TRANSPORT LONG ISLAND A Train-to-Plane Connectivity Study Cover Illustration by Alex J. Wallach, Suolk County EDP County Suolk Wallach, Alex J. by Illustration Cover May 2018 Appendices Transport Long Island: A Train-to-Plane Connectivity Study May 2018 Appendix A. Mode Book Appendix B. Existing Conditions and Connection Modes Identification Memo Appendix C. Project Screening Criteria Memo Appendix D. High-Level Implementation Plans Memo Appendix E. Public Information Session Materials Appendix F. Cost Estimate Classification and General Assumptions Appendix G. Key Reference Documents Appendix H. Environmental Review Effort Assessment References 57 Appendix A. Mode Book Upgraded Taxis Overview Upgraded fleet for-hire vehicles offer rides for individual passengers or small groups. Rides are summoned by hailing a taxi parked at a stand or driving by. Precedents Many airports around the country advertise taxi services that connect terminals with rail stations. Examples include Trenton-Mercer, Long Beach, Harrisburg, and New Haven. At MacArthur Airport Orientation to pick-up areas would be facilitated by signage at Ronkonkoma Station. Service awareness and convenience of transaction would be improved with updated LIRR ticket vending machines and app. New York City Hybrid Taxi, New York, NY (Image source: Karthik T J, Wikimedia) Upgraded Taxis Delivery Time Frame Taxis are the current mode of user selection of Ronkonkoma connection between Ronkonkoma as a destination. At Ronkonkoma < 2 years 2-5 years 5 years + Station and MacArthur Airport. Station, wayfinding and ease of Village Taxi drives LI MacArthur- orientation would be improved with Costs bound passengers from more conspicuous signage guiding Capital Expenditures Ronkonkoma Station for a flat fare to the taxi stand. $200K-$1M of $5.00 per person. At the airport, An upgraded taxi fleet would have Operating Costs the taxi stand is located outside new vehicles to offer passengers $5 per passenger the baggage claim area. a more comfortable ride. Cars Upgraded taxi service would offer would be branded as LI MacArthur • Users must leave the train an improved user experience connector, and would offer station to reach the taxi without structural changes amenities such as A/C and USB waiting area to operational schemes and charging ports. This managed infrastructure. After updates, LIRR fleet would ensure vehicles are • Service has lower ticket vending machines and app available at Ronkonkoma Station capacity than mass would recommend the purchase of at train arrival times, to make sure transit alternatives the taxi voucher after passengers complete their journeys to the airport without delay. Transportation Network Companies (TNCs) Overview Also known as “ride-hailing” services, companies like Uber and Lyft provide customers the ability to arrange a ride using a GPS-enabled smartphone. Precedents Local agencies in Dallas, Los Angeles, Pinellas County, FL and Centennial, CO have developed pilot programs to enhance local transit through partnerships with TNCs. At MacArthur Airport Users would request rides between a designated location at terminal and the train station using their phones. Subsidies could be implemented via a discount code. Lyft Driver in Washignton, DC (Image source: Flickr User Perspective) TNCs Delivery Time Frame TNCs, like Uber or Lyft, arrange Throughout the U.S., various TNC rides between drivers and partnership models have emerged < 2 years 2-5 years 5 years + passengers using mobile devices. for complementing transit service. Drivers are independent and do With subsidies for the “first and last Costs not have scheduled shifts, working mile”, TNCs connect users to transit Capital Expenditures hours they deem convenient stations and leverage the potential $0 and profitable. TNCs operate as of regional transportation networks. Operating Costs intermediaries between the drivers Such arrangements require $10 per ride, depending on and passengers in want of a ride, commitments for minimum service, arrangement and do not actively manage the as the default approach is market- service offer. These companies driven supply that may not be as • Provides flexible, on- do, however, manage the pricing reliable as an airport connector demand service schemes and could negotiate would have to be. special fares for an airport • Not a high-capacity, Multiple vehicles categories are connection. Currently, a TNC ride scheduled service offered by TNCs, and they can between Ronkonkoma Station be equipped to service people • May be difficult to share and the airport terminal costs with disabilities, or accommodate rides approximately $10.00. baggage. Upgraded Shuttle Overview A dedicated, upgraded shuttle bus service traveling along fixed routes on fixed schedules. Precedents