BACKGROUND

Emissions from surface traffic can be a substantial portion of the carbon emissions at an airport. Traditional transportation demand management tools, such as encouraging increased transit use, often have limited effect. Airports may have innovative ways to reduce carbon: for example, by establishing fee incentives for low-emitting shuttles, introducing access fees at the curb to reduce or divert passenger trips, or subsidize transit passes for employees. However, introducing or changing programs may have implications for provider contractual agreements, operator parity, passenger behavior, passenger demand, modal share, travel patterns, non-aeronautical revenues, and social equity. Although the topic is complex and potentially controversial, the urgency of climate change drives a need to gain knowledge as soon as possible.

OBJECTIVE & AUDIENCE

The objective of this research is to provide information on the use of airport programs or initiatives that reduce carbon emissions from vehicles accessing the airport. The audiences for this research are airport landside and ground transportation, finance and business development, planning and engineering, and environmental departments. 

INFORMATION TO BE GATHERED

Tasks and resulting information to describe in a concise report:

·       Conduct a literature review.

·       Document airport programs or initiatives at US and international airports that influence carbon emissions.

·       Identify types of internal and external funding mechanisms that support advancement towards sustainability.

·       Conduct interviews with multiple airports to understand their programs and initiatives, fee structures, innovative practices, how carbon reduction influenced their fees, lessons learned and resulting practices, and (if available) data to illustrate issues and outcomes. Include impacts on revenue, changing traffic patterns, and social equity in the discussions.

·       Provide at least four case studies of airport programs or initiatives, including at least one international airport.

·       Describe further research needs to close gaps in knowledge.

Partial Information Sources

ACRP Synthesis 89, Clean Vehicles, Fuels, and Practices for Airport Private Ground Transportation Providers 2018 https://www.trb.org/Main/Blurbs/177868.aspx

ACRP Research Report 225, Rethinking Airport Parking Facilities to Protect and Enhance Non-Aeronautical Revenue, 2019 https://www.trb.org/Publications/Blurbs/181748.aspx 

Chao, Hsun; Agusdinata, Datu Buyung; DeLaurentis, Daniel; Stechel, Ellen B. Carbon offsetting and reduction scheme with sustainable aviation fuel options: Fleet-level carbon emissions impacts for U.S. airlines. Transportation Research Part D: Transport and Environment, Volume 75, Issue 0, 2019, pp 42-56 https://trid.trb.org/view/1648532

Hájek, Miroslav; Zimmermannová, Jarmila; Helman, Karel. Environmental efficiency of economic instruments in transport in EU countries. Transportation Research Part D: Transport and Environment, Volume 100, Issue 0, 2021, 103054 https://trid.trb.org/view/1881826

Ma, Wenliang; Zhang, Yahua; Cui, Jinhua. Chinese future frequent flyers’ willingness to pay for carbon emissions reduction. Transportation Research Part D: Transport and Environment, Volume 97, Issue 0, 2021, 102935 https://trid.trb.org/view/1858528

Nyamdorj, Bolormaa; Anaka, Wayne; Stoica, Andrei; Sushant, Sushant; Ortega, Joshua; Helm, Brittney; Moreira, Paula. Carbon Neutrality, Reduction and Offset-Aviation Solutions in the 21st Century. SAE International Journal of Advances and Current Practices in Mobility, Volume 3, Issue 3, 2021, pp 1293-1306 https://trid.trb.org/view/1859085

Ugirumurera, Juliette; Severino, Joseph; Ficenec, Karen; Ge, Yanbo; Wang, Qichao; Williams, Lindy; Chae, Junghoon; Lunacek, Monte; Phillips, Caleb. A modeling framework for designing and evaluating curbside traffic management policies at Dallas-Fort Worth International Airport. Transportation Research Part A: Policy and Practice, Volume 153, Issue 0, 2021, pp 130-150

https://trid.trb.org/view/1878868

Wang, Yuan; Zhang, Yu. Impacts of Automated Vehicles on Airport Landside Terminal Planning, Design, and Operations. Transportation Research Record: Journal of the Transportation Research Board, Volume 2673, Issue 10, 2019, pp 443-454 https://trid.trb.org/view/1602180

Topic Panel

Thomas Anderson, Edina, MN

Peter Carbonaro, Port Authority of New York and New Jersey

Brian Kramer, City & County of Denver

Lewison Lem, Port of Portland

Kristian Wade, Salt Lake City Department of Airports

Amanda Woodin, Kalamazoo/Battle Creek International Airport

Aneil Patel, ACI-NA

Consultant