Airport Surface Access Strategy
The Airport Company is committed to improving the overall accessibility of the Airport and encouraging the provision of a realistic choice of modes of transport for passengers, visitors and staff that reflects the 24 hour operation of the Airport.
Surface access is a key issue for the development of the Airport and in November 2007, the Airport Company published its current Airport Surface Access Strategy “Moving Together”, which sits alongside the Airport Master Plan “Towards 2030: Planning a Sustainable Future for Air Transport in the Midlands” (see Master Plan for more details).
The Airport Surface Access Strategy recognises the requirements set out in the Government’s Transport White Paper “A New Deal for Transport – Better for Everyone” (1998), guidance contained in “Guidance on Airport Transport Forums and Airport Surface Access Strategies” (1999) and subsequent developments in Government Transport Policy.
The Airport Surface Access Strategy sets out a framework for the development of surface access at the Airport for a plan period up to 2012. It reviews current surface access arrangements, recent trends on modal shares and sets new challenging modal share targets for the future. The Strategy also outlines policies which will form the basis of detailed actions plans to help achieve future mode share targets.
An air transport journey begins and ends with surface access and the Airport Company will work with its partners and the stakeholders to develop excellent surface access for the Airport and to make journeys to and from Birmingham Airport part of a seamless travel experience.
The Airport Surface Access Strategy has been developed to help ensure a co-ordinated approach continues to be taken, addressing future requirements in a sustainable manner.
Progress
In recent years, the Airport Company has invested substantial financial and staff resources to improve surface access to the Airport. Significant achievements include:
- New inbound/outbound access roads were completed in 2002 from the A45, improving access from the M42 and reducing congestion around the Airport.
- A new ‘Air-Rail Link’ opened in 2003 providing a quick reliable connection between the Passenger Terminals and Birmingham International Rail Station.
- At the same time, the Birmingham International Interchange, a new multi-modal transport interchange, was opened at the rail station to provide enhanced facilities for Airport, rail and bus passengers changing between modes.
- A new Airport Bus and Coach Terminus opened in 2004 providing enhanced and dedicated facilities for all public bus and coach services.
- In 2008, the Bus and Coach Terminus was relocated closer to the Terminals as part of a wider scheme which included new short stay parking arrangements and a revised circulatory road network introduced in response to new security regulations following the terrorist attack at Glasgow Airport in 2007.
- The Airport has provided support to selected bus services including an express bus to Birmingham prior to the opening of the Air-Rail Link, the 966 route between north and south Solihull and the demand responsive 24/7 "Buster Werkenbak" service for staff. Furthermore, as members of Company Travelwise, Airport staff are entitled to discounts on local bus and rail tickets.
- The Airport actively encourages staff to cycle to work providing secure parking and showers. Working with Solihull Council a safer and more attractive route for cyclists out of the Airport to the south has also been provided.
- Information on public transport is provided at a number of locations in the Passenger Terminals, at the Bus and Coach Terminus and Birmingham International Interchange.