In+Motion_Summer 2024

A PUBLICATION BY LEA+ELLIOTT TRANSPORTATION CONSULTANTS

SUMMER 2024

Honolulu Rail Transit Project: Major Steps Forward

Image credit: HART

HONOLULU - The inaugural operating Segment 1 of the City and County of Honolulu’s Skyline system commenced revenue service June 30, 2023. Spanning 10.75 miles of guideway and nine stations from East Kapolei to Aloha Stadium, the system stands as the inaugural urban rail transit driverless GoA4 (Grade of Automation) system in the United States. Since its launch, the system has showcased exceptional performance, achieving a remarkable 99.5% availability within its initial months of operation. This trend of high system availability and reliability has persisted, reflecting the steadfast efforts of the staff from the Honolulu Authority for Rapid Transportation (HART) and Lea+Elliott during the Design-Build phase of the project. Their hard work on Segment 1’s operational readiness has laid a solid foundation for the City and County of

In this issue...

Honolulu Rail Transit Project: Major Steps Forward Singapore Changi Terminal 5 Project Underway! In Progress Meet the Staff

Honolulu’s Department of Transportation Services (DTS) to effectively oversee the ongoing operations and maintenance of the Skyline system.

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Honolulu Rail Project continued from p 1

HART and the Federal Transit Administration (FTA) have recently executed the amended Full Funding Grant Agreement which allows HART to receive the remaining $744 million of the original $1.55 billion dollars grant. HART received $125 million of this fund last April. No funding had been received from the FTA since 2017. “This isn’t just about the money; it reflects the renewed confidence the FTA has in HART, thanks to the collective effort of our entire team,” said Lori Kahikina, P.E., HART Executive Director and CEO. HART is currently constructing Segment 2, which will extend the elevated guideway by 5.2 miles and introduce four additional passenger stations. Scheduled for operational readiness in late 2025, this segment will establish important connections to Honolulu International Airport, Pearl Harbor, a major employment center, and a key bus transit hub at the Middle Street Station. Progress in the installation and testing of this segment has been significant, with over 90% of the Core Systems equipment already

installed and nearly 50% of testing completed. The system recently celebrated the arrival of its final passenger train in late April 2024. Segment 2 is now poised for the energization of its third rail, marking a significant milestone and in preparation for train dynamic testing. The primary technical challenge facing Segment 2’s implementation is to ensure that the Core Systems Contractor has adequately integrated necessary functionalities to allow testing on Segment 2 without disrupting the ongoing revenue service of Segment 1. Currently, Lea+Elliott staff is assisting HART with overseeing the last phases of fine-tuning the cutover methodology for the automated train control and communication networks with the Core Systems Contractor. Our emphasis on thorough cutover plans and precise migration procedures is geared towards maximizing testing efficiency while mitigating risks to passenger service.

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Image credit: LoopNet

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Singapore Changi Terminal 5 Project Underway!

Singapore Changi Airport Terminal 5 Image credit: Changi Airport Group

With construction work on T5 and the T2 Connection underway, excitement around the project is building. Passenger traffic at Changi has rebounded since the pandemic, exceeding pre-pandemic levels for the first time in February 2024. With T5, Changi Airport will be poised to grow even further when it opens in the mid-2030s. More details on the Changi East development can be found here - Changi East | Changi Airport Group.

SINGAPORE – A lot has happened on the Terminal 5 (T5) project at Singapore Changi Airport since work on the intra- and inter terminal APM systems resumed in October 2022. Lea+Elliott has been busy updating the designs for the two APM systems and has now completed the schematic design stage. Lea+Elliott’s focus moving forward will shift to procurement of the APM system technology and selection of the Design & Build Contractor. The new terminal, APM systems, and other associated airport expansion make up the Changi East development. T5 will have the capacity to handle 50 million passengers per year, more than Terminals 1 and 3 combined. In addition to T5, the Changi East development includes a third runway, landside and aviation support facilities, as well as the Changi East Industrial Zone. The inter-terminal APM system will operate in tunnels linking T5 with Terminal 2 (T2). Construction of the 2.5 km-long underground link and T2 Connection has already begun. When complete, the link will allow for seamless transfer of passengers between T5 and Changi’s existing terminals. The intra-terminal APM system will serve T5. In March 2024, Changi Airport Group (CAG) released the first major construction tender for the T5 building. The tender covers the building substructure including foundation and basement works.

