Below are the first 10 and last 10 pages of uncorrected machine-read text (when available) of this chapter, followed by the top 30 algorithmically extracted key phrases from the chapter as a whole.
Intended to provide our own search engines and external engines with highly rich, chapter-representative searchable text on the opening pages of each chapter.
Because it is UNCORRECTED material, please consider the following text as a useful but insufficient proxy for the authoritative book pages.
Do not use for reproduction, copying, pasting, or reading; exclusively for search engines.
OCR for page 174
174 Ground Access to Major Airports by Public Transportation
service is to door-to-door service, the higher the comfort level that will be perceived. Boston's
successful Logan Express bus service provides an over-the-road coach vehicle that travels from
a park-and-ride lot directly to the airport. Employees are currently entitled to free parking at the
bus terminal and a significant discount on the fare.
Extent and Adequacy of the Transit Service Area
All things being equal, the ultimate success of public transportation for employee mode of
access will depend upon the extent and adequacy of the transit service area. The significant tran-
sit mode shares at Boston and O'Hare airports are largely due to the maturity and robustness of
the regional transit system. These mature systems support high service frequency and expansive
regional coverage. Conversely, another reason for the lower usage at Baltimore/Washington
International Airport is the limited service area of the regional rail network, which currently has
a single light rail line and a single heavy rail line.
The Boston employee transit mode share is somewhat suppressed because areas north of the
airport are home to many employees but these areas are not well served by transit. This latter
point illustrates the importance of the adequacy of the transit service area for airport employees.
Service to the airport should be placed where airport employees reside. Two of the routes of the
SkyRide system in Denver are oriented to locations near the former site of Stapleton airport to
serve the concentration of employees still located near the old airport.
LAWA provides a convenient transportation link for airline passengers and employees work-
ing at Los Angeles International Airport who live or have destinations in the San Fernando
Valley. The Van Nuys FlyAway bus service operates scheduled express buses between the Van
Nuys Airport, located in the Valley, and Los Angeles International Airport. Employees are pro-
vided with free parking in a dedicated lot at the Van Nuys FlyAway terminal.
The buses operate 24 hours per day with schedules designed to better meet the needs of employ-
ees. For example, buses to Los Angeles International Airport operate at 15-minute headways
during employee peak hours (4:45 a.m. to 8:00 a.m.). Employees pay about half the regular fare
and can receive a deeper discount by purchasing a book of tickets. In 1999, employee ridership
represented 20% of the total ridership on the FlyAway service.
In addition to providing service to areas where employees are known to reside, transit
providers should consider targeting service to areas with potential employees that are likely to
use transit to travel to the airport (e.g., areas with lower automobile ownership).
Proximity and Accessibility of Transit Service at Both Trip Ends
Convenient connections between the transit vehicle and the work site or home are important
for two reasons. First, convenient connections make the service easy to use and accessible.
Second, a convenient connection will improve employee travel time.
On the home end of the trip, experience at Denver and Boston illustrates how suburban areas
can be well served with free park-and-ride lots. The work end of the trip is just as important.
As the surveys indicated, many airport employees do not work in a terminal building. Transit
service should be provided directly to locations near significant concentrations of employees,
either at the terminal or at remote facilities. If possible, passengers should not have to transfer.
If transfers are necessary, however, an on-airport shuttle bus service should be provided to link
the public transportation system with the work sites for employees.
Availability, Cost, and Convenience of Parking at the Work Site
The availability, cost, and convenience of parking play a significant role in the choice or con-
sideration between transit and automobile modes of access. While an increasing number of
