All eyes are on a series of cameras surveilling roadways and curbsides as the airport prepares to welcome a record number of passengers this summer.
Houston Airports is ready for a record-setting summer. Customer Service Representatives, trained in providing a 5-Star passenger experience, are welcoming airport guests; an improved online parking reservation system is saving drivers time and money; and cameras, strategically positioned along the roads leading up to George Bush Intercontinental Airport, prepare crews for incoming traffic.
The technology utilized inside the Traffic Management Control Center matters when every second counts. “Our sophisticated network of high-definition cameras allows Houston Airports Operations to monitor and measure traffic conditions along Will Clayton Parkway and JFK Boulevard, before passengers reach the terminals at Bush Airport,” explained Steve Runge, Chief of Operations for Houston Airports. “Cameras, in conjunction with real-time traffic maps of Houston, passenger analytics, and flight status allow Houston Airports to proactively and immediately respond to traffic conditions at Houston’s busiest airport.”
The multi-faceted approach is supported by law enforcement and curbside agents who are strategically positioned outside the airport. Curbside teams work to keep traffic moving so that only vehicles actively loading and unloading passengers are temporarily stopped at the curb.
“This summer we are anticipating more vehicles than ever at the airport, and we want to keep traffic moving, while providing safer access to our terminals,” said Jim Szczesniak, Chief Operating Officer for Houston Airports. “Active loading and unloading zones necessary improve the overall customer experience as it relates to traffic flow, efficiencies and ease of navigation.”
Summer Peak Travel Times
Peak Travel is from 5 pm to 9 pm daily.
Based on airline schedules, Friday and Sunday are the busiest times of the week.
During peak travel times, Bush Airport anticipates traffic challenges on the roadways.
During peak travel, passengers are urged to add an extra hour to their usual arrival time at Bush Airport.
The curbs outside Bush Airport and William P. Hobby Airport are zoned for active loading and unloading. The zones are meant to improve the flow of traffic and enhance safety and security for airport guests and badged employees.
When the staff at Bush Airport’s Traffic Management Control Center spot traffic congestion, they radio curbside teams. Often times, vehicles parked at the curb are the cause of congestion. Law enforcement is dispatched to walk to the parked vehicle and urge the driver to continue moving along or wait in one of three cell phone lots at Bush Airport until their passenger is ready for pick-up at the curb with their luggage. This summer, Houston Airports has movingGear contracted tow trucks to help move parked vehicles out of loading zones.
“We are doing our part to keep traffic moving this summer,” said Runge, “we’re asking airport visitors to help us out and stay away from the terminal until their passenger is outside at the curb. The goal is for vehicles to pull up, passengers to actively load or unload and the vehicle to then move off the curb in a matter of seconds.”