An Analysis of Intra Airport Transport From A User’s

Perspective Allison Davis

December 5, 2002

Overview

Motivation Components of High Quality Intra Airport

Transport Boston’s Logan Shuttle Newark’s AirTrain

Motivation

Increasing demand for travel +Varied users +

Scale of airport complexes

High Quality Intra Airport Transport

Components of High Quality Intra Airport Transport

Ease of use Capacity Service time Connectivity User costs

Boston’s Logan Shuttle

Boston – Ease of Use

Congestion External station Poorly labeled directory Indistinguishable routes ADA accessible Difficult boarding

Boston – Capacity and Service Time

Vehicle capacity reached during peak periods System capacity sufficient 24/7 operation No published frequencies Variable waiting time Impacted by congestion

Boston – Connectivity and User Costs

Connects to subway, parking, water shuttle No connection to rental cars or on airport

hotels Limited connectivity to employee destinations Free

Boston - Recommendations

Expand service to include on airport hotels and rental car companies

Add passenger information at each stop Low floor or kneeling buses Analysis extension of service to include

remaining employee destinations

Newark’s AirTrain

Newark – Ease of Use

Plenty of signage One station per passenger building/parking

area One route Employee help prevalent Clear map Waiting times posted Accessible by elderly, disabled and other

passengers

Newark – Capacity and Service Time

Vehicle capacity reached during peak periods System capacity sufficient 24/7 Operation Arrives every 3 minutes between 4:30am and

midnight; every 15 minutes other times Waiting time is provided in stations

Newark – Connectivity and User Costs

Connects to some parking, NJTransit and Amtrak rail station, rental cars and hotel vans

Limited connectivity to employee destinations Free for airport users Included in NJTransit/Amtrak ticket price

Newark - Recommendations

Inflexible Modifications Capital Intensive Extensions to employee destinations Increase capacity