Airport Cul-de-sac's

Jarrett over at the Human Transit blog talks about Cul-de-sac's and the difficulty in trying to serve these with transit. In his presentation at Railvolution he also showed how hard it is to service points off the main route.

Airports can often be a form of Cul-de-sac's that can be difficult to service with transit. If you look at most of the airports currently served by or to soon be served by rail transit such as Salt Lake City or Denver, you will see a design that is basically a Cul-de-Sac: you have travel to it from one direction but you have to turn around to get out of the complex.

Last week I flew into Portland and took their excellent light rail service from the airport however, Portland is a perfect example of this principal. The Red Line ends at the airport and without a major reconstruction of the airport and/or the line itself, the line can never reach beyond the airport terminal itself.

This is true of many of the cities that currently have rail service to their airports including Philadelphia, Portland, Chicago (O'Hare), the new line to Denver, the future extension of the Washington Metro system to Washington Dulles, Baltimore and St. Louis. The Airport TRAX line in Salt Lake City will also be a dead end line.

There is a couple exceptions to this rule which includes the SeaTac in Seattle and Chicago-Midway (although both currently end at the airport stations there is planned extensions of both routes). However both of these stations are located at the far end of the parking lot and customers face a long walk to the actual airport terminals. I rode to SeaTac yesterday and despite the fact I walk a couple of hours a day, walking with luggage from the Link station to the airport terminal then to the respective gates can be a grueling experience.

The one exception to the above is Ronald Reagan Airport in Washington where the Washington Metro system is able to service the airport terminals and then continue on.

One of the worst example of providing service to an airport is the San Francisco BART line. First have the line to the airport plus a line that serves the vitally important connection to Caltrain at Millbrae. However, neither station has performed to potential due to the way the lines were designed.

As Jarrett pointed out, trains can either serve the airport, then reverse direction and head to Millbrae, or they can split with one train serving Millbrae and another the airport, or you can have option 2 with a shuttle between the two stations. Every time the schedules change at BART they seem to try something new and nothing seems to work.

Airport lines can provide a important multi-model connection to major airports. However, transit systems must also take into consideration if they are serving a cul-de-sac and whether those precious dollars could be better used for a line that can be expand to more areas in the future.

Related articles

• Denver airport breaks ground on new rail line to downtown (usatoday.com)

Image by Getty Images via Daylife

Welcome!

Construction progress continues on the Airport TRAX Line. To keep business and traffic impacts to a minimum, this six-mile project has been separated into seven construction “reaches,” or segments. The map below shows each construction reach in a different color, starting with Reach 1 in dark red by the airport and ending with Reach 7 in light green on the east end of the project.

A description of what is happening in each area is listed below. If you need further construction information, please call our toll-free 24-hour hotline at (888) 800-8854.

To minimize impacts during the Memorial Day weekend, all traffic control for the Airport TRAX Line construction project has been moved to the sides of North Temple.

Reach 1

Reach Description: Reach 1 is the area that extends from Terminal One at the Salt Lake City International Airport on the side of the Airport Access Road to the surplus canal bridge just north of the Wingpointe Golf Course. Current Construction: Construction is currently not taking place. Upcoming Construction: Heavier construction is anticipated Summer 2009. Traffic Impacts: There are no traffic impacts.

Reach 2

Reach Description: Reach 2 extends from the surplus canal bridge just north of the Wingpointe Golf Course along Airport Access Road fence line to 2400 West. Current Construction: Construction is currently not taking place. Upcoming Construction: Heavier construction is anticipated Summer 2009. Traffic Impacts: Currently, there are no traffic impacts.

Reach 3

Reach Description: Reach 3 extends from 2400 West along North Temple to I-215. This is the reach where TRAX will move from the side of the road to the center of North Temple. Current Construction: Construction is currently not taking place. Upcoming Construction: Heavier construction is anticipated Fall 2009. Traffic Impacts: There are currently no traffic restrictions.

Reach 4

Reach Description: Reach 4 extends from I-215 to just east of Redwood Road on North Temple. TRAX will be center running and will include a station located at approximately 1950 West North Temple. Access to the many businesses and governmental organizations will be maintained. Current Construction: Construction is currently not taking place. Upcoming Construction: Preliminary utility work is scheduled for the Redwood Road and North Temple intersection beginning in June. Heavier construction is anticipated Spring 2010. Traffic Impacts: Currently, there are no traffic impacts.

