BACKGROUND

ACRP Research Report 215: Transportation Network Companies (TNCs): Impacts to Airport Revenues and Operations (2020) included information on the impact TNC activity has on airport facilities, operations, and finance, and provided recommended practices for the management of TNC activity. TNC technology, mode choice, activity, and practice continue to evolve, and airport practitioners have challenges assessing their impact on airport operations, revenues, business policies, and governing laws. Research is needed to update ACRP Research Report 215 to reflect these latest developments.  

OBJECTIVE

The objective of this research is to update ACRP Research Report 215: Transportation Network Companies (TNCs): Impacts to Airport Revenues and Operations to reflect the latest trends and practice. The report should include an overview of historic activity and future trends and guidelines to help practitioners plan for and manage TNC operations at their airports.  The guidelines should help practitioners consider the following factors for TNC operations at airports and overall landside operations:    

• Airport revenue, including fee setting and collection mechanisms, impact on other revenue sources, and protecting future airport revenues;
• Effect of TNCs on airport facilities, operations, airport congestion, and transportation demand management;
• State and local legislation, or airport rules and business practices relevant to ground transportation;
• Emerging technologies (e.g., autonomous vehicles, robo-taxis, ground transportation virtual queuing);
• Passenger experience and convenience (e.g., wayfinding, passenger dwell time, affordability); and
• Accessibility for travelers with mobility challenges.

The report should include an executive summary and representative examples of best practices of TNC operations at airports of various sizes and passenger profiles.  

RESEARCH PLAN

The research plan shall include at a minimum, the following interim deliverables for ACRP review and approval: 

• Review of ACRP Research Report 215 with recommendations for updates and rationale;
• Review of current TNC business models, and emerging and long-term ground transportation trends (e.g., emergence of robo-taxis, impact of subscription models);
• Review of current practices in airport landside operations and TNC operations at airports;
• A data collection and analysis plan that describes data collection methods and potential list of airports to be studied and rationale; and
• Interim report to include research results and analysis to date, annotated outline of the guide, next steps, and identification of follow-on research ideas to be developed into ACRP problem statements.

The research plan should include, at a minimum, checkpoints with the ACRP panel including:

• Kick-off web meeting to be held within 1 month of the Notice to Proceed;
• Web meeting to discuss and approve the review of ACRP Research Report 215 and recommendations for updates and rationale;
• Web meeting to discuss and approve the data collection and analysis plan;
• In-person meeting to discuss and approve the interim report; and
• Web meeting to discuss and approve the draft final deliverables. 

The final deliverables will include: 

• Updated TNC report including the executive summary, overview, guidelines and representative examples;
• Contractor’s Final Report documenting all research steps, results, and analysis;
• Summary of Key Findings; and
• Technical memo titled, “Implementation of Research Findings and Products”. 

STATUS: Proposals have been received in response to the RFP. The project panel will meet to select a contractor to perform the work.