Utilization of an Advanced Traffic Control System to Automate Control of an Airport Taxiway/Service Road Intersection

At the Luis Munoz Marin International Airport in San Juan, Puerto Rico, the Puerto Rico Ports Authority is developing a dual midfield / cross-field taxi-way. The new taxiway is part of an ongoing expansion program at the airport that will provide bi-directional traffic between the airport's two runways. The dual taxiway system separates the terminal facility from the other major operational areas on the airfield and intersects the single "at-grade" service road that connects the two areas. This road provides access between the terminal and operational areas that house vital services such as cargo, baggage handling, catering, and Airport Rescue and Fire Fighting (ARFF) facility. The paper describes the application of intelligent traffic control system components to provide redundant control of service vehicle crossing traffic at the taxiway/service road intersection while providing safe separation from aircraft operating on the dual taxiway system. The new control system serves a dual function of enhancing safety by preventing incursions between aircraft and ground service vehicles as well as optimizing traffic flow for service vehicle crossings.