Ground Access to Major Airports by Public Transportation

Abstract

This report provides tools and information to assist airport managers in improving ground access to large airports. The dramatic increases in air travel, congestion near airports, and interest in improving access to airports make this research report very timely. It provides a wealth of information about the current status of public transportation services and their use at large airports in the United States and around the world. Chapter 1 summarizes for airport managers the key elements in the creation of a six-step market-based strategy for improving the quality of public mode services at U.S. airports. This strategy focuses on the needs of the air traveler who uses airport ground access services. The air traveler makes decisions that are affected by the amount of baggage being carried, the sense of apprehension about the reliability of the trip and arriving on time, the total trip costs, and a lack of knowledge about the non-home end of the trip. The market-based strategy was designed to support the development of public transportation services unique to the needs of the airport and to the users of the airport. The remainder of the report addresses the context for public transportation to major airports; explores the attributes of successful airport ground access systems; presents an airport-by-airport summary of air traveler ground access mode share by public transportation services (i.e., rail, bus, and shared-ride vans) for major U.S., European, and Asian airports (modes excluded from this review include hotel and rental car vans, limousines, and charter buses); discusses integrated baggage and airline ticketing strategies; applies market research to planning public transportation services to airports; reviews strategies for improving airport landside ground transportation services, including addressing institutional challenges for implementing these strategies and identifying potential funding sources; describes ways to improve the public transportation mode share for airport employees; examines new and evolving information technology to bring airport ground access information and ticketing options to the traveler; and identifies opportunities for further research.