The Port Authority of New York and New Jersey has officially halted plans to build the $2.1 billion LaGuardia AirTrain, a project heavily pushed by former Governor Andrew Cuomo. The announcement came just a week after Cuomo’s successor Kathy Hochul called on the agency to seek alternative transit solutions to LaGuardia Airport.
“At Governor Hochul’s request, the Port Authority is undertaking a thorough review of potential alternative mass transit options to LaGuardia Airport,” reads a statement released by the Port Authority. “The agency will work in close consultation with independent experts and stakeholders, and will complete its work as expeditiously as possible, consistent with the need for the review to be thorough and rigorous. During the review, the Port Authority will pause further action with respect to the LaGuardia AirTrain project.”
The controversial project has been heavily criticized for its indirect route, potential impact on the health and well-being of the Queens’ neighborhoods it would intersect, and its rising price tag. Despite these flaws, the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) approved the project in July. However, as reported by The New York Times, two Queens-based community groups and an environmental group named Riverkeeper, sued the FAA to stop the project, arguing the FAA disregarded transit alternatives without giving them proper consideration.
As part of the lawsuit, the groups requested a stay, which was followed by the FAA giving the Port Authority until last Tuesday to argue against the suspension.
4 Comments
How hard is it for the subway to just go to the airport? For a major world city, the difficulty of getting to and from NYC airports is downright embarrassing.
it's not physically difficult to build, not "technically" that expensive- it's the community meetings and review process in which the suburbanites in queens would complain endlessly about any new construction affecting their backyards. it's really the reason everything in america cost 3 times as much and takes twice as long to build as anything in europe.
We'd all be better off if they just demolished the damn thing, and improve JFK.
LaGuardia could be great if transitioned into more of a regional / commuter style airport, like Reagan in Washington, while also expanding JFK to handle more international traffic (and make the subway go there too, dammit!)
Block this user
Are you sure you want to block this user and hide all related comments throughout the site?
Archinect
This is your first comment on Archinect. Your comment will be visible once approved.