A Hierarchical Typology of Intermodal Air-Rail Connections at Large Airports in the United States

In July 2005, the United States Government Accountability Office (GAO) issued a report discussing intermodal transportation strategies in developing airport intermodal capabilities (USGAO 2005). In this report, the GAO identified those airports that had a direct rail or bus connection, to either nationwide or local systems, among the largest 72 US airports. GAO found 13 airports directly connected to nationwide rail (the Amtrak system), and 27 airports directly connected to local or regional rail systems. The GAO “considered a direct connection to consist of a transfer point (such as a bus stop or rail station) that is accessible from airport terminals either by walking, an automated people mover, or direct shuttle” (USGAO 2005, p. 7). Unfortunately, the GAO definition of a “direct” intermodal connection did not distinguish among numerous important characteristics that define the quality of an intermodal air-rail linkage. For example, there is a huge difference between service provided at an on-airport rail station that is accessible by walking as opposed to having to take a shuttle to an off-airport rail station. There are differences in the type and length of shuttle services between airports and rail stations. Likewise, rail service at an airport that connects to a national rail system is different from service that is only local or regional. Also, airport rail service that is more frequent and connected to a large rail system is much different from rail service that is infrequent and may only feature one line of service with limited connectivity. All of these factors must be considered when assessing the quality of air-rail connections. This leads to consideration of a typology approach. Instead of lumping all air-rail service in one undifferentiated basket, important distinctions must be made. This paper presents and utilizes a hierarchical typology of air-rail connections to differentiate the quality of air-rail service currently operating at US airports. Following a brief conceptual overview of passenger intermodal literature in different geographic contexts, a hierarchical typology of air-rail connections is presented and used to categorize the fifty largest US airports based on the quality of their air-rail service. More specific descriptions and qualitative assessments of the air-rail connections for each of the airports with direct air-rail service are also provided.

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• Record URL:
  https://rosap.ntl.bts.gov/view/dot/28368
• Supplemental Notes:
  • This research was sponsored by the U.S. Department of Transportation, University Transportation Centers Program.
• Corporate Authors:

  National Center for Intermodal Transportation

  University of Denver
  Denver, CO  United States  80208

  Research and Innovative Technology Administration

  1200 New Jersey Avenue, SE
  Washington, DC  United States  20590
• Authors:
  • Goetz, Andrew R
  • Vowles, Timothy M
• Publication Date: 2010

Language

• English

Media Info

• Media Type: Digital/other
• Features: Figures; Maps; References; Tables;
• Pagination: 43p

Subject/Index Terms

• TRT Terms: Airports; Intermodal services; Quality of service; Rail transit; Railroad transportation
• Identifier Terms: Amtrak
• Uncontrolled Terms: Air rail interface; Connections (Transportation); Typology
• Geographic Terms: United States
• Subject Areas: Aviation; Passenger Transportation; Planning and Forecasting; Railroads; I72: Traffic and Transport Planning;

Filing Info

• Accession Number: 01543899
• Record Type: Publication
• Files: UTC, NTL, TRIS, RITA, ATRI, USDOT
• Created Date: Nov 22 2014 8:05PM