Session: Airfront Issues Workshop

March 29, 1:00 PM

Michael R. Callahan
Parsons Transportation Group

This presentation explores the idea that land designated for commercial and retail space adjacent to airports and referred to as “airfronts”, should be developed and designed using sustainable design principles including green building provisions. The design concept downplays traditional automobile-based transportation grids and proposes new transit technology of Automated People Movers and Personal Rapid Transit (PRT) systems to use vertical and horizontal space to move people and cargo through the airfront, in and across commercial and retail areas, to the airport terminal.

Green Building Provisions

Author and Copyright Information

Michael R. Callahan is an Aviation Planner and Environmental Project Manager with the Parsons Transportation Group in Washington D.C. Since February 2001, he has been a member of the Program Planning staff in the joint venture firm, Parsons Management Consultants, providing engineering and construction service support to the Metropolitan Washington Airports Authority at Washington Dulles International Airport and Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport.
Mr. Callahan manages and coordinates the preparation of National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA) environmental compliance documents for submission to the Federal Aviation Administration, oversees air quality assessments for the Dulles Development or “d2” program, and evaluates potential design impacts to over 735 acres of site wetlands and streams from 68 construction projects valued at over $3.2B. Mr. Callahan also coordinates NEPA requirements for the Authority’s compliance with Section 106 of the National Historic Preservation Act (NHPA) and Section 4(f) of the Department of Transportation Act.
In 2001, Mr. Callahan retired from 20 years of active duty service with the United States Air Force. While on active duty, Mr. Callahan flew high performance jet aircraft and served in several staff positions in California, Germany, and at the Pentagon in Washington, D.C. Mr. Callahan has a masters degree in Urban and Environmental Planning from the University of Virginia, a masters degree in Public Administration from Troy State University, and a Bachelor of Environmental Design degree from Texas A&M University. Mr. Callahan is married, has a daughter, and lives in Alexandria, VA.