DFW APM — Innovative Solutions to Success

DFW International Airport has a $2.7 Billion Capital Development Program underway that will literally transform one of the world's five busiest airports into an efficient, service oriented, transportation business while providing its travelers a world-class experience. This program has been implemented over a five-year period and includes an $847 million Automated People Mover (APM) system that went on-line in February 2005. The APM includes almost five miles of bi-directional track, carries over 5000 passengers an hour, per direction, and is built an average of fifty feet above the apron spanning over operating aircraft. The APM services all five of DFW's existing terminals and future sixth terminal in less than eight minutes and is the focal point in re-imaging and re-vitalizing the airport. There were great rewards on this fast track design and construction project that used a unique delivery process to bring owner, airlines, tenants, design consultant, construction contractor, and APM system supplier together as one team to meet the rigorous 23-month design and overlapping 38-month construction schedule. This paper addresses this unique project delivery method as well as the challenges in spanning over operating aircraft, while limiting interruptions to those operations, and the innovative guideway design that greatly reduced construction time on the airport's operating ramp. Included, are discussions of design and construction issues and constraints that lead to incorporating imaginative engineering processes that supported the contractor in meeting the schedule. Design techniques are illustrated that allowed around the clock progress while having severely limited access time to the ramp operations area for construction. In conclusion, this paper shows how a unique delivery process, coupled with innovative design techniques, has lead to the successful installation of DFW's Skylink Automated People Mover.