Reach 5

Reach Description: Reach 5 extends from just east of Redwood Road on North Temple to the Jordan River. TRAX will be center running and includes a station at 1500 West North Temple. Access to businesses and office complexes will be maintained. Current Construction: Crews have completed the first phase of preliminary utility work near 1300 West on North Temple near Rocky Mountain Power and KOA. Upcoming Construction: Preliminary utility work near 1300 West and North Temple is anticipated to resume within the next few weeks. Heavier construction is anticipated Spring 2010. Traffic Impacts: There are lane restrictions on North Temple near current utility work; however, access is being maintained.

Reach 6

Reach Description: Reach 6 extends from the Jordan River to I-15 along North Temple. TRAX will be center running and will include two stations located at approximately 1100 West and 800 West North Temple. Access to businesses and the State Fairpark will be maintained. Current Construction: Preliminary utility work at the 900 West and North Temple intersection is now complete. Upcoming Construction: Crews will begin utility work at 1000 West on North Temple next week. Heavier construction is anticipated Spring 2010. Traffic Impacts: There will be lane restrictions near the 1000 West intersection on North Temple beginning next week; however, access will be maintained.

Reach 7

Reach Description: Reach 7 is the area where the Airport Line will connect with the current north/south TRAX Line at the Arena Station, extending from I-15 to 400 West along North Temple and turning south on 400 West. Access to offices and the Gateway will be maintained. Current Construction: Currently, construction is not taking place. Upcoming Construction: Heavier construction is anticipated Winter 2010. Traffic Impacts: There are currently no traffic impacts. General Information Access during Construction UTA is committed to maintaining 24-hour access to all of the businesses and residences along the construction corridor. We will coordinate with businesses in cases where access may be temporarily limited. Construction Hours Construction is permitted to take place between 7 a.m. to 7 p.m. Monday through Saturday. Additionally, specific activities may require different working hours depending upon the conditions and will be coordinated with city officials. Construction Tours If you are interested in learning more about the construction project, please call our toll-free 24-hour hotline at (888) 800-8854. For More Information Timely and helpful information is available to assist business and residential communities, as well as commuters and stakeholders. If you have questions or comments, please contact our toll-free 24-hour hotline at (888) 800-8854 or e-mail thope@rideuta.com. You can also visit UTA’s Web site at www.rideuta.com. Please note that construction information provided is subject to change.

Politics and Transit

Los Angeles Infrastructure or Bust

Whenever politics controls what is happening with a project everyone looses.

Back when Miami was building its original Metrorail route, the northern part of the route was not determined by what was best option, instead the politicians overruled good transportation planning which has resulted in a route that is questionable at best.

Will the same thing happen when it comes to the Airport TRAX line? What will be the unintended consequences of going with embedded rails over the standard design? What is going to keep drivers from declaring the lanes their own and causing havoc with rail schedules?

Once again because of a few people with inferiority complexes and politicians too willing to give a vocal minority whatever they want, the best options are not pursued but instead politics rule the day.

Of course looking at the Los Angeles situation things could be much worst. Of course we can always ask, how bad would things be if the state politicians were given more control of UTA? I hope we never have to find out.

Airport TRAX line construction update

April 3, 2009



Welcome!



Construction has begun on the UTA Airport TRAX Line. This six-mile project has been separated into seven construction “reaches,” or segments, for management and planning purposes. The map below shows each construction reach in a different color, starting with Reach 1 in dark red by the airport and ending with Reach 7 in light green on the east end of the project.

A description of what is happening in each area is listed below. If you need further construction information, please call our toll-free 24-hour hotline at (800) 888-8854.





Reach 1



Reach Description: Reach 1 is the area that extends from Terminal One at the Salt Lake City International Airport to the surplus canal bridge just north of the Wingpointe Golf Course.



Upcoming Construction: Heavier construction is anticipated during Summer 2009.



Traffic Impacts: Currently there are no traffic impacts. Access will be maintained throughout the construction project.





Reach 2



Reach Description: Reach 2 extends from the surplus canal bridge just north of the Wingpointe Golf Course along the fence line on North Temple Drive to 2400 West.



Upcoming Construction: Heavier construction is anticipated Fall 2009.



Traffic Impacts: Currently there are no traffic impacts. Access will be maintained throughout the construction project.





Reach 3



Reach Description: Reach 3 extends from 2400 West along North Temple Drive to I-215. This is the reach where TRAX will move from the side of the road to the center of North Temple.



