Plastic Jersey Barriers Help Make Lyft, Uber and Taxi Service Run Smoother
The Seattle-Tacoma International airport had a challenge; they wanted to improve the airport experience for tired travelers connecting with Uber, Lyft and taxi services by speeding up the loading process. The operating area is located in the center of the airport’s covered parking structure and had to contend with all the other users of the location.
Parking structures frequently are dark and do not have easily identifiable visual markers, the “Where am I” look is commonplace as a result. With the rapid arrival and departure of vehicles, it was necessary to keep confused people away from moving vehicles. It was also necessary to get them quickly to the loading area for efficient connection between passenger and vehicle.
The faster the loading, the faster the departures, and the happier the passenger will be with their airport experience. Internal signage got people to the parking structure but additional challenges were encountered. How to keep pedestrians out of the way of the vehicles. How to speed the loading by connecting the right person to the right vehicle quickly. Lastly, how to minimize traffic jams that impede the flow of Uber, Lyft and other taxi vehicles.
The original solution called for up to 12,000 linear feet of directional devices; a solution not within the budget. With over 40 years of experience working with airports to improve the flow of visitors, Seattle-Tacoma International Airport decided to call The Tamis Corporation for alternatives. Once the constraints were understood, the account manager, Marcus Jeter, who works with airports, proposed a specific plastic jersey barrier as a possible solution.
Since these directional devices were needed in a high traffic area, a plastic jersey barrier was proposed as the separation between pedestrians and vehicles. These barriers offer a large target for vehicles but only require a minimal footprint of space, (space being one of the constraints.) These barriers were light enough for quick layout changes with minimal labor. They could also provide a more permanent solution with an optional heavyweight if water-filled. Plus, there would be minimal damage if vehicles hit them.
After discussions, Tamis was able to suggest a custom color not available from other suppliers and still totaling well under budget. The custom green not only jumped out in the low light location but also matches the city’s football team colors.
The result is a taxi, Uber and Lyft service area that is easily accessible, fully functional, and improves the pedestrian traffic flow, all while providing an aesthetic that radiates with team spirit. “I think Seattle-Tacoma International Airport has the best organized Uber-Lyft pickup zones I’ve experienced,” said one tweet that proudly showcases the new and improved TNC operating area. Tamis looks forward to working with Seattle-Tacoma International Airport in the future and providing similar crowd management solutions to other transportation centers.
Other Related Products for Airports from Tamis: Plastic cones, plastic sign stands, delineators, other plastic jersey barriers
