Guidebook on Landside Freight Access to Airports (0-6265-P1)

Airport managers face various challenges to providing safe and efficient freight access routes to and from the airport, depending on its location. This project sought to identify challenges and solutions to providing landside freight access to airports in Texas, and to propose a method for identifying and evaluating existing access performance from a freight perspective. The report identifies the nine major issues related to landside freight access to airports. It also discusses the obstacles and solutions to resolve these issues. Good planning and coordination among involved agencies lead to the best landside freight access to airports. When airport managers plan to expand existing freight facilities or develop new ones, they should conduct a brainstorming session with all agencies that may be involved in transportation issues. The managers should invite agencies that have responsibilities in various airport areas of influence and encourage them to participate. The researchers recommend:

• Providing adequate wayfinding signage.
• Implementing proper roadway design.
• Developing performance measures that allow regular monitoring, evaluation, identification of needs/deficiencies, and inclusion in updated transportation improvement plans.