Current Construction: Currently utility work is taking place in the center of North Temple on either side of the I-215 overpass. Crews are relocating a utility line so it will not run underneath the TRAX guideway. To accommodate utility work on North Temple, west bound traffic near I-215 has been diverted to old North Temple down to 2200 West for the next few weeks. Access to all businesses will be maintained and flaggers will be on site to direct traffic.



Upcoming Construction: Heavy construction will begin during Spring 2009.



Traffic Impacts: There are lane restrictions near the I-215 overpass on North Temple, but access is being maintained.





Reach 4



Reach Description: Reach 4 extends from I-215 to just past Redwood Road on North Temple. TRAX will be center running and will include a station located at approximately 1950 West North Temple. Access to the many businesses and governmental organizations will be maintained.



Current Construction: Utility work extends just east of the I-215 overpass on North Temple. Heavier construction is not anticipated until later this fall.



Upcoming Construction:

Preliminary utility work is scheduled for the Redwood Road and North Temple intersection at the beginning of May. There will be lane restrictions, but traffic will be maintained at all times. Heavier construction is anticipated beginning Fall 2009.



Traffic Impacts: Currently there are no traffic impacts.





Reach 5



Reach Description: Reach 5 extends from just east of Redwood Road on North Temple to the Jordan River. TRAX will be center running and includes a station at 1500 West North Temple. Access to the many businesses and office complexes will be maintained.



Current Construction: Currently construction is not taking place.



Upcoming Construction: Construction is anticipated to begin during Autumn 2009.



Traffic Impacts: Currently there are not traffic impacts.







Reach 6



Reach Description: Reach 6 extends from the Jordan River to I-15 along North Temple. TRAX will be center running and will include two stations located at approximately 1500 West and 1100 West North Temple. Access to the many businesses and the State Fairpark will be maintained.



Current Construction: Crews should finish the preliminary portion of utility work at the 800 West intersection by next week.



Upcoming Construction: Heavy construction is anticipated during Spring 2010.



Traffic Impacts: There are lane restrictions on North Temple that extend from 800 West to just east of 600 West. Access is being maintained. We appreciate the businesses and public’s patience.





Reach 7



Reach Description: Reach 7 is the area where the Airport Line will connect with the current North/South TRAX Line at the Arena Station.
This reach extends from I-15 to 400 West along North Temple and turns south on 400 West proceeding to South Temple. Access to offices and the Gateway will be maintained throughout the construction project.



Current Construction: Preliminary utility work is currently taking place at approximately 641 West North Temple. This work is scheduled for approximately two weeks.



Upcoming Construction: After the utility work is completed at 641 West, preliminary work is expected to begin for approximately three weeks at the 900 West and North Temple intersection.



Traffic Impacts: There are currently no traffic impacts.









General Information



Access during Construction

UTA is committed to maintaining 24-hour access to all of the businesses and residences along the construction corridor. We will coordinate with businesses in cases where access may be temporarily limited.



Construction Hours

Construction is permitted to take place between 7 a.m. to 7 p.m. Monday through Saturday. Additionally, specific activities may require different working hours depending upon the conditions and will be coordinated with city officials.



Construction Tours

If you are interested in learning more about the construction project, please call our toll-free 24-hour hotline at (888) 800-8854.



For More Information

Timely and helpful information is available to assist business and residential communities as well as commuters and stakeholders.



If you have questions or comments regarding the project, please contact our toll-free 24-hour hotline at (888) 800-8854 or e-mail thope@rideuta.com. You can also visit UTA’s Web site at www.rideuta.com .



Please note that construction information provided is subject to change.

Articles

UTA to delay site development decision

UTA will study site further

Airport TRAX

UTA approves FrontLines bonds

'Bus or streetcar?' UTA asks

West-siders lobby for embedded light-rail tracks on North Temple

Different kind of train coming to TRAX

Group trying to put a stop to land deal signed by governor

SLC Council considers aesthetics of North Temple TRAX line

Airport TRAX line construction update

Image via Wikipedia

March 27, 2009



Welcome!



Construction has begun on the UTA Airport TRAX Line. To keep business and traffic impacts to a minimum, this six-mile project has been separated into seven construction “reaches,” or segments, for management and planning purposes. The map below shows each construction reach in a different color, starting with Reach 1 in dark red by the airport and ending with Reach 7 in light green on the east end of the project.

airportNODATES

A description of what is happening in each area is listed below. If you need further construction information, please call our toll-free 24-hour hotline at (800) 888-8854.





Reach 1



Reach Description: Reach 1 is the area that extends from Terminal One at the Salt Lake City International Airport on the side of North Temple Drive to the surplus canal bridge just north of the Wingpointe Golf Course.



