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America's Friendliest Airport

AUTOMATED TRAIN DETAILS

Q: Why do we need the automated train?

Sky Harbor Boulevard and the surrounding roadway system accommodate all traffic at the Airport — it is the only way for passengers, employees, Airport businesses and the public to access the Airport terminals. The Airport will continue to improve this roadway system, but it has limited capacity and a second mode of transportation will be necessary in the near future. Conservative growth projections suggest that Sky Harbor's roadway system will reach capacity in six to eight years. The automated train is the most effective and efficient way to meet passenger demand, keep pace with Arizona's remarkable growth and maintain customer service levels.

Benefits:

Q: What will the train look like?

While the specific design of the automated train has not been determined, the Automated Train Team has identified three train types that would be viable candidates. These candidates each employ rubber-tired, driverless train cars similar to those used in other large airports.

Q: How long will it take to ride the train from station to station?

While the specific travel time between the stations will vary depending upon which train is selected, travel time estimates between stations for the Stage One system are included below. Estimated travel time between stations:

Q: How frequently will the trains arrive?

Trains will arrive approximately every 3 to 5 minutes.

Q: How fast will the train go?

Train speeds vary depending upon the type of train selected, but maximum speeds are expected to be approximately 35 mph.

Q: How many passengers will the trains hold?

Train passenger capacity will vary depending on the train type selected, but trains in this category are expected to hold between 40 and 60 passengers per individual car cabin. Cars can be coupled to make longer trains, and maximum-length trains are expected to carry between 160 and 200 passengers with luggage.

Q: Will the trains and stations be air-conditioned?

Yes, the trains are fully air-conditioned, and the air-conditioned passenger stations are enclosed by automatically-controlled station doors that will open when the trains arrive. This will allow the stations to be air-conditioned, without allowing the conditioned air to escape.

Q: The Metro opens in 2008. Can I get to the Airport by the Metro?

When the light rail station opens, the Airport will provide a regularly scheduled shuttle bus service until the airport train is operating. The buses will run at no charge to passengers between light rail and the Airport’s Terminal 4 during light rail operating hours. While 75 percent of passengers travel through Terminal 4, anyone wishing to continue to Terminals 2 and 3 may do so on an Inter-Terminal bus.

Q: Why isn’t light rail going into Sky Harbor?

Light rail will take you to the edge of the airport where you’ll catch a quick connection right to the terminals. This will be via shuttle bus until the airport train is complete in 2013. Light rail passengers would have the inconvenience of six more stops and 15 minutes added to their commute by stopping inside Sky Harbor. They would also have luggage, boxes, golf bags and parcels that travelers often lug to the airport. Also, light rail doesn’t operate about every 3-5 minutes, 24-hours a day, like our train will. Sky Harbor’s automated train will serve light rail riders well: a one-stop shop just steps away from the light rail station at 44th Street and Washington may even allow passengers to obtain a boarding pass, check luggage, and take the train into the Airport.

Q: Aren’t there more expedient ways to move people than a train?

Studies have shown that an automated train is the best way to move people through the airport. Sky Harbor’s free train will help relieve curbside traffic jams, reduce wait times, provide hassle-free travel in climate controlled vehicles and connect to the Valley’s light rail and bus lines. It will take more than 20,000 vehicles off the roads each day. The driverless train will function like those at Chicago O’Hare, Denver, Las Vegas and San Francisco, with trains arriving every 3 to 5 minutes and with the trip from LRT to T-4 taking 4 to 5 minutes.

Q: Why a train? Aren’t the shuttle buses working?

This elevated, electric train is the most expedient and environmentally conscious way to move people through Sky Harbor. The shuttles are working fine for now. But as we grow, we’ll experience even more traffic congestion from shuttles as well as other vehicles. The result is that the buses will be challenged in trying to get through traffic and the curbs will become so congested that the roadways will become gridlocked.

Q: If the train’s so important, why don’t you build the whole route at once instead of in phases?

Sky Harbor’s focus is on cost-conscious improvements that will better the service we provide our tenant airlines and their passengers. We are taking this approach to moderate the cost increases and spread them out over a longer period of time.

Q: Don’t you need to acquire land to connect the automated train from the light rail station into Sky Harbor?

Some private parcels along that route currently are being acquired, and we are working to relocate businesses impacted by this progress. The acquisition area is bound by 44th Street to the east, 41st Place to the west, between Washington Street to the north and the Union Pacific Railroad to the south.

This station also will be what is known as a "kiss and fly" drop off point – travelers are driven to the station where they “kiss” their driver good-bye and board the train for the airport. Passengers may even be able to obtain a boarding pass, check luggage, before taking the train into the Airport from this location.

The land around the train station at 44th Street will be planned to handle buses, shuttles, and private vehicles. This terminal without planes will provide a simple and less congested option to passengers and airport employees needing to get to the airport.