Commonly used where rail or other higher-speed transit services are located on alignments near the airport, such as Boston, San Jose, Fort Lauderdale, and Baltimore. At MacArthur Airport A dedicated bus would link the Ronkonkoma LIRR station with the airport terminal. The service would be timed to connect to trains and feature amenities catering to air travelers. LAX Shuttle, Los Angeles, CA (Image source: Flickr User Lucian400) Upgraded Shuttle Delivery Time Frame Traveling through public roads and Travel takes place over public mixed traffic, upgraded shuttle roads along with mixed traffic, < 2 years 2-5 years 5 years + buses connect the airport terminal and therefore is subject to traffic Costs and the train station with no need congestion. Travel reliability for capital works. Because Long could be mitigated by operating a Capital Expenditures Island MacArthur would plan, upgraded shuttle on private airport $500K - $1M manage and control the service, roads to avoid recurring traffic Operating Costs passengers would always have a backups and speed degradation. $500K - $800K shuttle waiting for them at each There is a wide variety in vehicles, end of the trip, which would have passenger amenities, fare policy, departures timed to train and • Shuttles can be and operators, with some shuttles airplane arrivals. optimized for air run by the airport themselves passengers Passengers board and off-board at (typically contracted out), and others • Trips subject to traffic dedicated shuttle stops, fitted with run by local transit agencies who congestion on public amenities to facilitate passenger operate the connecting services. comfort, movement and luggage roads. handling. Bus Rapid Transit (BRT) Overview Enhanced buses, traveling along dedicated lanes with signal priority, offer reliable, convenient, and fast transit. Systemic operational control ensures high levels of service. Precedents Airports with BRT stations include LaGuardia Airport New York and Logan International in Boston. These routes provide service from various neighborhoods to the terminal. At MacArthur Airport New BRT stations at Ronkonkoma station and at the airport terminal. Transit signal priority and dedicated ROW along route to Airport. NYC Select Bus Service Vehicle, New York, NY (Image source: Arup) BRT Delivery Time Frame Airports with BRT stations include the ISP terminal building, as well as LaGuardia Airport New York and at Ronkonkoma station. Dedicated < 2 years 2-5 years 5 years + Logan International in Boston. transit-way would be constructed on These routes provide service from airport property, with transit priority Costs various neighborhoods to the at intersections with public roads. Capital Expenditures terminal. Bus fleets could be outfitted with $40 - $130M luggage racks. A typical service BRT offers a transit system with Operating Costs pattern for BRT would include 10-15 high flexibility, reliability and $500K - $1.5M minute headways, and could link to convenience. It employs a suite of the proposed Nicolls Road BRT at tools, including state-of- the-art Ronkonkoma Station. A bus depot vehicles; dedicated travel lanes, • High-frequency, mass would likely be required. priority at traffic signals; and high- transit option quality station amenities. • Fast and reliable travel A new BRT link for ISP would be approximately 3 miles in length. Stations could feasibly be constructed at the island in front of Gondola Overview Cabins supported and propelled by overhead cables connecting stations. Used to cross landscapes where ground options are too costly or inconvenient. Precedents Portland, Oregon, opened an urban system in 2006. The EU awarded funds to Genova, Italy, to connect the Erzelli train station and the airport. At MacArthur Airport Departing from the south side of Ronkonkoma, the cabins would head southwest and turn south on Smithtown Avenue, reaching the terminal from the west. Emirates Airline Cable Car, London, UK (Image source: Pixabay User NadinLisa) Gondola Delivery Time Frame Gondolas offer a fixed-guideway and obstructing view sheds. transit option at lower capital < 2 years 2-5 years 5 years + While the project is feasible costs than rail modes, and travel from a technical standpoint, with minimum impact to ground Costs the circuitous alignment to the level activity. They also have lower Capital Expenditures airport would require four turning operating costs – staff is only $50-$100M stations, increasing capital costs. present at stations – and, because Some right-of-way may need Operating Costs service is electrified, do not to be acquired for towers along $750K - $2M generate local emissions. Smithtown Ave. • Fast, reliable travel Cabling and shifting technologies To avoid operation with empty produce different