This book covers the analysis, modelling, planning, and design of airport landside access modes and their systems. It elaborates on the issues and related problems of airport landside accessibility in an innovative, comprehensive and systematic way. In addition to the general concept of accessibility, the book addresses the analysis and modelling of infrastructure-related, technological, operational, economic, social and environmental performance of road- and rail-based transport systems, as well as the core principles of their planning and design. The book provides guidelines on the modelling, planning, and design of airport landside access modes and their systems, which will contribute to the overall sustainable development of airports. Its main features are: presents a multidimensional examination of performance for specific airport landside access modes and their systems; pursues a qualitative and quantitative approach to developing performance indicators for estimating the sustainability of airport landside access modes and their systems; includes illustrative cases of airport landside accessibility, and numerical examples as exercises for assessing performance using the systems’ indicators. As such, the book offers a valuable source of information for all practitioners involved in analysing, planning and designing more environmentally friendly airport access modes and systems, and who want to learn how to overcome the issues and problems surrounding landside accessibility. It will also benefit students studying the analysis and modelling of transportation systems, and researchers seeking to promote improved sustainability at airports.

The purpose of this research was to describe the elements that comprise airport access and develop a methodology for identifying and evaluating existing landside access performance and proposed improvements from a passenger perspective. The scope was limited to landside access service between approaches to the airport and the entrance to the terminal. A literature review and an investigation of Virginia state and metropolitan transportation agencies yielded the evaluation standards, guidelines, and methods currently used to identify and evaluate airport landside access performance and improvements. A national survey of U.S. airports determined the characteristics of the airport access services provided. Based on this information, factors relevant to evaluating landside access were identified. An access evaluation methodology was developed based on performance measures relating to cost, time, reliability, convenience, and quality. This methodology was demonstrated through investigation of landside access facilities at Richmond International Airport. Three conclusions were drawn. First, there is a lack of consistency in measuring airport access performance. Second, landside access to airports is a major concern at airports of all sizes, but there is no significant difference in reported access problems among large, medium, and small airports. Third, the methodology developed may be tailored to meet the needs of a specific airport. The study recommends that the Virginia Department of Transportation and the Virginia Department of Aviation incorporate the evaluation methodology into the access fund appropriations process; encourage Virginia airports to adopt the methodology as a step in the master plan process; and encourage nationwide use of the methodology by airport authorities, state departments of transportation, and the Federal Aviation Administration.

TRB’s Airport Cooperative Research Program (ACRP) Report 52: Wayfinding and Signing Guidelines for Airport Terminals and Landside is designed to provide airports with the tools necessary to help passengers find their way in and around the airport.