Satellite Transit System

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Satellite Transit System
Interior of Sea-Tac Airport people mover vehicle (22369771996).jpg
Interior of a Bombardier Innovia APM 100 car used on the Satellite Transit System
Overview
OwnerPort of Seattle
LocaleSeattle–Tacoma International Airport serving Seattle & Tacoma
Stations6
Service
TypePeople mover
Services3
Operator(s)Port of Seattle
Rolling stock21 Bombardier Innovia APM 100 vehicles
History
Opened1973
Technical
Line length1.7 miles (2.7 km)
CharacterUnderground
Route map

Legend
North Satellite
(N gates)
Concourse C
(C gates)
Main Terminal North
(D gates)
 SeaTac/Airport station Link light rail
Main Terminal South
(A gates)
Concourse B
(B gates)
South Satellite
(S gates)
This diagram:
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The Satellite Transit System (STS) is an automated people mover (APM) system operating in the Seattle–Tacoma International Airport in SeaTac, Washington, United States. Originally opening in 1973, the STS system is the second oldest airport people mover system in the United States. The APM was designed to quickly transport passengers between the airport's Main Terminal and the North and South Satellites.

History[]

The system was approved for construction in 1969, to be built alongside the new satellite terminals as the first inter-terminal train system in the United States.[1] It was completed in 1972 at a cost of $5 million and opened to the public in July 1973.[2][3] That makes it the second oldest airport people mover system in the United States[4] (after Tampa International Airport). The opening was delayed due to a dispute between the Port of Seattle and Westinghouse, the manufacturer of the system, over contracted costs.[5]

The system opened in 1973 at a total cost of $14 million. The original system consisted of nine vehicles;[6] an additional three were added in the mid-1970s. The system was designed to have a capacity of 14,400 passengers per hour and travel at a maximum speed of 27 miles per hour (43 km/h).[7]

The original STS vehicles were built by Westinghouse and had a maximum capacity of 102 passengers.[8] The average travel time for the two loops was 3.3 minutes, and 1.8 minutes on the shuttle, and each vehicle was estimated to amass 47,000 miles (76,000 km) annually.[8]

In 1999, the Port of Seattle authorized $142 million to completely overhaul the entire STS system.[9] The overhaul included all aspects of the system including trains, controls, power supplies, stations, emergency ventilation systems and maintenance shops.[9] The upgrade and modernization was completed in 2003.[10] The 21 Bombardier Innovia APM 100 vehicles use CITYFLO 650 signaling technology and a radio Communication Based Train Control (CBTC) system for its automated operation.[10]

Layout and operation[]

Map of Sea–Tac's terminals and the Satellite Transit System routes (blue dotted lines) and stations (orange squares).

The STS is located within secure areas of the airport. The system consists of six stations serving each of the four gate concourses extending from the main terminal (Concourses A, B, C and D), and the North and South Satellite terminals. Each station is equipped with platform edge doors. The system consists of two loops serving the satellite terminals and a third line connecting the two loops in the main terminal.[8][11]

  • The North Terminal Transit Loop is 4,100 feet (1,200 m)[8] in length and has stations in the north end of the Main Terminal (near Concourse D), Concourse C and the North Satellite (N gates).[11]
  • The South Terminal Transit Loop is 3,700 feet (1,100 m)[8] in length and has stations in the south end of the Main Terminal (near Concourse A), Concourse B and the South Satellite (S gates).[11] This loop is unique in that the first car of each train is outside of the "sterile area" of the airport. Passengers on most international flights arrive at the South Satellite, where they are processed by U.S. Customs and Border Protection officials. After inspection, passengers are taken to the STS station where they have the option of waiting in line to be inspected by the Transportation Security Administration so that they may access the rear two cars and secure area of the airport (to catch a connecting flight) or directly boarding the first train car which transports them to the airport exit and the baggage claim area of the Main Terminal. The platform screen doors for this car do not open at the Concourse B station to prevent unscreened passengers from accessing that terminal.
  • The North/South Terminal Transit Connection is 1,000 feet (300 m)[8] in length and has stations at both the north end of the Main Terminal (near the D Concourse) and the south end of the Main Terminal (near the A Concourse), and serves as a connection between the North and South Terminal Transit Loops.[11]

Public art[]

As part of its 2003 renovation, public art projects were included in the scope of the project. The main terminal's south station features a series of 56-plus flowers cast of aluminum and aluminum/resin mix created by Nancy Blum.[12] In the main terminal's north station is a series of nine paintings created by Karen Ganz representing various travelers.[13]

See also[]

References[]

  1. ^ Wells, Jay (June 11, 1969). "Port Awards Contract for Sea-Tac Airport Subway". The Seattle Times. p. 80.
  2. ^ Lane, Bob (May 2, 1972). "Underground people mover: Sea-Tac subway zips along on test run". The Seattle Times. p. B5.
  3. ^ "United Air Lines to start using new airport facility". The Seattle Times. June 1, 1973. p. A16.
  4. ^ "Satellite Transit System Really Moving". McGraw-Hill Northwest Construction. November 2003. Archived from the original on March 18, 2006. Retrieved February 13, 2008.
  5. ^ "Airport Subway System 'Stalls'". Computerworld. March 7, 1973. p. 5. Retrieved March 27, 2018 – via Google Books.
  6. ^ Green, Ronny (May 19, 1974). "Sea-Tac—it's growing into a city". The Seattle Times. p. 11.
  7. ^ The United States (June 1975). "The Status and Potential of Automated Guideway Transit in Urban Areas" (PDF). Automated guideway transit : an assessment of PRT and other new systems, including supporting panel reports (Report). United States Congress, Office of Technology Assessment. p. 17. Retrieved February 17, 2021 – via Princeton University.
  8. ^ a b c d e f Office of Technology Assessment (June 1975). "Who Owns AGT Systems?". Automated Guideway Transit: An Assessment of PRT and Other New Systems. ISBN 9781428925236. Retrieved February 13, 2008.
  9. ^ a b "Trains at airport to be replaced". The Seattle Times. November 11, 1999.
  10. ^ a b "Sea-Tac Satellite Transit: Complex system delivered under schedule, budget" (PDF). Centerlines. Spring 2005. Archived from the original (PDF) on August 10, 2009. Retrieved February 13, 2008.
  11. ^ a b c d Port of Seattle. "Sea-Tac Airport Transit System" (PDF). Archived from the original (PDF) on October 3, 2015. Retrieved October 2, 2015.
  12. ^ Port of Seattle. "Satellite Transit System: Nancy Blum". Archived from the original on February 1, 2008. Retrieved February 4, 2008.
  13. ^ Port of Seattle. "Satellite Transit System: Karen Ganz". Archived from the original on February 1, 2008. Retrieved February 4, 2008.
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