Air Quality Measures

To reduce motor vehicle trips and congestion, the Airport has implemented the following programs:

• Free VTA transit passes are provided to 500 Airport employees and approx. 3,000 tenant employees working at the Airport to encourage the use of public transportation.
• The Airport subsidizes free VTA shuttle bus service, called the Airport Flyer, between the Airport terminals, the Metro Light Rail station, and the Santa Clara Caltrain station.
• Public transit information is promoted on the Airport’s website and at the terminals.
• Free shuttle bus service is provided between Airport terminals and to and from both the rental car center and the long-term parking lot.
• Taxis are required to park in designated queues and advance for customer pickup only when dispatched. This procedure also cuts down on engine idling.
• Commercial vehicle operators are required to pay a fee for every vehicle trip in the terminal area. To the extent feasible, airport construction employee parking is designated for off-airport areas with shuttle bus operations used to reduce individual vehicle trips.
• Airport employee parking is strategically consolidated and shuttle bus operations are used to reduce vehicle trips

Several roadway improvements have also contributed to reducing emissions, including:

• The one-way Airport Boulevard/Terminal Drive loop road eliminated the two traffic signals on-Airport property and minimized the need for vehicle idling.
• The new Route 87/Skyport Drive interchange provides a grade separation at Airport Boulevard eliminating the need for a traffic signal.
• The recently opened I-880/Coleman Avenue interchange includes a new direct on-ramp from Airport Boulevard to southbound I-880. The expansion of the De La Cruz Boulevard/Central Expressway intersection, which is partially funded by the Airport, will reduce peak hour congestion.
• The new Terminal Area Improvement Program has a roadway improvement component that is focused on improving circulation, reducing delay and reducing unnecessary trips through the Airport campus.

To promote the use of clean burning fuel, the Airport has implemented the following measures:

• The Airport’s Long-term Parking shuttle bus fleet was converted from diesel to Compressed Natural Gas (CNG) in early 2003.
• The Airport will replace the remaining fleet of diesel shuttle buses servicing the Rental Car Center to CNG buses by mid- 2008.
• The complete replacement of SJC’s diesel shuttle buses with CNG buses is expected to result in over 100 tons of reduced emissions annually.
• The on-Airport CNG fueling station, open to the public, was built in 2003 and provides the cheapest alternative fuel in the SF Bay area, often up to a $1.50 less a gallon then the price per gallon of regular gasoline.
• SJC has a comprehensive Alternative Fuels Program (AFP) that provides incentives to encourage tenants to convert their vehicles to CNG or other alternative, cleaner burning vehicles.
• One element of the AFP is the requirement that 25% of all trips to the Airport be made by taxis that are alternatively fueled, such as CNG or hybrids. Out of 300 taxis permitted to operate at the Airport, currently 119 are now CNG taxis and three are hybrid taxis.
• Since 2000, the Airport has only purchased alternate-fuel vehicles. Approximately 25% of the Airport fleet of vehicles is now CNG.
• Two free electric vehicle-charging stations have been available in the Terminal A Garage since 2001.
• Mobile and ground electric power charging equipment stations have been installed at all Terminal A gates to promote airfield support vehicle operations. Future terminal development will include battery recharge stations, 400-Hertz power, and preconditioned air thereby eliminating idling jet engines, and promoting conversion of aircraft ground support equipment (GSE) to zero emission vehicles.
• The Airport has committed funding for an alternative fuel vehicle conversion program to facilitate the conversion of ground transportation vehicles to alternative fuel. Program implementation procedures are being developed now.

Other measures the Airport has implemented include:

• Runway/taxiway improvements have been made to reduce aircraft movement delays.
• All airlines are encouraged to perform single or reduced engine taxiing to the extent determined safe and efficient.
• Construction contractors are required to implement pollutant emissions abatement measures.

The Airport continues its commitment to seek out and implement measures that minimize the impact of Airport operations on the environment. Also, current City Council policy restricts the Airport to a maximum 40 gates to serve the projected 17.6 million annual passengers for the year 2017.