Palm Beach International Airport Ground Access and Transportation

ADDENDUM A

Palm Beach International Airport Ground

Access and Transportation Networks

ADDENDUMA_PBI_GROUNDACCESS_FEBRUARY2007 1

ADDENDUM A

Palm Beach International Airport Ground

Access and Transportation Networks

An extensive traffic study (Study) was completed as part of the Ricondo and Associates 2001

Strategic Master Plan Update. Little has changed since the completion of that Study,

therefore, this section provides a brief summary of the highlights, and does not contain

further analysis. Most notably, the importance of the intermodal transit system to growth of

Palm Beach International Airport (PBI) is emphasized. As PBI grows due to increased

aviation demand, on airport ground transportation and transit modes must be capable of

supporting this growth, in order to compliment the transportation system developed by the

Palm Beach County (PBC).

1.0 Intermodal Passenger Transportation Services

PBC offers three forms of intermodal passenger transportation services for PBI: Palm Beach

County Transit System (Palm Tran) Bus Service, Tri-Rail Passenger Service, and For Hire

Transportation Services. PBI and Tri-Rail bring passengers into PBC while For Hire

Transportation Services work in conjunction with Palm Tran to move people around PBC.

Palm Tran Bus Service

Palm Tran operates thirty-seven routes throughout PBC, of which two routes, 40 and 44,

serve PBI. Palm Tran Route 40, West Palm Beach to Belle Glade Limited Stop Service, is an

east- west route that operates seven days a week. It serves the following ten locations:

• Governmental Center • Judicial Center

• West Palm Beach Tri-Rail • Palm Beach International Airport

• Western Plaza • Mall At Wellington Green

• Wellington Medical Center • Wellington Library

• Palms West • Belle Glade HRS / Courthouse

Palm Tran Route 44, West Palm Beach Cross-town via Belvedere Road, is an east-west route

that operates seven days a week. It serves the following thirteen locations:

• Lake Point Center • Centre Park

• Drexel Plaza • West Palm Beach Tri-Rail

• PBC Library • Judicial Center

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• Super Wal-Mart • Governmental Center

• Palm Beach Kennel Club • Kravis Center

• Palm Beach International Airport • PBC Convention Center

• Howard Park

Due to increased demand since the previous Study, Palm Tran has modified its bus routes

to provide better service to its clients. Palm Tran has maximized the number of pick-up and

drop off points, increased the number of overlapping routes to maximize customer

destination alternatives, and provided daily service where demand dictates.

Tri-Rail

The Tri-Rail station nearest PBI is located north of Okeechobee Boulevard on 203 South

Tamarind Avenue. Palm Tran bus routes 2, 31, 40, 43, 44, 45, 55, and 50 (Downtown Shuttle)

serve this station; of which routes 40 and 44 serve PBI. In addition, at the Tri-Rail station

passengers can make connections with Greyhound, Amtrak and cab service. As a result,

Amtrak and Greyhound passenger’s can shuttle to PBI via Palm Tran or cab service.

For Hire Transportation Services

For Hire Transportation Services refers to Limousines, cabs and other courtesy shuttle bus

services. Staging spaces and curbside drop off and pick up areas are provided for these

vehicles at PBI’s terminal. For Hire Transportation services, especially cab service, is

typically the most convenient method of getting to and from PBI from any destination in

PBC.

2.0 PBI Intermodal HUB

The objective of an “intermodal hub” is to integrate the available transportation services to

provide airport users with efficient ground transfers and services characterized by the

highest degree of comfort, convenience, and security possible. Therefore, PBI’s “intermodal

transportation hub” would provide a base of operations for Tri-Rail, Palm Tran, other bus

services, and for hire transportation services. The proposed location for the intermodal hub

is east of PBI. It is bounded by Australian Avenue to the West, Belvedere Road to the

North, and Interstate 95 to the East. The proposed hub will accommodate the following

modes of transportation:

• Rail (Tri-Rail, Amtrak) • Private Vehicles

• PBI Shuttle buses • Palm Tran Buses

• Taxicabs/ Limousines • Bicycles/Motorcycles

• Pedestrians • People Mover Connection (Long-Term)

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Connectivity between PBI and Proposed Intermodal Hub

The 2001 Study proposed that this connection be made using a “people mover” system.

People movers are a type of automated fixed guide-way transportation system. They are

generally small systems of short lengths (two to three miles maximum) with a small number

of stations and vehicles. The 2001 Study proposed a shuttle type system, which typically

consists of a single vehicle or train operating back and forth over a single-lane of guide way

between stations. This system would not only connect to the intermodal hub but would also

connect to the Ground Transportation Center (GTC), a new car rental facility north of

Belvedere Road (further discussed below). Baggage screening and conveyance could also be

added to the people mover system to provide added convenience to PBI users.

Two alternatives for the people mover system were discussed in the Study:

• People Mover Option 1: This alternative proposes a people mover system on an elevated

structure connecting PBI and the Intermodal Transportation Hub with an intermediate

stop at the GTC. The people mover traverses Belvedere Road twice. The alignment of

this route is located in the northern portion of PBI’s inbound terminal roadway, parallel

to and south of Belvedere Road. At Congress Avenue, it traverses north to the GTC,

circulating it and then heading south toward PBI’s future parking garage and terminal

building.

• People Mover Option 2: The proposed people mover system for this alternative is

elevated as well. It connects the GTC and the Intermodal Hub with an intermediate stop

at PBI’s terminal building. The alignment of this route is located between the inbound

and outbound terminal roadway. This route traverses through the Park and Ride

facilities, continuing to PBI’s terminal building, then the parking garage, before

terminating at the GTC.

The 2001 Study recommended People Mover Option 1 as the preferred alternative based on

a matrix screening process. This process took into consideration several criteria including

minimization of roadway and utility pole relocations and minimizing environmental

impacts.

3.0 Other Ground Access and Transportation Networks

Downtown Multimodal Center

The 2001 Study presented a conceptual layout of a Multimodal Center (MC) at the

downtown Palm Beach Tri-Rail station. The report states that initial connection between PBI

and the downtown MC will be made via a tram/trolley system. As demand on the system

increases, it could eventually evolve into a fixed guide-way system. The 2001 Study

discussed two conceptual corridor options but cautioned that further detailed planning and

programming efforts would need to be undertaken by the DOA, other County agencies,

state, and federal transportation agencies before a preferred alternative could be

determined. To date the MC development has not been constructed.

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Analysis of Future Rental Car Facilities

Seven car rental companies operate at PBI, both on and off airport property. Each operator

has its own ready/return, maintenance, and storage facility. As the locations of these

facilities are scattered around the airport, several surface access and roadway circulation

conflicts occur. Most notably, as customers enter the airport, there are too many different

directions drivers must choose from. Additionally, off airport rental car traffic adds to

congestion with airport traffic, and creates a higher potential for accidents.

Six alternatives for future car rental facility locations were analyzed to address the need for

additional space for on-airport rental car operations. The analysis took into account, several

factors, including the economies of scale that rental car companies might gain from being

collocated. Some of the benefits gained from being collocated include efficiencies with drop-

off and pick-up of vehicles, fueling, washing, and cleaning. Ultimately, a facility located in

the northwest quadrant of the intersection of Belvedere Road and Congress Avenue was

determined to be the best alternative.