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In Motion
Cincinnati/Northern Kentucky International Airport
Automated Transit Technology Assessment
CINCINNATI – As part of the Cincinnati/
Northern Kentucky International Airport (CVG)
Master Plan Update, the study required an
APM planning analysis to recommend a new,
high-quality, state-of-the-art transit technology
replacement when the existing APM system
reaches the end of its useful life.
The existing APM System consists of two
separate, independent, 3-station, cable-
propelled APM shuttles that utilize Hovair
suspension operating between Terminal 3,
Concourse A and Concourse B. The parallel
guideway tunnels are approximately 1,200 feet
in length and each uses one, 3-car train.
Lea+Elliott, as part of the Landrum
& Brown team, prepared a Technology
Assessment to identify transit technology
categories and assess their characteristics
for applicability to replace the existing CVG APM System. The
primary objective of the Technology Assessment was to determine
if there are viable technology candidates to support replacing the
existing APM System with a new APM that would fit within the
existing tunnel structure and utilize the existing fixed facilities.
The Technology Assessment included a presentation of the
various technologies that were considered for the replacement
of the existing APM system at CVG. From the general technology
categories considered, a range of specific representative
technologies were recommended for consideration and were
evaluated based on these groups of factors: performance, level
of service, right-of-way requirements, insertion impact, cost
efficiency, and technology maturity.
Cable-propelled and self-propelled technologies were deemed
appropriate technologies for the replacement of the existing
cable-propelled system and were recommended to be carried
forward to assure a competitive environment for the procurement
of the system should the Airport decide to move forward with
a system replacement. A competitive, best-value procurement
process can be used to select the technology and supplier that
best meets the needs of the project, and provides the desired high
quality, state-of-the-art image for the airport.
New Chengdu Tianfu International Airport will include APM
Chengdu, CHINA – The new Chengdu Tianfu international Airport
is located approximately 50 km southeast from the city center
of Chengdu. The new Airport will include four separate terminal
buildings connected via an APM system with airport connections
to local metro and regional high speed rail (HSR). The airport will
be constructed in two phases. In Phase 1, Terminals 1 and 2 will
be constructed and will be connected by a fully underground,
dual-shuttle APM system. The system is planned to be expanded
in Phase 2 to Terminals 3 and 4. The APM System would then be
extended to operate as a pinched loop and include a new, off-line
Maintenance Facility.
Lea+Elliott led the conceptual planning and preliminary
design for the Airport APM project as a sub-consultant to the
China Southwest Architectural Design Institute (CSWADI). In the
conceptual planning stage, Lea+Elliott developed the conceptual
alignment in coordination with adjacent airport, metro and high-
speed rail facilities; optimized passenger connectivity and system
operations; and developed preliminary sizing for the maintenance
facility and power distribution substations.
The preliminary design effort furthered the conceptual design
focusing on designing the APM alignment and ancillary facilities
as well as resolving constraint conflicts between the planned
alignment and changes made from other disciplines such as
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Cincinnati Airport APM