Stage 2 of PHX Sky Train wins gold award for sustainability

The Institute for Sustainable Infrastructure (ISI) has announced that Stage 2 of Phoenix’s Sky Harbor International Airport Sky Train (PHX Sky Train®) is the recent recipient of an Envision Gold Award for sustainability.

This is the airport’s first Envision award and the third Envision-awarded project in the State of Arizona.

Stage 2 of the PHX Sky Train is underway at the Sky Harbor International Airport. This is an extension to the existing 3.2-mile PHX Sky Train; when Stage 2 is complete and fully operational in 2022, it will extend another 2.5 miles to the airport’s rental car centre.

The project includes:

• Aircraft bridges that will carry two future taxiways over the train system
• An elevated station which will accommodate parking, ground transportation and future development
• An elevated rental car centre station
• Three traction power substations to provide power to 24 additional transit vehicles.

The project aims to enhance customer service and improve accessibility, ease traffic congestion on Sky Harbor Boulevard and make travel easier and more efficient between terminals. The project will serve as a catalyst for long-term airport growth and adjacent private development.

Alongside this, the project helps support the airport’s sustainability goals as it will reduce the daily vehicle count by an estimated 20,000 vehicles per day.

“ISI is pleased to present the Envision Gold Award to the City of Phoenix Aviation Department and project partners for Phase 2 of the PHX Sky Train project,” said Melissa Peneycad, ISI’s Managing Director and Director of Sustainable Projects. “The PHX Sky Train eliminates the need for shuttle buses and cars between airport terminals and passenger facilities, reduces road congestion and encourages the use of more sustainable transportation options, making this automated people mover project an excellent example of sustainability. Hopefully, this project will encourage other major airports to consider ways to reduce their own environmental footprint.”

The Envision sustainable infrastructure framework assesses project sustainability across five categories: Quality of Life, Leadership, Resource Allocation, Natural World, and Climate and Resilience. These key areas contribute to positive social, economic and environmental impacts on a community during the planning, design and construction of infrastructure projects.