Highway Corridors in the Aerotropolis

[Grzrd]

In late 2006, community leaders began a dialogue with Dr. John Kasarda, Director of the Kenan Institute of Private Enterprise at the University of North Carolina in Chapel Hill. Through Dr. Kasarda's studies, the Memphis Region was identified as being the best example of an "aerotropolis,"  a term he coined to mean a new type of urban form combining aviation-intensive businesses and related enterprises extending up to 25 kilometers outward from mega airports ....
Also, in 2010, Congressman Steve Cohen of Tennessee introduced an amendment to SAFETEA-LU that provided a federal legislative definition of "aerotropolis transportation system" that would make aerotropolis projects eligible for federal $$$$$ (Michigan Reps. Dingell and Conyers were co-sponsors of the bill) ....
(b) Aerotropolis Transportation System Defined- Section 1301(c) of SAFETEA-LU (23 U.S.C. 101 note) is amended by adding at the end the following:
`(4) AEROTROPOLIS TRANSPORTATION SYSTEM- The term `aerotropolis transportation system' means a planned and coordinated multimodal freight and passenger transportation network that, as determined by the Secretary, provides efficient, sustainable, and intermodal connectivity to a defined region of economic significance centered around a major airport.' [emphasis added] ...
This press release from Congressman Cohen's office indicates he also introduced two aerotropolis bills in 2011.  I think, in times of tight federal money, the game is to demonstrate that you have a project of national or regional significance, and Cohen's bills play to Memphis's strengths in that regard (similarly, Michigan's I-69 corridor has Great Lakes shipping to go along with highway, rail, and air):

The Aerotropolis Act of 2011 would amend the Safe, Accountable, Flexible, Efficient Transportation Act: A Legacy for Users (SAFETEA—LU) to ensure projects that assist in the establishment of aerotropolis transportation systems are eligible to receive funds under the Projects of National and Regional Significance Program.
The second measure Congressman Cohen authored -- the Leading and Expediting Aerotropolis Development (LEAD) Act -- would direct the U.S. Secretary of Transportation to establish a grant program that would provide funding assistance to local entities for planning, design, environmental review, and land acquisition activities for aerotropolis transportation system projects.  By providing a small influx of money in the preconstruction phase, the U.S. government could help localities dramatically expedite project delivery, enhance U.S. competitiveness, and create jobs.
Both measures have the potential to provide millions of dollars in funding to the Memphis Aerotropolis to fund projects like the 3rd Bridge, I69, and I 22/78 Corridor.

(above quote from "I-69 in MI ..." thread on Midwest-Great Lakes page.

Dr. Kasarda has a website, www.aerotropolis.com.  Since this is a roads forum, the website's tag line is of interest:

Airports will shape business location and urban development in the 21st century as much as highways did in the 20th century, railroads in the 19th and seaports in the 18th

As mentioned above, proposed federal legislation may define highways that serve an aerotropolis as being of regional and/or national significance, which in turn will elevate their priority for federal funding.  Also, two features relating to highways on the Aerotropolis website are:

-Dedicated airport expressway links (aerolanes) and airport express trains (aerotrains) should efficiently connect airports to major regional business and residential concentrations.
-Special truck-only lanes should be added to airport expressways, as should improved interchanges to reduce congestion.

The website also has an approximate five-minute video that explains the components of an aerotropolis.  The process to which I referred to in the "I-69 in MI ..." thread involved two of the components outlined in the video: (1) the local communities along the I-69 corridor are essentially trying to get permission from the Michigan state government to provide tax breaks, etc. to create an "economic free trade zone" near Bishop International Airport in Flint, which should (2) elevate the strategic importance of I-69 itself for funding, etc.

Also, if Philadelphia ever has aspirations of creating an aerotropolis, it seems like Inga Saffron's idea to do away with I-95 along Penn's Landing would be counter-productive.  It would be interesting to see what would be the outcome of a discussion between Saffron and Kasarda.

[Zmapper]

Who the heck wants to live right next to an airport. 

[NE2]

A goose.

[Grzrd]

Who the heck wants to live right next to an airport. 

I certainly would not want to live "next" to an airport. Atlanta Hartsfield-Jackson International airport is approximately nine miles from the I-75/85 interchange with I-20 in downtown Atlanta.  I live north of downtown, approximately 16 miles from the airport.  I do hear some jet noise when I am outside, but I usually subconsciously "tune it out". I guess, from my perspective, I would consider five miles and in as being "near" the airport.  I'm not sure what Kasarda would envision for Atlanta.

The website describes the Atlanta airport as a "Developing" Aerotropolis (page 2/3 of pdf).  The airport is literally ringed by Interstates 75, 85, and 285, and older, well-established neighborhoods are adjacent to the interstates.  I think most of the people who work and/or will work in the future at aviation-related businesses near the airport, if given a choice, will choose to work near the airport and live not so near the airport.  The interstates make for a lot of good commuting options.