PHX Sky Train
| PHX Sky Train | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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PHX Sky Train
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| Overview | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Type | People mover | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Locale | Phoenix Sky Harbor International Airport, Phoenix, Arizona | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Termini |
44th St/Washington Terminal 3 (December 8, 2014) Rental Car Center (2020) |
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| Stations | 4 (December 8, 2014) 5 (2020) |
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| Operation | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Opened | April 8, 2013 (Phase 1) December 8, 2014 (Phase 1A) |
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| Owner | City of Phoenix Aviation Department | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Operator(s) | Bombardier Transportation | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Character | Serves non-sterile parts of the airport | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Rolling stock | 18 Bombardier Innovia APM 200 vehicles | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Technical | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Highest elevation | 100 feet (30 m) | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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The PHX Sky Train is a free, 24-hour electric people mover at Phoenix Sky Harbor International Airport in Phoenix, Arizona; closed to the public between the hours of 10:00pm and 5:00am, restricted to flight ticket holders and employees only. The first segment opened to the public on April 8, 2013. The second segment, extending the train to Terminal 3 (with a walkway to Terminal 2) opened on December 8, 2014
The PHX Sky Train is gradually replacing shuttle buses, which is expected to reduce road congestion, pollution, lifting of baggage onto and off of buses, bus noises, and pitting and buckling of roadways caused by the heavy buses. Inter-terminal shuttle bus service was discontinued on January 15, 2015, however, the rental car shuttle buses still remain in service. The final segment of the PHX Sky Train, which will extend service to the Rental Car Center, is planned by 2020. This extension should allow for the replacement of the rental car shuttle bus service.
The PHX Sky Train features a 100-foot-tall (30 m) bridge over Taxiway R, one of three which connect the north and south runways. This is the first location in the world where a rail system of any kind crosses over an active taxiway. The bridge is tall enough to accommodate a Boeing 747 and an Airbus A380.
Phase 1 (Dec 2008 - Apr 2013) links Terminal 4, the East Economy Parking lot and garages, and the 44th St/Washington Valley Metro light rail station. The guideway runs in a new underpass (below the Union Pacific railroad), past the jet-fuel tank farm, and alongside 44th Street.
Estimated cost was just over $1 billion in 2005. The PHX Sky Train Phase 1 was completed April 8, 2013.
Phase 1a (see picture) which connects Terminal 4 and Terminal 3 (and Terminal 2 via a covered walkway) opened December 8, 2014. Since the airport's long term plans call for the closure of Terminal 2, a stop at Terminal 2 will not be built.
The final segment, phase 2 - out to the Rental Car Center - should be complete by 2020.
All facilities, from the hotel sidewalks, to the METRO stations, to the terminals are "at grade", which means that baggage, baby buggies, and wheelchairs need not be lifted into and out of vehicles; they are rolled on and rolled off. To get from one level to another, elevators and escalators are provided. Numerous curb cuts are provided at street level for wheelchairs and such. This "at grade" concept continues from the hotels, to the street, to the stations, to the train, and indeed to the boarding gates of the aircraft. Such was never possible with the buses.
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Wikipedia