the movement of approximately 400,000 vehicles daily [24].
7. Timed or Capacity-based. Assumed is the TNC is operating as a transit vehicle. The driver can depart as if on a scheduled headway – regardless of the number of passengers in the automobile. It could also wait till it reaches its maximum capacity and then immediately depart.81
8. Vehicle Repositioning. NJT had approximately 300 buses on stand-by to assist in the facilitation of attendees.82 Assumed is NJT had interagency cooperation allowing access to
other databases.83 TNCs have earned a reputation for uncooperativeness. If the TNC can
procure from and share its data, the estimate for TNC vehicle supply would be more accurate.
81 Presumed is the TNC vehicle is a standard sedan. Therefore, maximum capacity is four. 82 The buses were secluded about 6 miles from the stadium.
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9. Curbside Logistics Personnel. The element of human interaction is still warranted in our current era of technology. Some venues such as LaGuardia Airport and Pennsylvania Station have taxi stands staff with people directing and assisting both drivers and potential passengers. The same could be instituted here as well. Although this may come across as a cost ineffective measure, depending on who pays for it, it would be practical and sensible move as a long term investment – the public relations standpoint – would attract repeat gamegoers. For the short term, it would alleviate confusion and potential people and vehicle bottlenecking as people will be quickly directed to where and what.
A combination of one or more of the above will achieve the objective of enhancing curbside logistics. However, once the inception of automated vehicles and driverless cars happens, time will tell whether curbside logistics will be another item on the list of things in the past.