Airport Curbside and Terminal Area Roadway Operations: New Analysis and Strategies, Second Edition (2024)
Chapter: Front Matter
 ACRP |
Airport Cooperative |
Airport Curbside and Terminal Area
Roadway Operations
NEW ANALYSIS AND STRATEGIES
Second Edition
ACRP OVERSIGHT COMMITTEE*
CHAIR
Marianne Csaky
LanzaJet
VICE CHAIR
Kimberly A. Kenville
University of North Dakota
MEMBERS
Balram “B” Bheodari
Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International Airport
Darryl Daniels
Jacobsen Daniels Associates
John Dermody
Federal Aviation Administration
Rhonda Hamm-Niebruegge
St. Louis Lambert International Airport
Lance Lyttle
Seattle-Tacoma International Airport
Chad Makovsky
City of Phoenix (AZ)
Scott McMahon
Morristown Municipal Airport
Frank R. Miller
Burbank-Glendale-Pasadena Airport Authority
Ramon Ricondo
Ricondo and Associates, Inc.
Steve Sisneros
Southwest Airlines
Cathryn Stephens
Eugene Airport
EX OFFICIO MEMBERS
Justin Barkowski
American Association of Airport Executives
Sabrina Johnson
U.S. Environmental Protection Agency
Laura Rinaldi McKee
Airlines for America
Christopher J. Oswald
Airports Council International–North America
Gregory Pecoraro
National Association of State Aviation Officials
T.J. Schulz
Airport Consultants Council
Victoria Sheehan
Transportation Research Board
SECRETARY
Monique R. Evans
Transportation Research Board
TRANSPORTATION RESEARCH BOARD 2024 EXECUTIVE COMMITTEE*
OFFICERS
CHAIR: Carol A. Lewis, Professor, Transportation Studies, Texas Southern University, Houston
VICE CHAIR: Leslie S. Richards, General Manager, Southeastern Pennsylvania Transportation Authority (SEPTA), Philadelphia
EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR: Victoria Sheehan, Transportation Research Board, Washington, DC
MEMBERS
Michael F. Ableson, CEO, Arrival Automotive–North America, Detroit, MI
James F. Albaugh, President and CEO, The Boeing Company (retired), Scottsdale, AZ
Carlos M. Braceras, Executive Director, Utah Department of Transportation, Salt Lake City
Douglas C. Ceva, Vice President, Customer Lead Solutions, Prologis, Inc., Jupiter, FL
Nancy Daubenberger, Commissioner of Transportation, Minnesota Department of Transportation, St. Paul
Marie Therese Dominguez, Commissioner, New York State Department of Transportation, Albany
Garrett Eucalitto, Commissioner, Connecticut Department of Transportation, Newington
Chris T. Hendrickson, Hamerschlag University Professor of Engineering Emeritus, Carnegie Mellon University, Pittsburgh, PA
Randell Iwasaki, President and CEO, Iwasaki Consulting Services, Walnut Creek, CA
Ashby Johnson, Executive Director, Capital Area Metropolitan Planning Organization (CAMPO), Austin, TX
Joel M. Jundt, Secretary of Transportation, South Dakota Department of Transportation, Pierre
Hani S. Mahmassani, W.A. Patterson Distinguished Chair in Transportation; Director, Transportation Center, Northwestern University, Evanston, IL
Scott C. Marler, Director, Iowa Department of Transportation, Ames
Ricardo Martinez, Adjunct Professor of Emergency Medicine, Emory University School of Medicine, Decatur, GA
Michael R. McClellan, Vice President, Strategic Planning, Norfolk Southern Corporation, Atlanta, GA
Russell McMurry, Commissioner, Georgia Department of Transportation, Atlanta
Craig E. Philip, Research Professor and Director, VECTOR, Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering, Vanderbilt University, Nashville, TN
Steward T.A. Pickett, Distinguished Senior Scientist, Cary Institute of Ecosystem Studies, Millbrook, NY
Susan A. Shaheen, Professor and Co-director, Transportation Sustainability Research Center, University of California, Berkeley
Marc Williams, Executive Director, Texas Department of Transportation, Austin
EX OFFICIO MEMBERS
Michael R. Berube, Deputy Assistant Secretary for Sustainable Transportation, U.S. Department of Energy, Washington, DC
Amit Bose, Administrator, Federal Railroad Administration, Washington, DC
Tristan Brown, Deputy Administrator, Pipeline and Hazardous Materials Safety Administration, U.S. Department of Transportation, Washington, DC
Steven Cliff, Executive Officer, California Air Resources Board, Sacramento
Rand Ghayad, Senior Vice President, Association of American Railroads, Washington, DC
LeRoy Gishi, Chief, Division of Transportation, Bureau of Indian Affairs, U.S. Department of the Interior, Germantown, MD
Robert C. Hampshire, Deputy Assistant Secretary for Research and Technology, U.S. Department of Transportation, Washington, DC
Jason Kelly, Deputy Commanding General for Civil Works and Emergency Operations, U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, Washington, DC
Zahra “Niloo” Parvinashtiani, Engineer, Mobility Consultant Solutions, Iteris Inc., Fairfax, VA, and Chair, TRB Young Members Coordinating Council
