State officials in New York have finally slammed the door on the proposed $2.4 billion AirTrain project at LaGuardia Airport over cost concerns.

The New York Times is reporting that the project was formally called off by Governor Kathy Hochul on Monday in favor of a less expensive plan that would offer additional Q70 bus service between the airport and subway stations in northern Queens.

The AirTrain was halted in October 2021 over costs and the potential impact on vulnerable Queens neighborhoods standing in the path of what some considered to be former Governor Andrew Cuomo’s personal obsession. Calls for its cancellation began almost immediately following his resignation in the face of a sexual harassment scandal just two months prior.

As the Times reported, the two recently-completed Terminal C and Terminal B projects included infrastructure to accommodate the AirTrain. The plan had called for an opposite node at Willets Point that was selected ironically based on its ability to cut costs related to acquired property adjacent to its proposed route.

“Steering the ship of state away from the rocky shoals of Willets Point is no small thing,” one of three advisory panel members, Janette Sadik-Khan, told the paper. “Saving $1.5 billion while moving almost twice as many riders quickly and efficiently is pretty good.”

The AirTrain was advertised as being able to transport passengers from Midtown Manhattan to the airport in under 30 minutes. 

Thomas K. Wright of the Regional Plan Association criticized the new alternative, saying “Improved bus service is not a game-changer. The majority of people flying into and out of LaGuardia will continue to use private automobiles and taxis."