Satellite Transit System

Infobox rail line
name = Satellite Transit System


image_width = 200px
caption =
type = People mover
system =
status =
locale = Seattle-Tacoma International Airport serving Seattle & Tacoma
start = Main Terminal South Station
end = Main Terminal North Station
stations = 6
routes = 3
ridership =
open = 1973
close =
owner = Port of Seattle
operator = Port of Seattle
character = Serves sterile parts of the airport
stock = 21 Bombardier CX-100 vehicles
linelength = 1.7 miles (2.7 km)
tracklength =
notrack =
gauge =
el =
speed =
elevation = Underground

The Satellite Transit System (STS) is an automated people mover system operating in the Seattle-Tacoma International Airport (SEA). Originally opening in 1973, the STS system is the second oldest airport people mover system in the United States.cite news
last =
first =
coauthors =
title =Satellite Transit System Really Moving
work =McGraw-Hill Northwest Construction
pages =
date = November 2003
url =http://northwest.construction.com/features/archive/0311_Feature2b.asp
accessdate = 2008-02-13] The APM was designed to quickly transport passengers between SeaTac Airport's Main Terminal and the North and South Satellites.

History

Originally opening in 1973 at a total cost of $14 million,cite news
last = Office of Technology Assessment
first =
coauthors =
title =Who Ownes AGT Systems?
work =Automated Guideway Transit: An Assessment of PRT and Other New Systems
pages =
date = June 1975
url =http://books.google.com/books?id=tI9AuKexGLgC
accessdate = 2008-02-13] the Satellite Transit System is the second oldest operating airport people mover in the United States. The original system consisted of nine vehicles, with an additional three added in the mid-1970s, and was designed to have a capacity of 14,400 passengers per hour and travel at a maximum speed of convert|27|mph.cite news
last = Office of Technology Assessment
first =
coauthors =
title =The Status and Potential of Automated Guideway Transit in Urban Areas
work =Automated Guideway Transit: An Assessment of PRT and Other New Systems
pages =
date = June 1975
url =http://www.princeton.edu/~ota/disk3/1975/7503/750304.PDF
accessdate = 2008-02-13]

The original STS vehicles were built by Westinghouse and had a maximum capacity of 102 passengers. The average travel time for the two loops was 3.3 minutes, and 1.8 minutes on the shuttle, and each vehicle was estimated to amass convert|47000|mi|km annually.

In 1999, the Port of Seattle authorized $142 million to completely overhaul the entire STS system.cite news
last =
first =
coauthors =
title =Trains at airport to be replaced
work =The Seattle Times
pages =
date = November 11, 1999
url =
accessdate = 2008-02-13] The overhaul included all aspects of the system including trains, controls, power supplies, stations, emergency ventilation systems and maintenance shops. The upgrade and modernization was complete by 2003.cite news
last =
first =
coauthors =
title =Sea-Tac Satellite Transit: Complex system delivered under schedule, budget
work =Centerlines
pages =
date = Spring 2005
url =http://www.aci-na.aero/static/entransit/SEA_Transit_Facilities_Spring2005.pdf
accessdate = 2008-02-13] The 21, Bombardier CX-100 vehicles use CITYFLO 650 signaling technology and a radio Communication Based Train Control (CBTC) system for its automated operation.

Layout and operation

The STS is located within secure areas of the airport. The system consists of six stations serving each of the four gate concourses extending from the main terminal (Concourses A, B, C and D), and the North and South Satellite terminals. Each station is equipped with platform edge doors. The system consists of two loops serving the satellite terminals and a third line connecting the two loops in the main terminal.cite web
url = http://www.portseattle.org/about/maps/transit.shtml
title = Port of Seattle: Train System Map
accessdate = 2008-02-04
author = Port of Seattle]
* The "North Train Loop" is convert|4100|ft|m in length and has stations in the D Concourse, the C Concourse and the N Concourse.
* The "South Train Loop" is convert|3700|ft|m in length and has stations in the A Concourse, the B Concourse and the S Concourse.
* The "Shuttle Train" is convert|1000|ft|m in length and has stations in the A Concourse and D Concourse, and serves as a connection between both the North and South Train Loops.

Public art

As part of its 2003 renovation, public art projects were included in the scope of the project. In the Main Terminal's south station a series of 56-plus flowers cast of aluminum and aluminum/resin mix created by Nancy Blum.cite web
url = http://www.portseattle.org/seatac/art/satellite.shtml#blum
title = Satellite Transit System: Nancy Blum
accessdate = 2008-02-04
author = Port of Seattle] In the Main Terminal's north station is a series of nine paintings created by Karen Ganz representing various travelers.cite web
url = http://www.portseattle.org/seatac/art/satellite.shtml#ganz
title = Satellite Transit System: Karen Ganz
accessdate = 2008-02-04
author = Port of Seattle]

References

External links

* [http://www.portseattle.org/seatac/art/satellite.shtml Satellite Transit System] on the official Seattle-Tacoma International Airport website