ACRP Research Report 215 provides a reference guide for airport practitioners that identifies strategies and practical tools for adapting airport landside access programs to reflect the evolution of ground transportation modes (e.g., TNCs and autonomous vehicles). The reference guide also identifies impacts on other airport revenues and operations (e.g., parking and rental cars) for both a current timeframe and a projected 5- to 10-year outlook.
The reference guide addresses strategies for creating long-term sustainable revenue models, managing curbside and roadway vehicle congestion, assessing customer service impacts (i.e., location of drop-off/pick-up areas, wayfinding terminology) as well as strategies to forecast shifts of customer preferences and demand, including the impact of technology and socioeconomic factors on their choices and the use of technology and access to data. There is consideration of how the shift in ground transportation access, started by TNCs, affects long range facility design and capital planning. Additionally, the guide addresses operational considerations and business terms related to enforcement, staffing, and audits that should be considered as new ground transportation agreements are developed. Other considerations include making progress towards airport sustainability initiatives such as the use of fuel efficient vehicles or alternative fuel vehicles and achievement of community or accessibility standards or initiatives in particular compliance with ADA regulations.
Transportation Network Companies (TNCs) have become an increasingly popular form of transportation since initially permitted at some airports in 2014. While many airports receive significant revenue from TNCs, others have recorded declines in parking revenue and rental car transactions that are perceived to be a direct result of TNC operations. There is also a common perception among airports that TNCs are contributing to the increased congestion on terminal curbside and roadways. Since the introduction of TNCs, airports have also recorded impacts to other ground transportation modes resulting in a need to adapt airport landside access programs. Now airports are considering the potential impacts of the next wave of mobility innovation such as the development of connected autonomous vehicles.
ACRP Synthesis 84: Transportation Network Companies: Challenges and Opportunities for Airport Operators supported the airport perceptions described above. The report also found that TNCs are causing declines in the use of taxicabs and shared-ride vans at surveyed airports. These findings were based on a limited amount of data since at the time the synthesis project was conducted, only a few airports had more than 12 months of experience with TNC operations. Thus, the amount of data available before and after the TNC operations began was limited. The synthesis study recommended further investigation regarding impact of TNC on airport revenues and operations.
This research, led by Ricondo in association with Resource Systems Group, Inc. (RSG) includes best operational practices and revenue impacts and used the results of a survey of large-, medium-, and small-hub airports, to develop a disaggregate mode choice model and a simulation tool that estimates revenue impacts of TNCs. The research also compiled parking and rental car transaction data from the FAA Certification Activity Tracking System (CATS) as well as from individual airport financial statements in order to assess the trends and impacts of TNCs on airport ground access revenue. Other contributors included Megan Ryerson, Ph. D., and Schaller Consulting. Nearly a dozen airport operators contributed in telephone or on-site interviews including BOS, DEN, SFO, MSP, ATL, SEA, DFW and PIT.
STATUS: Research is completed and published as Report 215 
