Rail and Transit

LeighFisher provides industry-leading services to airport operators who want to connect their facilities to rail and regional transit. Our services include assisting these operators and their regional partners with travel demand modeling and forecasting, operational planning (including schedule coordination), on-airport intermodal facilities design, and financial planning. In developing solutions, we recognize that the ultimate goal of any airport access project is to serve passengers in a cost-effective, seamless, and environmentally sustainable manner.

In helping clients develop solutions to their ground access challenges we recognize the importance of building consensus among airport management, rail and transit authorities, and their user groups to meet their respective priorities for the project. Our clients often request our assistance in developing outreach programs targeted at a variety of government and other stakeholders and the public. We have found that public involvement helps mitigate concerns often inherent in major capital projects, and results in buy-in for the project.

In determining the optimum transit modes to access airports, the focus is typically on alternatives to single-passenger automobile travel, whether by car pool, bus, door-to-door shuttles, or commuter rail. With the increasing development of higher speed rail services, however, LeighFisher understands the potentially significant implications for airports, including expansion of the airport catchment area, connectivity to new intercity rail markets (typically closer than 600 miles), and, for congested airports, the use of higher speed rail to better allocate scarce airport capacity. LeighFisher's expertise and project experience includes simulation modeling of the diverse effects of the need to accommodate such access modes at airports, developing facility plans to align with future trends, and identifying the revenue streams that can support the design and construction of access facilities.

Our global, multimodal, and interdisciplinary practice is uniquely qualified to advise airport operators on how best to connect their facilities with the local and regional transportation network. For examples of the aviation-related rail and transit services provided by LeighFisher, please click on the Services tab above. For a list of our recent client experience, please click on the Projects tab above.