DALLAS/FORT WORTH INTERNATIONAL AIRPORT

The World's Largest Airport APM

The Skylink system is the largest APM system at any airport in the world. Lea+Elliott developed the concept for this APM and provided counsel and expertise to the Dallas/Fort Worth International Airport (DFW) throughout all phases of this enormous project. Skylink required the construction of almost five miles of dual-lane guideway, a maintenance complex, the purchase of 64 vehicles (Phase I), and automated control equipment for operating the trains. The elevated, fully automated train system provides two independently operating loops, one traveling clockwise, the other counter-clockwise. Each travel direction has an initial capacity of 5,000 passengers per hour, expandable to at least 8,500. This is the first application of the new Bombardier Innovia APM system.

Located midway between the cities of Dallas and Fort Worth, DFW is ideally located for connecting to the regional rail network. Lea+Elliott developed conceptual design of rail access alternatives including light rail and commuter rail alignments through the terminal area, alternative rail station locations, and an integrated APM/rail interface station.

Lea+Elliott is currently providing rail access studies at the Dallas/Fort Worth International Airport.

LAS VEGAS CITYCENTER APM

We Designed the APM for the Largest Privately Funded Development in U.S. History

Project CityCenter is a $8.6 billion, world-class, mixed-use urban development located in the heart of Las Vegas, Nevada. It is the largest privately funded project in U.S. history. CityCenter will become one of the world's largest environmentally sustainable urban communities, with six LEED^® Gold-Certified projects. An important element of Project CityCenter is its APM. Lea+Elliott was the APM system consultant for MGM Mirage in Las Vegas and we were responsible for system planning, preliminary design, procurement, and implementation oversight services.

The APM provides the primary connection between hotels, residential condominiums, casinos, retail, dining, and entertainment areas. This three-station system includes a station integrated into CityCenter’s retail area, adjacent to the 4,000 room hotel and casino tower at the heart of CityCenter.

Lea+Elliott’s team provided alignment analysis; technology studies; operation and system analysis using, LEGENDS^© simulations; coordination with facility planners and designers to ensure a proper APM/facility interface; and the development of the procurement package and related addenda. Lea+Elliott assisted the client in the bid and award of the APM system contract and provided APM design review and oversight activities as the system ws implemented.

Lea+Elliott was awarded the Excellence in Design Award for the CityCenter APM by the Nevada chapter of American Institute of Architects.

CityCenter opened to the public in late 2009.
 

BART-OAKLAND AIRPORT CONNECTOR

Previously Funded as a P3, but with the Availability of Stimulus and other Funds it is now a Full DBOM

The BART-Oakland Airport Connector is a 3.2 mile APM connecting the San Francisco BART rapid rail system with the Oakland International Airport.  The project was one of the the first projects to participate in Penta-P program, the U.S. Department of Transportation's Public-Private Partnership (P3) Pilot Program. Authorized through SAFTEA-LU, Penta-P was created to explore the potential benefits of P3 in transit design and construction. This effort was impacted by affordability constraints such as technology and civil costs, a significant decline in passenger traffic at the Airport and instability in the financial markets.  The design-build-finance-operate procurement expired.  Subsequently, the Metropolitan Transportation Commisssion allocated stimulus funding and local discretionary funds in an attempt to accelerate project completion.  L+E and District staff  re-assessed APM technologies and procurement strategies and determined that, currently, the most effective approach is a design-build-operate-maintain procurement.

BART Lea+Elliott is the general engineering consultant for the BART-Oakland project and leads the  procurement process.  Our team supported the EIS/EIR  process and performed preliminary system engineering. Phase II work includes preparing both Design-Build-Finance-Maintain (DBFM) and Design-Build-Operate and Maintain (DBOM) procurement documents; assisting in the selection of a contractor; providing a full range of design review and contract compliance services; and coordinating interfaces between the connector, BART's rail transit system, and the airport.

Our staff led both the DBFM and DBOM procurement efforts by developing a Request for Qualifications to pre-qualify contracting teams that demonstrated the ability to successfully integrate all aspects of the project facilities and systems design and construction. Subsequently, Lea+Elliott developed both Request for Proposals for the full range of DBFM and DBOM services. Lea+Elliott prepared procurement documents to meet the unique BART contracting requirements and the needs posed within an urban alignment that crosses multiple public agency jurisdictions. Lea+Elliott also provides design support and value engineering to meet Oakland International Airport expansion plans and to trim and manage costs.  L+E, as an extension of BART staff, have provided financial and risk analytical support in development of the various procurement approaches for the OAC. 