Upcoming Construction: Heavier construction is anticipated during Summer 2009.



Traffic Impacts: Access will be maintained throughout the construction project.





Reach 2



Reach Description: Reach 2 extends from the surplus canal bridge just north of the Wingpointe Golf Course near the Salt Lake City International Airport along the fence line on North Temple Drive to 2400 West.



Upcoming Construction: Heavier construction is anticipated Fall 2009.



Traffic Impacts: Currently there are no traffic impacts.





Reach 3



Reach Description: Reach 3 extends from 2400 West along North Temple Drive to I-215. This is the reach where TRAX will move from the side of the road to the center of North Temple.



Current Construction: Currently utility work is taking place in the center of North Temple on either side of the I-215 overpass. West bound traffic west of 1-215 has been diverted to Old North Temple down to 2200 West for the next two weeks. Access to all businesses will be maintained and flaggers will be on site to direct traffic. Utility work is scheduled at the 2200 West and North Temple intersection for approximately two weeks beginning mid-April.



Upcoming Construction: Heavy construction will begin during Spring 2009.



Traffic Impacts: There are lane restrictions near the I-215 overpass on North Temple, but access is being maintained.





Reach 4



Reach Description: Reach 4 extends from I-215 to just past Redwood Road on North Temple. TRAX will be center running and will include a station located at approximately 1950 West North Temple. Access to the many businesses and governmental organizations will be maintained.



Current Construction: Utility work extends just east of the I-215 overpass on North Temple. Heavier construction is not anticipated until later this fall.



Upcoming Construction:

· Preliminary utility work is scheduled for the Redwood Road and
North Temple intersection for approximately two weeks beginning the second week of April. More details will be provided. There will be lane restrictions, but traffic will be maintained at all times. Heavier construction is anticipated to begin Fall 2009.



Traffic Impacts: Currently there are no traffic impacts.





Reach 5



Reach Description: Reach 5 extends from Redwood Road to the Jordan River. TRAX will be center running and includes a station at 1500 West.
Access to the many businesses and office complexes will be maintained.



Upcoming Construction: Construction is anticipated to begin Autumn 2009.



Traffic Impacts: Currently there are not traffic impacts.





Reach 6



Reach Description: Reach 6 extends from the Jordan River to I-15 along North Temple. TRAX will be center running and will include two stations located at approximately 1500 West and 1100 West. Access to the many businesses and the State Fairpark will be maintained.



Current Construction: Preliminary utility work is currently taking place at approximately 641 West North Temple. This work is scheduled for approximately two weeks.



Upcoming Construction:

After the utility work is completed at 641 West, preliminary work is expected to begin for approximately two weeks at 900 West. Heavy construction is anticipated during Spring 2010.



Traffic Impacts: There are lane restrictions on North Temple that extend from 800 West to just east of 600 West. Access is being maintained throughout this area. We appreciate the businesses and public’s patience during this work.





Reach 7



Reach Description: Reach 7 is the area where the Airport Line will connect with the current North/South TRAX Line at the Arena Station.
This reach extends from I-15 to 400 West along North Temple. Access to offices and the Gateway will be maintained throughout the construction project.



Current Construction: Crews in will be potholing for utilities throughout the next week.



Upcoming Construction: Heavy construction is anticipated to begin during Summer 2010.



Traffic Impacts: There are currently no traffic impacts.

Reach 6 – Access is being maintained to businesses near 800 West where preliminary utility work is taking place.

Reach 3 – Work continues on North Temple near I-215 as crews relocated a water line from the center to the side of the street.

Reach 7 – Crews continue

“potholing” or excavating utilities along North Temple to determine exact locations.

General Information



Access during Construction

UTA is committed to maintaining 24-hour access to all of the businesses and residences along the construction corridor. We will coordinate with businesses in cases where access may be temporarily limited.



Construction Hours

Construction is permitted to take place between 7 a.m. to 7 p.m. Monday through Saturday. Additionally, specific activities may require different working hours depending upon the conditions and will be coordinated with city officials.



Construction Tours

If you are interested in learning more about the construction project, please call our toll-free 24-hour hotline at (888) 800-8854.



For More Information

Timely and helpful information is available to assist business and residential communities as well as commuters and stakeholders.



If you have questions or comments regarding the project, please contact our toll-free 24-hour hotline at (888) 800-8854 or e-mail thope@rideuta.com . You can also visit UTA’s Web site at www.rideuta.com .



Please note that construction information provided is subject to change.