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Transforming Travel: The AirTrain Newark Replacement Program NEWARK – In a bid to enhance traveler experience and modernize transportation infrastructure, the AirTrain Newark Replacement Program is set to transform connectivity at Newark Liberty International Airport. With the current AirTrain system facing operational challenges due to aging infrastructure, the Port Authority of New York and New Jersey (Port Authority) has embarked on this ambitious endeavor to ensure seamless, efficient, and reliable transit for millions of passengers. Scheduled to replace the existing system, which has served the Airport since its inauguration in 1996, the new AirTrain Newark will provide state-of-the-art technology, improved reliability, enhanced convenience, and heightened focus on the customer experience. Designed to integrate seamlessly with existing transportation networks, including New Jersey Transit and Amtrak, the replacement system aims to provide swift and convenient access to terminals, parking facilities, and rental car services. Furthermore, its incorporation of energy-efficient designs and technologies demonstrates a commitment to sustainability, aligning with initiatives like LEED and Envision to promote sustainable measures in transportation infrastructure.

In conclusion, the Replacement AirTrain Newark System project marks a significant milestone in the evolution of Newark Airport. With its focus on “Best-in-Class” passenger experience, reliability, and sustainability, the new AirTrain system will elevate the travel experience for millions of passengers while contributing to the economic and environmental well-being of the region. Recent developments include the Port Authority selection of Doppelmayr, a renowned leader in cable-propelled transport systems, in the initial phase of a multi-phase procurement process to replace the existing AirTrain. Subsequent contracts to be awarded include the Maintenance Control Facility and Early Work construction contracts, with the Guideway and Station Design Build contract currently in the final stages of procurement. Lea+Elliott is proud to serve as the prime consultant for this transformative program, working closely with a distinguished team of infrastructure and transit industry experts along with local professionals. Our collaboration with the Port Authority began from the project’s conceptual planning stages, continued through the procurement process, and now advances into the phase of delivery.

Rendering of the AirTrain Newark replacement system Image credit: Doppelmayr

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Atlanta Airport expands its Plane Train ATLANTA – The City of Atlanta is undertaking the Plane Train Tunnel West Extension (PTTWE) at Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International Airport. The PTTWE will expand the railway footprint at the world’s busiest and most efficient airport by roughly 700 feet. This extension will increase the capacity of passengers transported per hour per direction (PPHPD) from 10,000 to 12,000 and streamline existing headway times. While the majority of construction is finished, wayside installation efforts are ongoing, with a target for project closeout in 2025. The PTTWE is one of three current projects at the Airport aimed at improving intermodal connectivity plans. Other projects include the Switch Refurbishment and Vehicle Expansion projects. Lea+Elliott’s role includes technical reviews that align with industry standards, project oversight, and expert witnessing of installations and tests. INGLEWOOD – The Inglewood Transit Connector (ITC) has initiated necessary project-enabling works construction. The first phase is a Water Main Replacement Project designed by Gannett Fleming and their subconsultant team. Funded with state and local grants, this project relocates and modernizes 60- to 80-year-old water mains that are in conflict with the ITC project. Approximately 4,300 linear feet of pipe and water service connections will be replaced, along with the installation of a new fire hydrant. The work began April 1, 2024 with potholing which continues southward along Prairie Ave. from Manchester Blvd. to Hardy St. Installation of pipe has already begun, and the project is anticipated to be complete in Fall 2024 with pavement restoration. The City of Inglewood and the ITC Joint Powers Authority are finalizing the procurement process to select the best value Developer team to design, construct, operate, and maintain the 1.6-mile-long automated transit system. Proposals are due late Spring 2024, with Developer selection anticipated in late Summer 2024. Lea+Elliott and Gannett Fleming have supported the planning and development of the project, including the Request for Proposal documents and are part of the proposal evaluation team. Enabling works starting to make way for the Inglewood Transit Connector