Ann Phillips (Rear Admiral, U.S. Navy, retired), Maritime Administrator, Maritime Administration, U.S. Department of Transportation, Washington, DC
Sophie Shulman, Deputy Administrator, National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, Washington, DC
Karl Simon, Director, Transportation and Climate Division, U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, Washington, DC
Paul P. Skoutelas, President and CEO, American Public Transportation Association, Washington, DC
Polly Trottenberg, Deputy Secretary of Transportation, U.S. Department of Transportation, Washington, DC
Jim Tymon, Executive Director, American Association of State Highway and Transportation Officials, Washington, DC
Veronica Vanterpool, Acting Administrator, Federal Transit Administration, Washington, DC
Michael Whitaker, Administrator, Federal Aviation Administration, U.S. Department of Transportation, Washington, DC
Kristin White, Acting Administrator, Federal Highway Administration, U.S. Department of Transportation, Washington, DC
Vinn White, Deputy Administrator, Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration, Washington, DC
___________________
* Membership as of November 2024.
* Membership as of November 2024.
AIRPORT COOPERATIVE RESEARCH PROGRAM
ACRP RESEARCH REPORT 266
Airport Curbside and Terminal Area
Roadway Operations
NEW ANALYSIS AND STRATEGIES
Second Edition
InterVISTAS Consulting
Washington, DC
Kittelson & Associates
Portland, OR
Jacobsen|Daniels
Ypsilanti, MI
ABM Aviation
San Francisco, CA
Subscriber Categories
Aviation • Highways • Terminals and Facilities
Research sponsored by the Federal Aviation Administration
AIRPORT COOPERATIVE RESEARCH PROGRAM
Airports are vital national resources. They serve a key role in transportation of people and goods and in regional, national, and international commerce. They are where the nation’s aviation system connects with other modes of transportation and where federal responsibility for managing and regulating air traffic operations intersects with the role of state and local governments that own and operate most airports. Research is necessary to solve common operating problems, to adapt appropriate new technologies from other industries, and to introduce innovations into the airport industry. The Airport Cooperative Research Program (ACRP) serves as one of the principal means by which the airport industry can develop innovative near-term solutions to meet demands placed on it.
The need for ACRP was identified in TRB Special Report 272: Airport Research Needs: Cooperative Solutions in 2003, based on a study sponsored by the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA). ACRP carries out applied research on problems that are shared by airport operating agencies and not being adequately addressed by existing federal research programs. ACRP is modeled after the successful National Cooperative Highway Research Program (NCHRP) and Transit Cooperative Research Program (TCRP). ACRP undertakes research and other technical activities in various airport subject areas, including design, construction, legal, maintenance, operations, safety, policy, planning, human resources, and administration. ACRP provides a forum where airport operators can cooperatively address common operational problems.
ACRP was authorized in December 2003 as part of the Vision 100—Century of Aviation Reauthorization Act. The primary participants in the ACRP are (1) an independent governing board, the ACRP Oversight Committee (AOC), appointed by the Secretary of the U.S. Department of Transportation with representation from airport operating agencies, other stakeholders, and relevant industry organizations such as the Airports Council International-North America (ACI-NA), the American Association of Airport Executives (AAAE), the National Association of State Aviation Officials (NASAO), Airlines for America (A4A), and the Airport Consultants Council (ACC) as vital links to the airport community; (2) TRB as program manager and secretariat for the governing board; and (3) the FAA as program sponsor. In October 2005, the FAA executed a contract with the National Academy of Sciences formally initiating the program.
ACRP benefits from the cooperation and participation of airport professionals, air carriers, shippers, state and local government officials, equipment and service suppliers, other airport users, and research organizations. Each of these participants has different interests and responsibilities, and each is an integral part of this cooperative research effort.
Research problem statements for ACRP are solicited periodically but may be submitted to TRB by anyone at any time. It is the responsibility of the AOC to formulate the research program by identifying the highest priority projects and defining funding levels and expected products.
