Stage 2 of the Phoenix Sky Harbor International Airport Sky Train has received an Envision Gold Award for sustainability.
The award from the Institute for Sustainable Infrastructure (ISI) assesses five categories covering quality of life, leadership, resource allocation, natural world and climate and resilience.
Stage 2 was praised for eliminating long shuttle lines, providing clear information, significantly reducing energy consumption, and linking the airport’s terminals, major buildings and other facilities.
The extension will add to the existing 3.2-mile PHX Sky Train, which operates between the 44th Street PHX Sky Train station and Terminal 3.
When Stage 2 is operational in 2022, it will extend another 2.5 miles to the airport’s rental car center.
The project includes aircraft bridges carrying two future taxiways over the train system; an elevated station for parking, ground transportation and future development; an elevated rental car center station; and three traction power substations to provide power to 24 additional transit vehicles.
Melissa Peneycad, managing director and director of sustainable projects at ISI, said, “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.”