ATL Tunnel Bifurcation Area Image credit: L+E

Atlanta to host 19th International Conference on Automated People Movers and Automated Transit Systems Atlanta will be the host city for the 19th International Conference on Automated People Movers and Automated Transit Systems. The conference, hosted by the

ASCE Transportation & Development Institute, will be co-located with the ASCE T&DI International Conference on Transportation and Development (ICTD 2024). The conferences will be held in partnership with the Georgia Department of Transportation from June 15-18, 2024. This collaboration of the long-standing specialty APM-ATS conference with the ASCE’s flagship conference on transportation and development will provide an exclusive opportunity to network, interact and exchange information with worldwide leaders in APM-ATS systems and other transportation and development fields. The APM-ATS conference will discuss recent developments and projects and explore how APM-ATS systems could impact the future of transportation networks. The APM-ATS conference will feature 18 technical sessions with over 40 presentations by planners, researchers, academics, architects/ engineers, project/construction managers, Operations & Maintenance (O&M) managers, systems owners, contractors, and consultants sharing their APM-ATS expertise. There will also be an Airport APM O&M Managers Workshop during which representatives from airport APM systems will discuss important O&M topics impacting their systems, as well as a tour of the ATL SkyTrain landside APM system at Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International Airport. Additional information about the conference can be found at www.apmconference.org

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6363 N. State HWY 161, Suite 580 | Irving, Texas 75038

Editor:

Crystal Oczkowski Dallas/Fort Worth | 972.890.9800 Steve Perliss San Francisco | 415.908.6450 Daniel McFadden Miami | 305.500.9390 David Little Washington, D.C. | 703.968.7883

Advisors:

About Lea+Elliott Lea+Elliott is a transportation consulting firm offering a broad range of planning, engineering, program management, and construction management services for clients worldwide. These services are provided to public transit authorities, airports and private sector owners for new transit systems and the refurbishment of existing systems. We have expertise in all modes of transit, including high-speed and intercity rail, rapid transit, commuter rail, light rail, automated guideway transit, personal rapid transit, autonomous vehicles, and conventional and advanced technology buses. The firm is especially well known for its creative structuring of procurements for a wide range of delivery options that include DBOM and P3.

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Meet Aaron Hester, P.E.

DALLAS/FORT WORTH – When he’s not designing haunted houses or scripting complicated airport simulation computer code (“just for fun”), you’ll find Aaron Hester hard at work on some of the most challenging people mover, and rail and transit systems in America – such as designing and modeling the power distribution systems for extensions of the Washington Metro to Dulles Airport, or the extension of Miami Dade Transit’s rail system to Miami’s airport, or acting as the lead traction power engineer for the Honolulu Rail Transit Project. Today, he serves as a subject matter expert for the renewal of the DFW Airport Skylink system and its connection to the upcoming new Terminal F. “I like solving new problems,” he says. “There are a lot of similarities between projects, but every project is different. These differences are like puzzles. Finding solutions is very satisfying.”

Aaron sees Lea+Elliott as a very supportive company. He was hired 26 years ago as a CAD draftsman. “Lea+Elliott paid for and encouraged my education at the University of Texas at Arlington,” he says. “ Everyone at the company, especially principals and other engineers, were exceptionally supportive as I pursued my degree in electrical engineering.” Today, this seasoned engineer is fascinated by the challenges he is privileged to explore. “ The most interesting projects are those I am not allowed to discuss,” he says. “Those are typically pushing the edge of technology or represent the future of very public places. It is like seeing the future become reality.” Aaron is especially proud that Lea+Elliott won’t work for system suppliers. “When we are hired by our clients, we are part of their team and are not partial to a specific system supplier. I want to provide my clients with excellent service because that is what I, and Lea+Elliott, will be judged on once a project is complete. I take repeat business as an endorsement of the quality of my work.” But what about those haunted houses that were mentioned at the beginning of this article? Well, it’s safe to say that Aaron’s outside interests are sometimes as challenging as his work. For example, he and his wife and three sons envisioned a haunted house that ran up their driveway and down the whole side of their home. “We’d have consistent lines of visitors that were 20 to 30 deep for hours at a time,” says Aaron. “We were a neighborhood hit.”

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