Port of Spain Commuter Patterns and Satisfaction Levels

Abstract

Port of Spain (POS) functions as the administrative, political, and commercial capital of Trinidad and Tobago, attracting many commuters daily. This paper reports the first part of a two-stage process of developing a quantitative measure of the performance of the Port of Spain public transportation network. It provides insight into the key stakeholders and the needs, preferences, and satisfaction of users of the Port of Spain transportation network. The key stakeholders in the transportation network were identified and classified in a stakeholder matrix on the basis of their interest and influence. A survey was undertaken to understand the public’s perception of the transport network and the travel patterns and characteristics. The results suggest that while most trips to and within Port of Spain are completed for employment, a significant percentage is for personal business and shopping/leisure. Moreover, while the largest number of trips ended in the central business district (CBD) of Port of Spain’s most destinations are outside the CBD. Survey participants were broadly dissatisfied with the transport system, indicating strong dissatisfaction with congestion, lack of accessibility and lack of information experienced in the capital city. Indeed, a minimum of forty-four percent and a maximum of seventy-eight of respondents were either dissatisfied or very dissatisfied with some aspects of the transport system. No more than twenty-five percent, and in the case of congestion only three percent, of respondents were either satisfied or very satisfied. Although transport safety received the least negative response among the transport indicators, approximately forty-six percent of respondents were dissatisfied or very dissatisfied with it. In general, females reported more dissatisfaction with transport safety compared to men. The findings also highlighted how disadvantaged users of public transportation are with respect to ease of travel to and within the city. This paper reports on the mapping of the network and the development of a performance index. Keywords: Commuter surveys, Stakeholder engagement, Traveller perceptions, Port of Spain; Trinidad and Tobago