CADEN HAYNOR / NEWS EDITOR

USD community members are voicing concerns about the efficiency of the tram system. 

The USD trams run four    loops around USD and out to San Diego, including the Full Campus, East Campus, West Campus and Old Town routes. 

There are trams that regularly run each day with additional trams for special occasions. Caden Haynor/The USD Vista

The USD Vista spoke with three tram drivers who wished to remain anonymous. These tram drivers shared that they occasionally have to take the shift of another tram driver, which they express is difficult on their personal schedules. Drivers also stated that they feel pressure to get to  their  stops  on  time  to help  students and make  sure they get to class without rushing.

USD sophomore Jocelynn Jauregui, who lives in the Manchester Village complex, expressed her appreciation for the trams when she needs them.

“Personally, as someone who lives in [Manchester], I really appreciate the tram services,” Jauregui said. “As much as I love walking to class, there are mornings when I’m too tired to do it.  That’s  why  I’m glad we have other alternatives, like the tram.”

The East and West Campus Loops run every weekday from 6:30 a.m. to 11 p.m., according to the Public Safety Website under Tram Services Routes. On the same website, under Tram Information  and  Hours,   however, the times the service hours are listed from 7:30 a.m. to 11:00 p.m. Both time frames surround all class times, the earliest of which start before the earliest classes begin at 7:45 a.m. on Tuesdays and Thursdays.

Some students experience stress while waiting for the trams before they head to class. USD junior Jasmine Espinoza described her experience with waiting for the tram before class.

“Most of the drivers are great and very friendly too which makes it a more enjoyable experience,” Espinoza said. “On the other hand, there’s very few trams that go East compared to West which makes wait times long, especially before class. I do think more frequency would be beneficial.”

The USD Vista requested an in-person interview with a representative from Tram Services. After multiple email exchanges, a university public affairs representative responded with a written statement from Director of University Mobility and Scheduling Sean Horrigan. Horrigan explained the scheduling of tram drivers.

“We do not have a policy requiring drivers to work beyond their  regular  shifts  or  cover the shifts of other drivers,” Horrigan stated. “However, we are fortunate to have a dedicated team that frequently elects to support special events and peak hours.”

The USD Vista recorded wait times for one hour at three separate tram stops: the Alcalá Vista Apartments, the Law Circle and Copley Library.

The trams did not all start at 6:30 a.m. and one tram assigned to one route did not run that route for a certain amount of time.

From 6:30 a.m. to 7:30 a.m. on March 4, trams appeared on the MyUSD app’s “Tram Tracker” feature. The first trams, on the West Campus Loop and the Old Town routes, began their shifts at 6:43 a.m. At 6:50 a.m., a tram driver assigned to the East Campus Loop shuttled students on the West Campus Loop, meaning that a tram did not arrive at any East Campus Loop stop until 7 a.m. 

Horrigan described the process by which tram drivers decide when to switch routes. 

“Operational logistics are fluid, and we work  to  prioritize  the greatest  need,”  Horrigan  explained. “For   instance,  if  there  is a rush at the West Parking  Structure, a   tram may be temporarily  diverted to support that area.  Drivers  do   not switch routes   based   on  preference; it is  based on real-time  data, and they always  complete  their  current drop-off   obligations  before   officially pivoting to the new assignment.”

A tram officially began running the  East  Campus Loop at  7  a.m.  and   arrived  at the Alcalá Vista Apartments at 7:10 a.m.

USD has a frequency standard mandating   that on-campus  trams should run    approximately  every 15   minutes. Many USD students rely on these trams to get them to various areas of campus for class and other events. 

Horrigan explained the 15 minute policy.

“The policy focuses on frequency and loop integrity,” Horrigan stated. “Rather than requiring a rigid timetable that would be impossible to maintain due to fluctuating traffic and passenger loads, we operate on a ‘headway’ system. Our goal is to have a tram at each stop every 15 minutes.”

Tram availability changed progressively on the morning of Wednesday, March 4. Art by Kyra Lefebvre

Despite the goal of timely tram frequency, students’ and drivers’ concerns amplify as late stops impact Torero life.

Students board the tram driving the East Campus Loop, which goes as far East as the Alcalá Vista Apartments. Hailey Howell/The USD Vista