Airport Transit System

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Airport Transit System
Airport Transit System (logo).png
19960524 03 O'Hare Airport (5437782448).jpg
Overview
OwnerChicago Airport System
LocaleO'Hare International Airport, Chicago, Illinois
TerminiAirline Terminal #1 (westbound)
Remote Parking (eastbound)
Stations5 (1 planned)
WebsiteOfficial website
Service
TypePeople mover
Operator(s)Chicago Airport System
Rolling stockBombardier Innovia APM 256
History
OpenedMay 6, 1993[1]
ClosedJanuary 8, 2019 [2][3]
ReopenedLate 2021 (planned)
Technical
Line length2.7 mi (4.3 km)
Number of tracks2
CharacterElevated
Track gauge1,880 mm (6 ft 2 in)
Electrification750 V DC Third rail
Operating speed50 mph (80 km/h)
hide
Route map

Legend
Consolidated rental
car facility
Metra
 Mannheim Road
Remote parking
Terminal 1
Terminal 2
CTA station
Chicago Transit Authority Logo.svg
 Terminal 3
I-190.svg
I-190/
Blue Line
 Terminal 5

The Airport Transit System (ATS) was an automated people mover system at Chicago O'Hare International Airport that opened on May 6, 1993 and closed in January 2019.[4] The ATS operated 24 hours a day, 7 days a week and was designed to move passengers between the airport terminals, parking facilities and O'Hare's consolidated rental car facility. The system closed in 2019 as part of a modernization plan to connect the ATS to a new multi-modal facility, and to upgrade the fleet to Bombardier Innovia APM 256 cars. As of Q2 2021, no completion date has been announced. [5]

History[]

Planning and construction[]

In 1982, O'Hare officials unveiled the O'Hare Development Plan, a plan to expand the airport with a new international terminal (now called Terminal 5), and an expansion of the domestic terminals. The new international terminal, located away from the domestic terminals, necessitated the creation of a people mover to allow for connections between domestic and international flights. The system was also intended to provide connections to distant parking facilities.[6] The City of Chicago first awarded the contract for the people mover system to Westinghouse Electric, the second lowest bidder, in 1985.[7] After simplifying their initial proposal in response to concerns from City, the contract was re-awarded to low bidder Matra.[8] Ground was broken in 1987 by Mayor Harold Washington, who also died that year. The system ultimately opened in May 1993.[9]

Modernization and extension[]

As part of a larger, $800 million project involving a new integrated transit center, the ATS is undergoing a $310 million modernization. This expansion includes replacing the existing 15-car fleet with 36 new Bombardier vehicles,[10] upgrading the previous infrastructure, and extending the line 2,000 feet (610 m) to the new Multi-Modal Facility on the east side of Mannheim Road.[11] The new Multi-Modal Facility is the home of all on-airport rental car firms as well as connections to Metra at the O'Hare Transfer station.[12] Although the ATS normally operates 24 hours a day, seven days a week, the system has been closed since January 8, 2019 to allow for construction and testing. Free shuttle buses provide service when the ATS is not running.[13][14]

Service[]

The Airport Transit System was designed to run 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. Shuttle buses provide service when the ATS is not running. The system is free and connects O'Hare's terminals to parking and rental lots.

The system was in a "pinched-loop" configuration, which allows more than one train to travel along a track at once while providing service in both directions.[15] The entire system uses platform screen doors, which means that all the stations are enclosed with doors along the boarding area. When the train arrives at a station, the doors of the train and the station align and open in sync with each other. This method prevents people from leaving the platform, falling on the tracks or tampering with restricted areas.[citation needed]

Trains are operated with either two or three cars depending on the expected load, and each car can hold 57 passengers, most of them standing, and 8 seated.[9]

Stations[]

When available, ATS stations are fully accessible and provide access to the elevated ATS tracks. The system has two tracks, and each train stops at all five stations traveling in both directions. Its west end is at Terminal 1, at the west end of the terminal core, and makes a counterclockwise loop around the parking garage, with stops at Terminal 2 and Terminal 3. Parking Garage A (the main garage) is accessible from any of the three terminal stations, as is the O'Hare terminal of the CTA's Blue Line. Parking Lots B and C are only accessible from Terminal 1 and 3 stations, respectively.

