Implementación de un sistema estratégico de transporte público (SETP) – caso de estudio : Neiva.

Abstract

El rápido desarrollo económico y crecimiento de las ciudades intermedias de Colombia (no mayores a 600.000 habitantes) en los últimos años ha llevado a que el Gobierno Nacional y Local, a través del programa de ciudades inteligentes consignado en el Plan Nacional de Desarrollo promuevan la implementación de un Sistema Estratégico de Transporte Público Colectivo (en adelante SETP), para mejorar la movilidad. En la Ciudad de Neiva se observa escasa articulación entre las políticas urbanas que tienen relación con la movilidad y el desarrollo urbano. Lo anterior genera dificultades en lo que respecta a la gestión de las actividades relacionadas con el manejo del transporte urbano. Por otra parte, hay que destacar que la ciudad cuenta con una red vial deficiente y de baja calidad, que, sumado al crecimiento del parque automotor especialmente de las motocicletas, ocasiona altos niveles de congestión e incremento periódico de las emisiones de CO₂. Debido a ello, se implementó el SETP como una solución que busca mejorar la movilidad masiva de pasajeros. Este sistema de transporte es considerado ecológico, organizado y seguro, pero aún se desconocen sus impactos socio - ambientales. El objetivo de este trabajo es analizar los efectos de la implementación del SETP en la ciudad de Neiva utilizando técnicas cuantitativas y cualitativas, para dos etapas denominadas etapa Sin (situación actual) y Con (situación con sistema SETP). Para ello, se realizará una evaluación de indicadores ambientales que involucran las características de transporte de la ciudad, la actual oferta de transporte público colectivo y los diferentes indicadores de operación de transito como longitud de colas y densidad vehicular, representado en niveles de servicio. Los resultados obtenidos muestran mejora en los niveles de servicio de las principales intersecciones estudiadas y la disminución de las emisiones generadas por el transporte sobre el corredor.

Since the 1990s, Colombian cities have experienced severe traffic congestion problems due to the economic openness inherent in the country's globalization and industrialization. The above has conceived an increase in the population in urban centers and the automobile fleet due to the new commercial exchanges developed. To minimize the impact, the National Government has centralized in its Development Plan the Smart Cities Strategy for intermediate cities (with a population of fewer than 600,000 inhabitants). The strategy consists in the implementation of Strategic Public Transport Systems (SPTS) with which it seeks to improve the operation of public transport, by generating the business formality of transporters, renewing the fleet, improving infrastructure and reducing transport trips. Neiva is in the southwest of the country with a population of 342,117 inhabitants representing 0.71% of the national population. Also, it is in a strategic position within several of the main corridors of the country, adding an added logistic value in terms of cargo transport and connectivity in the region. The corridor under study corresponds to Avenida 26 between Carrera 6W and Carrera 16 characterized by the articulation of different sectors of multiple economic activities of the city, generating a high rate of congestion and increased emissions. For this reason, it is essential to analyze the effects of the implementation of the SETP about environmental benefits and the impact on the improvement of urban mobility. The methodology is formulated based on a descriptive and application study, based on observation through field visits and information gathering. The method is structured in two stages: i. Definition of the area of influence; ii. Selection and application of the analysis tools, which, in the case of the evaluation of traffic indicators, used a microscopic simulation model that simulates the individual movement of vehicles on a transport network, while, for the assessment of emissions, the VERSIT + model that predicts emission and energy factors for different types of vehicles was used. The information used corresponds to vehicle capacities and inventories of control devices, attractor centers, and public transport routes compiled by the city for the preparation of the Mobility Master Plan. Initially, the diagnosis of the current situation of the corridor was made by estimating the general performance indicators of the transport network and individuals for the main intersections; and the polluting emissions of CO2, NOX, and PM10. For future analysis, four execution fronts were proposed: i. Infrastructure, where the construction of a road exchanger is contemplated that aims to improve mobility by allowing continuous vehicular flow by channeling them in the overpass and the depressed. Besides, the technical location of the public transport stops was established, providing the greatest coverage based on the characteristics of the corridor; ii — control devices, where traffic light cycles of the main intersections were optimized; iii. Land uses, where they identified the urban changes that are taking place in the area; and iv. Modal distribution, where a modal exchange is established towards public transport from private transport corresponding to the available capacity of public transport. The implementation of the SPTS improves the Service Level on the corridor and allows through the new infrastructure to mobilize the latent demand that previously could not make use of the infrastructure. Regarding emissions, there is a decrease in CO2, NOX, and PM10 concentrations of approximately 29%, due to the modal exchange between users of private transport to public transport and the renewal of the fleet.