A methodology for the calculation of the inefficiency costs and the emission of airborne pollutants of different transportation modes in the San Juan Metropolitan Area (Puerto Rico)

The traffic congestion in the San Juan Metropolitan Area (SJMA) is one of the major challenges the government of Puerto Rico is facing. At this moment the only alternatives to the private car are the ‘público ’ car system and the Metropolitan Bus Authority (AMA) bus system. In the near future the Tren Urbano (TU) will be available as an alternative of mass transportation from Bayamón to Santurce.; The purpose of this research is to develop a series of equations for the analysis and comparison between the private car, the AMA and the TU based on the inefficiency costs and emissions produced by each mode of transportation.; The comparison between the modes showed that the TU and AMA modes are more efficient than the private car for the transportation of passengers and that for a private car to be as efficient as a mass transportation mode it has to transport at least eleven persons in each trip it performs or increase its fuel consumption efficiency to more than 50 miles per gallon. (Abstract shortened by UMI.)...