Tampa International Airport (TPA) is updating its Airsides A and C automated people mover (APM) shuttles.
The current red and blue shuttles that carry passengers to and from Airsides A and C at TPA have been in operation since the 1990s and are due to be replaced. Meanwhile, the concrete guideways that the shuttles travel on are also in need of refurbishment.
Throughout this project, the airport will therefore refurbish the guideways and replace existing vehicles with modern Alstom APM-300R cars.
Matthew Deloatche, TPA Senior Project Director for Planning & Development, said:These vehicles, which are built to operate continuously, have run for more than one million miles and served us well over the years. Now it’s time to refresh this integral part of the TPA experience for all our passengers.
During this project, Airside A and Airside C will temporarily switch to single-shuttle operation, with work commencing overnight between 8pm and 4am in mid-April to replace the shock-absorbing bearing pads under the guideways’ steel supports.
In May, crews will commence work to remove and replace the concrete guideways to ensure the infrastructure is ready for when the new shuttles are delivered from autumn 2024.
The Alstom APM-300Rs will be TPA’s third generation of shuttle car supplied by Alstom since the launch of the service in 1971.
The new shuttles will have a familiar layout with benches at the front and rear of each car, but will also take design cues from TPA’s landside SkyConnect train. The carpets will be replaced with resilient flooring and each doorway will feature an overhead dynamic information screen.
Deloatche added:The shuttles will benefit from a three-decade jump in technology, with all new guidance systems and mechanics. How they operate is new, but for guests, the experience will be seamless.
The guideway rehabilitation and shuttle car replacement project is expected to cost 61 million USD.
The new shuttles, as well as the controls and signalling systems, will be manufactured in Alstom’s Pittsburgh factory in Fall 2024.
All four pairs are scheduled to be operational by Spring 2025.