SINGAPORE CHANGI INTERNATIONAL AIRPORT PEOPLE MOVER SYSTEM

Lea+Elliott Officially Named as Singapore Airport's APM Consultant

The Civil Aviation Authority of Singapore (CAAS) has installed an automated people mover system (PMS) at Singapore Changi International Airport. The system includes seven shuttle routes that are actually two physically isolated yet operationally integrated systems.

Lea+Elliott was selected as part of a multi-disciplinary master plan team to assist throughout the planning and conceptual design of this intra- and inter-terminal people mover system. Our responsibilities included development of an effective plan for the inter-terminal PMS at Terminal 3, as well as integration of the system with the existing Terminals 1 and 2. This included planning and incorporation of provisions for a future expansion and the connection to a future Terminal 4 complex.

The detailed planning phase included: analyzing existing ridership in conjunction with future airport use scenarios; developing and analyzing alignment and station alternatives; simulating train operations; and estimating capital and O&M costs, using Lea+Elliott’s proprietary LEGENDS® software. Work also included the development of the facilities requirements and designs for the stations and the maintenance facilities.

Lea+Elliott was subsequently selected by CAAS, in a competitive process, to be the authority’s ongoing APM consultant.

ATLANTA AIRPORT CONRAC

Our Work Continues at the World's Busiest Airport

A large component of the airport’s capital expansion program is the design and construction of a consolidated rental agency complex (CONRAC) and an elevated APM system to link the CONRAC to the main terminal. This 1.5-mile, dual-lane, pinched-loop system will cross rapid transit and freight rail tracks, and I-285, en route from the terminal building to an intermediate stop at a new convention center and then on to the CONRAC facility.

Lea+Elliott provides APM systems expertise as a subconsultant to Hartsfield Transportation Group (HTG, a joint venture including Jordan Jones & Goulding, Edwards and Kelcey, and US Infrastructure). Lea+Elliott’s initial role was to validate the earlier system planning and lead the preparation of a facilities design criteria manual, and to develop procurement documents.

The team prepared performance specifications, contract documents, and reference drawings for the APM operating system, guideway structure, and maintenance facility, and assisted with the preparation of the Request for Qualifications and the Request for Proposals. These latter documents included the definition of the submittal requirements and the team prepared detailed evaluations of both the Expressions of Interest and Proposals.

Our team is providing review and oversight services to the city during construction. We are specifically responsible for APM operating system elements including: submittal reviews; design reviews for vehicles, train control, operations, maintenance equipment, maintenance facility and guideway equipment; interface coordination; and testing and acceptance oversight.

LAS COLINAS AREA PERSONAL TRANSIT

Our Approach Led to the Design of a Completely New, Lightweight APM

Lea+Elliott was selected by the Dallas County Utility and Reclamation District to coordinate the design, procurement and construction of an APM system to serve Las Colinas, a major urban development near Dallas. This project required an innovative procurement process to assure that the system vehicles would fit the existing guideway. The approach developed by Lea+Elliott ultimately led to the design of a completely new, lightweight APM system, the Adtranz C-45. Lea+Elliott served as the technology consultant for all systems work and provided design standards to a team of architects and engineers. We prepared equipment procurement specifications, evaluated technical proposals, and assisted in technical and contractual negotiations with proposing suppliers. During the implementation phase, Lea+Elliott provided all technical services for design and document reviews, testing, and verification and acceptance.

MINNEAPOLIS-ST. PAUL INTERNATIONAL AIRPORT APMS

A Unique, Leading Edge, Cable-Propulsion APM System

HUB TRAM
Lea+Elliott provided services for the analysis, planning, and conceptual design of a landside APM system to connect the airport’s main terminal to a remote parking/rental car facility. We developed and analyzed alternatives for the Hub Tram that included below grade, at-grade, aerial, and combination alignments. This work resulted in a cable-propelled, dual-lane shuttle with two station stops running completely below grade. We also developed the requirements for the fixed facilities and devised a procurement strategy that conformed rigidly to all legal and contractual constraints. Our teams provided implementation phase services, including project management, interface assistance, design quality oversight, installation and manufacturing oversight, and acceptance testing and demonstration.

