TAMPA, Fla. – Travelers at Tampa International Airport’s Airside A are one step closer to a more modern experience as the first pair of brand-new shuttle cars arrived in the early hours of Wednesday morning. In an overnight operation, crews carefully lifted the sleek, blue vehicles onto the elevated guideway that connects the Airside to the Main Terminal.
The arrival marks a significant milestone in the airport’s ongoing facility upgrades. This process reverses the removal of the old Blue shuttle cars, which were retired earlier this month after faithfully serving passengers for three decades and traversing over a million miles.
“Installing these brand-new Blue shuttles at Airside A is a major milestone for the upgrades we’re making across Tampa International Airport’s facilities,” said Airport Chief Development Officer Smitha Radhakrishnan. “Our travelers have been using our signature shuttles for decades, and we’re proud to start installing these state-of-the-art vehicles to help enhance their journey going forward.”
These new shuttle cars represent the third generation of the automated people mover (APM) technology that has become synonymous with TPA’s efficient hub-and-spoke design. Manufactured by Alstom, the same company that built the original cars, the updated vehicles boast modern interiors featuring durable flooring and integrated video screens. Passengers can also look forward to a quieter and more energy-efficient ride.
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Despite the upgrades, airport officials assure travelers that the fundamental experience of riding the shuttles will remain the smooth and familiar one that TPA has offered since the modern airport’s inception.
“Tampa International Airport and Alstom have a longstanding partnership in innovation, starting with the introduction of the world’s first driverless Automated People Mover system in 1971,” stated Michael Keroullé, President of Alstom Americas. “Our latest APM R shuttle cars, integral to the airport’s modernization, blend familiar designs with cutting-edge technology to meet the needs of a rapidly growing city.”
With the new Blue shuttles now in place, the next phase involves commissioning and rigorous testing with new software. The vehicles are expected to enter passenger service later this year. Following this, the older Red shuttle cars serving Airside A will be removed and replaced with their own new counterparts. Airside C is slated for a similar shuttle replacement in the coming months.
The comprehensive guideway rehabilitation and shuttle car replacement project, which encompasses the design, running surfaces, eight new cars, and their associated controls and signaling systems, carries a total budget of $61 million. The project is being financed through a combination of bonds and state grants. The Hillsborough County Aviation Authority Board of Directors gave the green light for the shuttle replacement initiative in October 2021.
Looking ahead, Tampa International Airport has already placed orders for replacement shuttle cars for Airside E and the future Airside D, which is scheduled to open in 2028. While Airside F currently utilizes the newest shuttle cars across all airsides, it is also slated to receive new vehicles in the future, ensuring a continued commitment to modern and efficient transportation for all TPA travelers.
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