Planes, Trains And People Movers

As air passenger traffic increases, congestion on the airport ground access system and in airport terminals also increases. One of the alternatives for ground access that many airports have built or are considering is a rail connection. This paper provides an introduction to airport rail service in the United States and briefly describes projects that are underway at San Francisco International, New York Kennedy International, and Minneapolis-St. Paul International airports. Automated people movers have also become an important component in several airports over the past thirty years. In many cases these systems have changed the way that terminals are planned. An introduction to airport people movers, applications, and characteristics are presented. New systems at Detroit Metro International, San Francisco International, and Minneapolis-St. Paul International airports are described. In addition, the paper describes the extension of the people mover at Newark International Airport to link with commuter rail and Amtrak service, and a proposed people mover that will replace shuttle bus service between Oakland International Airport and BART.