CONCOURSE TRAM
The Green Concourse Tram is an elevated, cable-propelled, single-lane shuttle system with bypass that utilizes a fleet of two, two-car trains. Due to this unique configuration, we recommended an innovative detachable-grip cable technology. Our services for this leading edge, cable-propulsion APM system, included: analysis, planning, conceptual design, contract documents, procurement, design review, testing oversight, and administration. We also provided follow-on system operation and maintenance support after commencement of revenue service.

DOHA WEST BAY PEOPLE MOVER

First Metro System in Qatar

Lea+Elliott performed preliminary engineering and preparation of tender documents for the Doha West Bay automated people mover system in Doha, Qatar. We were responsible for all aspects of the APM operating system and for establishing the infrastructure interfaces and system requirements. The APM will share a common underground, multi-level station with a future metro system that is planned between the City of Lusail and Doha International Airport. The APM will connect the convention center (and the regional metro) to the major activity hubs within the West Bay area.

The landside access to the West Bay area will be enhanced through a regional transit plan that includes a regional metro system. The regional metro is not part of this project, but will be an important element to which the people mover must ultimately connect. The APM will connect the Convention Center (and the regional metro) to the major activity centers within the West Bay area, including major hotels, office centers and residential towers.

Due to the limited right-of-way in the central portion of West Bay and the limited availability of land to locate an operations and maintenance facility, Lea+Elliott is developing creative design alternatives. Once system parameters are established, then procurement of the APM will follow. The team will develop a conventional design-build competitive procurement process for the operating system, while the civil portion (tunnel, stations and M&SF) will be awarded to a nominated contractor. 

The first phase of the APM, with a design capacity of 5,900 passengers per hour per direction, will include a dual-track underground tunnel, 10 stations and a fleet of approximately 42 cars, configured into two- and three-car consists.

MIAMI METRO MOVER

Our Efforts Saved Metro-Dade $30 Million

Through a series of contracts spanning 14 years, Lea+Elliott provided Metro-Dade Transit Agency with technical engineering support for all systems and equipment for the Miami Metromover. Major activities included: development of the system design; establishment of system performance criteria and preparation of the technical specifications; development of cost estimates for vehicles, controls and technical equipment; development of operational and acceptance criteria, personnel requirements, initial operations and maintenance plans; and preparation of the procurement bid package. We also assisted Metro-Dade in technical and contractual negotiations with the system supplier for installation of the two-mile system. Our efforts on behalf of Metro-Dade resulted in a $30 million reduction in the bid price.

Throughout system implementation, our responsibilities included assistance in value engineering and cost control, participation in design reviews, monitoring program progress, and witnessing qualification and acceptance tests.

PHOENIX SKY HARBOR INTERNATIONAL AIRPORT AUTOMATED TRAIN

Helping Grow Passenger Capacity for the Future

Phoenix Sky Harbor International Airport is developing an APM system (Sky Train^TM) that will connect parking, terminals, rental car facilities and the new light rail system. The purpose of the APM is to improve customer service, relieve surface transportation congestion and allow the airport to grow from its current 39 million annual passengers to 72 million annual passengers in the future. Improving passenger convenience, connecting to the new city light rail and reducing roadway congestion will enhance the overall efficiency of one of America's fastest-growing airports.

Lea+Elliott was selected by the City of Phoenix to serve as the APM System Designer for this project. This role includes: preliminary system planning and conceptual studies; ridership estimation; propulsion power system definition; facilities design criteria; final system design; procurement; design oversight and quality review; acceptance testing; project administration and operations/maintenance oversight. Design and construction of the APM facilities will be completed in two stages. Stage I will provide a connection between Terminal 4, the East Economy Parking facilities and the new light rail system. Stage II of the APM system will expand the system from Terminal 4 to Terminal 3, a future new West Terminal and terminate at the new Consolidated Rental Car Facility. The initial procurement of equipment will be for the Stage I system only.

Lea+Elliott completed tasks related to: alignment analyses; maintenance facility planning; central control facility planning; and failure management analysis. A great deal of effort was devoted to the development of a 41-step procurement process that complied with the State of Arizona's statutes. Work also continued on detailed system implementation schedule development, APM system cost estimates, and, the System Definition Summary Report.

Lea+Elliott is currently in the implementation phase of this work.