Development of a Modeling Framework for Analyzing Improvements in Intermodal Connectivity at California Airports

This report has been prepared as part of a research project developing a combined quantitative and qualitative approach to planning for improved intermodal connectivity at California airports. The quantitative approach involves the development of an Intermodal Airport Ground Access Planning Tool (IAPT) that combines an air passenger mode choice model, a model of transportation provider behavior and a traffic network analysis model. The qualitative approach will be used to enhance the quantitative analysis to account for those factors which are difficult to quantify and to provide recommended policy and planning guidelines. This report represents a continuation of the previously submitted Working Paper, so that together they describe the main work conducted in the first year of the project. This report summarizes the work reported in the Working Paper in Chapter 3: Opportunities for Improved Intermodal Connectivity at California Airports. This report concentrates on the modeling and IAPT design. The modeling includes two main components of the IAPT, i.e. air passenger mode choice model and transportation provider behavior model. This modeling work involves the following steps: •System isolation (definition of problem scope): to isolate the airport ground access system from general transit systems; •System simplification: several assumptions have been developed which greatly simplify the problem to avoid network optimization in a transit system; • Mathematical model development and justification. The IAPT design includes detailed software structure and functions, user interface, data base, and data flow. Plans for further development of the IAPT and recommendations for future study of airport ground access planning issues are presented.