Once selected, each ACRP project is assigned to an expert panel appointed by TRB. Panels include experienced practitioners and research specialists; heavy emphasis is placed on including airport professionals, the intended users of the research products. The panels prepare project statements (requests for proposals), select contractors, and provide technical guidance and counsel throughout the life of the project. The process for developing research problem statements and selecting research agencies has been used by TRB in managing cooperative research programs since 1962. As in other TRB activities, ACRP project panels serve voluntarily without compensation.
Primary emphasis is placed on disseminating ACRP results to the intended users of the research: airport operating agencies, service providers, and academic institutions. ACRP produces a series of research reports for use by airport operators, local agencies, the FAA, and other interested parties; industry associations may arrange for workshops, training aids, field visits, webinars, and other activities to ensure that results are implemented by airport industry practitioners.
ACRP RESEARCH REPORT 266
Project 07-17
ISSN 2572-3731 (Print)
ISSN 2572-374X (Online)
ISBN 978-0-309-72610-8
Library of Congress Control Number 2024945273
© 2024 by the National Academy of Sciences. National Academies of Sciences, Engineering, and Medicine and the graphical logo are trademarks of the National Academy of Sciences. All rights reserved.
COPYRIGHT INFORMATION
Authors herein are responsible for the authenticity of their materials and for obtaining written permissions from publishers or persons who own the copyright to any previously published or copyrighted material used herein.
Cooperative Research Programs (CRP) grants permission to reproduce material in this publication for classroom and not-for-profit purposes. Permission is given with the understanding that none of the material will be used to imply TRB, AASHTO, APTA, FAA, FHWA, FTA, GHSA, or NHTSA endorsement of a particular product, method, or practice. It is expected that those reproducing the material in this document for educational and not-for-profit uses will give appropriate acknowledgment of the source of any reprinted or reproduced material. For other uses of the material, request permission from CRP.
Cover photo shows curbside congestion and enforcement, San Francisco International Airport, San Francisco, California.
NOTICE
The research report was reviewed by the technical panel and accepted for publication according to procedures established and overseen by the Transportation Research Board and approved by the National Academies of Sciences, Engineering, and Medicine.
The opinions and conclusions expressed or implied in this report are those of the researchers who performed the research and are not necessarily those of the Transportation Research Board; the National Academies of Sciences, Engineering, and Medicine; or the program sponsors.
The Transportation Research Board does not develop, issue, or publish standards or specifications. The Transportation Research Board manages applied research projects which provide the scientific foundation that may be used by Transportation Research Board sponsors, industry associations, or other organizations as the basis for revised practices, procedures, or specifications.
The Transportation Research Board; the National Academies of Sciences, Engineering, and Medicine; and the sponsors of the Airport Cooperative Research Program do not endorse products or manufacturers. Trade or manufacturers’ names or logos appear herein solely because they are considered essential to the object of the report.
Published research reports of the
AIRPORT COOPERATIVE RESEARCH PROGRAM
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The National Academy of Engineering was established in 1964 under the charter of the National Academy of Sciences to bring the practices of engineering to advising the nation. Members are elected by their peers for extraordinary contributions to engineering. Dr. John L. Anderson is president.
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Learn more about the National Academies of Sciences, Engineering, and Medicine at www.nationalacademies.org.
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Learn more about the Transportation Research Board at www.TRB.org.
COOPERATIVE RESEARCH PROGRAMS
CRP STAFF FOR ACRP RESEARCH REPORT 266
Monique R. Evans, Director, Cooperative Research Programs
Waseem Dekelbab, Deputy Director, Cooperative Research Programs
Marci A. Greenberger, Manager, Airport Cooperative Research Program
Matthew J. Griffin, Senior Program Officer
Brittany Summerlin-Azeez, Program Coordinator
Natalie Barnes, Director of Publications
Heather DiAngelis, Associate Director of Publications
Ellen M. Chafee, Senior Editor
ACRP PROJECT 07-17 PANEL
Field of Design
Craig Leiner, Ricondo and Associates, Alexandria, VA (Chair)
Abubaker Azam, San Francisco International Airport, Vallejo, CA
Kimberly Fabend, C&S Companies, Syracuse, NY
Quinn Hatoff, Uber Technologies, Inc., Washington, DC
Christopher Robert Pheasant, Safety & Security Instruction, Folsom, CA
Dawoud Omar Stevenson, Savannah Airport Commission, Savannah, GA
William Reinhardt, FAA Liaison
Christopher J. Oswald, Airports Council International–North America Liaison
AUTHOR ACKNOWLEDGMENTS
The research discussed in this report was performed under ACRP Project 07-17, “Update to ACRP Report 40: Airport Roadway Analysis and Curbside Congestion Management Strategies,” by a research team of recognized experts in airport roadway operations and traffic operations. InterVISTAS Consulting was the primary research consultant. Peter Mandle, Executive Vice President at InterVISTAS Consulting, was the Principal Investigator. Gavin Duncan, Senior Vice President at InterVISTAS Consulting, and Lee Rodegerdts, Principal Engineer at Kittelson & Associates, Inc., were Deputy Principal Investigators.
