Earlier this week, the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) approved the estimated $2.1 billion LaGuardia AirTrain, an initiative to connect New York’s LaGuardia Airport with Manhattan. The Port Authority of New York and New Jersey will now be able to pursue federal funding for the project.

The  1.5-mile transit link will connect the airport’s Delta Airlines terminal to Willets Point Station, which borders Citi Field, the home of the New York Mets, and is served by the Long Island Rail Road and the Number 7 subway line. The Port Authority has claimed that the trip length will be 30 minutes from Midtown Manhattan to the airport. The project is expected to create 3,000 construction jobs and generate $500 million in contracting opportunities for minority and women-owned businesses, along with jobs for local residents, according to projects made by the Queens Chamber of Commerce. 

The approval comes after a two-year-long Environmental Impact Statement (EIS) process. The FAA noted that it held two virtual public workshops and three virtual public hearings last September for a draft environmental review, garnering a viewership of over 18,000 and receiving over 4,200 comments. In addition, 18 different federal, state, and local agencies have provided input throughout the process based on their expertise. 

“LaGuardia Airport is the only major airport on the East Coast without a rail mass transit link, and it is way past time for that embarrassment to end,” said the Port Authority in a statement. “The LaGuardia AirTrain will provide a sustainable and reliable travel option to LaGuardia Airport. It will remove millions of vehicles from congested highways and local roads each year.”

While the project is seen as a major boost for the airport, which is undergoing a major redevelopment, for years the proposal has been subject to criticism by community groups and local leaders, including Representative Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez. Critics have targeted the train’s indirect route because it takes passengers past the airport, which has put into question whether the trip time would actually be quicker than driving. 

Others, including state Senator Jessica Ramos, who represents neighborhoods near LaGuardia, expressed disapproval saying, “This is a huge slap in the face by @NYGovCuomo to the residents of East Elmhurst. COVID has already taken a devastating toll on our neighbors. The last thing we need is a multi-billion dollar vanity project that will further affect the health & well-being of our communities.”

Further pushback comes from the project’s major price tag increase from the original $450 million estimate in 2015. 

In their statement, the Port Authority stated that they will offer “regular engagement opportunities for local residents throughout the construction period to ensure transparency and accountability” and that the “community will receive regular updates on the project as well as on progress on community benefit commitments and will have an open line of communication with project staff to address any questions or concerns.”

Preliminary work to construct the rail link is set to begin this summer, according to the Port Authority. They have issued a request for proposals to design, build, and maintain the LaGuardia AirTrain project and expect to make their selection by mid-2022. The project is scheduled for completion in 2025.