Rating System

LEED BD+C: New Construction

Rating System Version

v2 - LEED 2.2

Inquiry

This Credit Interpretation Request is in relation to an international airport in a dense urban setting. No new parking has been added by the design team or the airport authority as part of the scope of this project. Unfortunately, accommodating car-pooling is very difficult due the transient nature of passenger occupants; and the means by which such a program could be enforced would further exhaust airport security staff. The airport authority and the terminal stakeholder have, however, developed a program and made design choices to accommodate an aggressive HOV program for the terminal. To begin, instead of dedicated parking for carpools, the terminal and airport have developed a program of priority curbside access for HOVs. HOVs, in terms of this program include local transit authority busses, the airport authority shuttle bus, and van shares. Taxis, which typically bring just one passenger, are not included in this program. Most importantly, this program includes a suburban express shuttle service from four major suburban locations to the terminal. The suburban express shuttle service was developed specifically for the HOV program. Therefore the design team considers it related to this LEED credit and is not including it as a means of compliance with Site Credit 4.1 (no double dipping). The HOV program for this airport currently accommodates 31% of all the passengers who access the airport. Every three years the airport authority monitors the success of the HOV program through an extensive survey. HOV ridership is up from 23% in 1981 with the addition of the suburban express shuttle service. The airport authority\'s goal is 35% by 2005. It is one of the most successful HOV programs operated by an airport in the country. Second only to San Francisco The design team and the airport authority feel that providing curbside area dedicated to HOV service, and the suburban express shuttle service meet the intent of this credit. We are asking that the USGBC rule that these actions represent the appropriate means by which an international airport terminal could comply with this credit.