APPROACHES FOR IMPROVING AIRPORT ACCESS

There are two airport access travel markets: (1) the Central Business District-to-airport market; and (2) the suburban-to-airport market. Approaches for improving airport access include: (1) improvements in existing limousine service; (2) demand-activated transportation service; (3) priority access routes for public transportation; (4) satellite terminals; and (5) extension of the regional rapid transit systems to airports. An economic analysis of the first four of these alternatives leads to the following conclusions: (1) it is possible to provide economically viable service both to low- and high-density areas; and (2) increased service to low-density areas may be provided by either extending reservation routes to transfer points where free parking and taxi services are available or by operation of group-riding service.