AIRPORT SMARTS

Stockholm’s Arlanda Airport may be in the lead to de-carbonize its airfront transport with the current study underway with two adjacent municipalities, but it is not alone. Helsinki is not far away, and has a stealth PRT technology developer that took part in an application study in 2005 near Vantaa Airport. It was done by something called TechVilla Institute, a center of expertise for lifting, moving and logistic industries. The setting is a fast-growing airfront district that has already taken off. Called Aviapolis, it has many sleek green buildings filling up with world-oriented businesses.

It's a sellers market in Aviapolis near Helsinki Airport. Will there be buyers for podcar connections?

In fact, a new World Trade Center is underway, and apartments too.  Aviapolis brags that it is the “new heart” of the Helsinki region and, by extension, of most of Finland. It claims a “well functioning transport system” -- meaning mostly uncongested roads, for now. Maybe quality buses or shuttles -- but so far, no podcars.

Vanta-Helsinki Rail, A Year Away

Meanwhile, national and local officials are busy building an 18-kilometer, $1 billion commuter rail extension with 8km tunnel under the airport. The line will continue on to the main north-south line of Finnish railways. Ring Rail, as the project is known, will have five stations, plus three for later development. By next summer, service may be running to stations at the airport terminal and Aviapolis.

What mode split to transit will this bring to Aviapolis and the airport district as a whole? Maybe 25 percent?  If the rail service operates well, especially through harsh Baltic winters, maybe 50%.

What if the reach of the Ring Rail’s future Aviapolis station were extended by integration of an ATN system? This would take transit access to every corner of the district. The mode split would go even more to transit. A half share seems doable. If things go really well, why not 90 percent? How many tons of GHG will that save? If it’s solar, will Vantaa’s ATN be self-sufficient and carbon-free?

There have been studies of airport district ATN applications in the past. Known ones are Seattle-Tacoma, Bologna and more recently, San Jose.

Airport car rental officials have learned the benefits of consolidation.  ATN will take consolidation of airfront development to a whole new level. Next stop: PCC8 at Arlanda Airport, September 3-5, 2014.