The other authors were Ernest Choi of InterVISTAS Consulting, who conducted the traffic simulations serving as inputs to the update of the Quick Analysis Tool for Airport Roadways (QATAR) and assisted with the report preparation; Kush Bhagat, Lake Trask, Paul Ryus, and Richard Dowling of Kittelson & Associates, Inc., who led the update and refinement of QATAR; Jacob Sotsky, Kirkland Ellens, Kurt Schwager, and Andrew Blaisdell of Jacobsen|Daniels, who conducted the literature review and assisted with documentation of innovative strategies; and Jeff Cushman of ABM Aviation, who reviewed the innovative strategies. Steven Derengowski and Sonya Sula at InterVISTAS Consulting assisted with the editing and production of the report.
The research team would like to thank the many airport staff who took the time to share their insights, experience, and opinions and to respond to follow-up queries.
FOREWORD
By Matthew J. Griffin
Staff Officer
Transportation Research Board
ACRP Research Report 266: Airport Curbside and Terminal Area Roadway Operations: New Analysis and Strategies, Second Edition builds on research published in ACRP Report 40: Airport Curbside and Terminal Area Roadway Operations by providing airport operators with new tactics for managing their curbsides. Landside managers and planners at airports of all sizes, and the consultants that support them, will be able to leverage this resource, which includes a number of strategies, and the updated Quick Analysis Tool for Airport Roadways (QATAR) to better manage their access roadways and curbside, in part, by reducing traffic demand and mitigating congestion.
ACRP Report 40: Airport Curbside and Terminal Area Roadway Operations was published in 2010. Since it was published, the inception of ride-sharing services has brought a paradigm shift, not only to the airport curb but to society in general. Transportation network companies have demonstrated the effectiveness of peer-to-peer mobile services and inspired new services that embrace this same model. There are opportunities and challenges in managing traditional and new types of ground transportation service providers. Airports needed new strategies for managing the changing marketplace, and QATAR needed updating to remain valid. Additionally, airports needed tactics for anticipating future ground service providers along with scalable strategies for traffic demand and congestion management.
Under ACRP Project 07-17, “Update to ACRP Report 40: Airport Roadway Analysis and Curbside Congestion Management Strategies,” InterVISTAS Consulting was asked to produce a guide that would be a thorough, user-friendly update of ACRP Report 40. They were supported by Kittelson & Associates, Inc. ACRP Research Report 266 and the updated QATAR should help airports of all sizes better manage their access roadways and curbside. A robust data collection plan was developed and case studies illustrating selected demand and traffic-congestion management strategies were reviewed. To support the update of QATAR, more than 10,000 tests or simulations of various curbside roadway configurations were completed to determine their performance under varying traffic demand. In addition to the published report, QATAR and a user guide for it are available on the National Academies Press website (nap.nationalacademies.org) by searching for ACRP Research Report 266: Airport Curbside and Terminal Area Roadway Operations: New Analysis and Strategies, Second Edition.
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CONTENTS
Chapter 1 Purpose, Methodology, and Organization of This Guide
Chapter 2 Framework for Analysis of Airport Roadways and Curbsides
2.3 Operating Characteristics of Airport Terminal Area Roadways
2.4 Overview of Analytical Framework Hierarchy
2.5 Overview of Capacity and Quality-of-Service Concepts
Chapter 3 Estimating Airport Roadway Requirements
3.1 Establishing Existing Airport Roadway Traffic Volumes and Patterns
3.2 Estimating Future Airport Roadway Traffic Volumes—Traditional Four-Step Approach
3.3 Estimating Future Airport Roadway Traffic Volumes—Alternative Approach
Chapter 4 Analyzing Airport Terminal Area Roadways
4.1 Quality-of-Service Definitions for Airport Terminal Area Roadways
4.2 Quick-Estimation Methods for Analyzing Airport Roadway Operations
4.3 Macroscopic Method for Analyzing Airport Roadway Weaving Areas
4.4 Use of Microsimulation Methods
4.5 Other Performance Measures
Chapter 5 Evaluating Airport Curbside Operations
5.2 Sufficiency Definitions for Airport Curbside Roadways
5.3 Estimating Airport Curbside Roadway Traffic Volumes
5.4 Estimating Airport Curbside Roadway Capacity and Sufficiency
5.5 Analytical Framework Hierarchy for Airport Curbside Roadways
Chapter 6 Improving Airport Curbside and Terminal Area Roadway Operations
