Improving ground transport links to airports

[KJP]

Also discussed at:

 

http://www.urbanohio.com/forum2/index.php/topic,7852.msg474817.html#msg474817

 

There are a number of cities where existing rail corridors for planned Ohio Hub/Midwest Regional routes pass near commercial passenger airports -- Cincinnati, Cleveland, Columbus, Erie, Detroit, Pittsburgh and Toledo....

 

http://durbin.senate.gov/showRelease.cfm?releaseId=323320

 

Durbin: Senate Approves Durbin Amendment to Study Partnerships Between Air and Rail Travel

 

Monday, March 22, 2010

 

[WASHINGTON, D.C.] – The U.S. Senate today approved an amendment authored by Assistant Senate Majority Leader Dick Durbin (D-IL) requiring the Government Accountability Office (GAO) to study ways to increase coordination between air and passenger rail travel. Durbin’s amendment was approved as part of the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) Air Transportation Modernization and Safety Improvement Act.  The amendment specifically identifies codeshare agreements as one way that airlines and passenger rail providers can better coordinate travel.

 

“Today, code sharing is very common among airlines looking to sell travel to cities that it may not otherwise serve,” said Durbin.  “Expanding this service to include passenger rail providers would increase the options available to take travelers to their destinations.  These types of connections between air and rail service would also bring smaller towns and cities closer to major hub airports where they can travel to almost any destination in the world.”

 

A codeshare agreement between two airlines allows customers access to both airline networks which directly benefits the consumer through a streamlined ticket purchasing process, combined frequent flyer programs and increased destinations and flight choices.

 

“With $8 billion announced earlier this year for high speed rail nationwide – $1.2 billion for Illinois – this is the right time to explore the best way to integrate air travel and passenger rail service,” said Durbin.

 

Currently, there is only one codeshare agreement between an airline and a passenger rail provider.  Amtrak has service directly to Newark Airport, a key hub of Continental Airlines.  The arrangement between Amtrak and Continental provides air travelers with connecting rail service on Regional and Keystone trains to Philadelphia, Wilmington, Stamford and New Haven.  Conversely, Amtrak travelers on these trains can travel Amtrak directly to Newark Airport and then travel anywhere Continental Airlines flies.

[KJP]

Cross-posted in the railways section. 3C Corridor is mentioned in this piece in USA Today. See the full article, photos and more links at:

 

http://www.usatoday.com/travel/flights/2010-07-20-airporthubs20_CV_N.htm

 

Airports pitch sites as all-purpose transport hubs

By Roger Yu, USA TODAY

 

Some U.S. airports are waking up to the potential of some of their key assets: buses, cars and trains headed their way and acres of unused land.

 

They're starting to see themselves as all-purpose transportation centers — so-called intermodal hubs — where national, regional or metro rail, local buses, rental cars, taxis and shuttle operations are consolidated.

 

Some, such as those in Miami and Providence, are building them. Others are seriously considering it. The goal is to not only give travelers greater access to and from airport terminals, but to make the airport a central station where people go for a variety of choices in ground transportation.

 

READ MORE AT the above link