Outside the terminal loop, the ATS travels east to Terminal 5, currently the airport's international terminal. It then turns north, crosses over the main access road and Blue Line, and reaches Parking Lot E. The station also features a Pace bus stop and a "Kiss 'n' Fly" drop-off area. A shuttle bus also connects this station with the O'Hare Transfer station on the North Central Service, providing Metra service to Union Station inbound and Antioch outbound during service hours.[16] This shuttle bus will be replaced by ATS service once the multi-modal station opens.[11]

Fleet[]

The ATS used the French-based VAL technology, which features fully automated, rubber-tired people mover cars. The system was capable of traveling at speeds of up to 50 mph (80 km/h), and used the VAL 256-type vehicle, named for its width of 2.56 m (8 ft 5 in).[17] The 15 Matra vehicles were replaced by 36 new Bombardier Innovia APM 256 vehicles,[10] which are currently under test.

Gallery[]

  • A Bombardier Innovia APM 256 test train outside of Terminal 3

  • The O'Hare Airport Transit System with the on-airport Hilton Hotel in the background and former rolling stock

  • The interior of an ATS station, featuring the platform screen doors

  • The trackbed of the ATS

References[]

  1. ^ Fornek, Scott (May 6, 1993). "Moving Experience Ready at O'Hare". Chicago Sun-Times. p. 4. Archived from the original on June 11, 2014. Retrieved January 16, 2010.
  2. ^ Wisniewski, Mary (2018-12-31). "O'Hare 'people mover' will shut down completely until the fall". Chicago Tribune. Retrieved 2021-05-13.
  3. ^ Martin, Kye (2019-11-04). "Reopening of 'People Mover' at O'Hare Airport Delayed Again". NBC Chicago. Retrieved 2021-05-14.
  4. ^ Wisniewski, Mary (2018-12-31). "O'Hare 'people mover' will shut down completely until the fall". Chicago Tribune. Retrieved 2021-05-13.
  5. ^ FREISHTAT, SARAH. "Travelers are returning to O'Hare, but 'people mover' still closed: 'A headache and an embarrassment'". CHICAGO TRIBUNE. CHICAGO TRIBUNE. Retrieved 17 August 2021.
  6. ^ O'Hare Development Program. Chicago, Illinois: City of Chicago. 1982. p. 10.CS1 maint: date and year (link)
  7. ^ Frantz, Douglas (1985-05-21). "City Takes Step Back on People Mover Bid". Chicago Tribune. Retrieved 2021-05-13.
  8. ^ Baquet, Dean (1985-09-17). "'People Mover' Sweepstakes". Chicago Tribune. Retrieved 2021-05-13.
  9. ^ Jump up to: a b Washburn, Gary (1993-05-06). "O'Hare Set to Really Move You". Chicago Tribune. Retrieved 2021-05-13.
  10. ^ Jump up to: a b "Bombardier to Supply INNOVIA Automated People Mover System to Chicago O'Hare International Airport". bombardier.com. Bombardier Transportation. Retrieved 1 April 2018.
  11. ^ Jump up to: a b Wisniewski, Mary (2018-05-24). "Get ready for buses at O'Hare this year as 'people mover' gets rehab". Chicago Tribune. Retrieved 2021-05-14.
  12. ^ Lazare, Lewis (2018-11-02). "O'Hare's massive multimodal facility (quietly) opens". Chicago Business Journal. Retrieved 2021-05-14.
  13. ^ Wisniewski, Mary (2018-12-31). "O'Hare 'people mover' will shut down completely until the fall". Chicago Tribune. Retrieved 2021-05-13.
  14. ^ Martin, Kye (2019-11-04). "Reopening of 'People Mover' at O'Hare Airport Delayed Again". NBC Chicago. Retrieved 2021-05-14.
  15. ^ Elliott, Dennis M.; Norton, Jack (1999). "An introduction to airport APM systems". Journal of Advanced Transportation. 33 (1): 35–50. doi:10.1002/atr.5670330105. ISSN 2042-3195.
  16. ^ "O'Hare International Airport Visitors Guide" (PDF). October 2005. Archived from the original (PDF) on February 27, 2007. Retrieved June 14, 2007.
  17. ^ Gary, Dennis; Art Peterson. "A technology alternative to the VAL system on the O'Hare Airport Transit System (OATS)". PB Rail & Systems, Inc. doi:10.1109/RRCON.2000.870001. S2CID 109698833. Cite journal requires |journal= (help) Paid subscription

External links[]

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