FAA Approves Cuomo’s $ 2.1 Billion LaGuardia AirTrain

After years of discussions, a new – and controversial – $ 2.1 billion AirTrain will be built, connecting LaGuardia Airport to LIRR and 7 stations to Mets-Willets Point in eastern Queens.

The Federal Aviation Association approved the plan on Tuesday, giving the port authority permission to “follow through on its proposal to build a rail system to provide a reliable transit option for air travelers and LGA employees.” The FAA also noted that it had organized two virtual public workshops and three virtual public hearings last September, and that 18 “different federal, state and local agencies have provided input throughout the environmental impact assessment process. (EIA) on the basis of their expertise and their authorities “. (You can see the final EIS here.)

Governor Andrew Cuomo called the plan “a reliable, efficient and affordable transportation connector worthy of its destination.” He noted that years of work have led to this moment and that now, “as we emerge from the COVID crisis, our state and our country have a unique opportunity to invest in a resilient, transformative and interconnected environment. the future, and today’s announcement is a testament to our “all on board” commitment to seize it, in partnership with the Biden administration and Secretary Buttigieg. “

While a transit option to LaGuardia has long been a goal, critics have questioned Cuomo’s particular plan as it actually takes travelers pass the airport. In 2015, The Transport Politic created a map showing the routes of various connection plans and suggested that travel times actually increase with this plan.

The Riverkeeper defense group obtained documents from the FAA that included communications between the federal agency and the port authority. The NY Post reported earlier this year that, during an exchange, FAA officials discovered, “A 36-minute door-to-door drive can actually be quick.[er] more than 28 minutes by train when the travel time between the door and the station platform is taken into account. “

Riverkeeper asserted that “the port authority has embellished the purported benefit of the AirTrain; has selected its selection criteria; applied these selection criteria unevenly among the alternatives; and excluded the viable and desired ferry service from meaningful review ”

The group also said that the AirTrain route on the World’s Fair promenade in East Elmhurst “would affect neighboring houses, obscuring their view of the bay, causing vibrations and increasing noise and air pollution that neighbors of the airport already endure for decades “.

Local lawmakers are also unhappy:

The port authority maintained that this winding AirTrain route had the least impact on residential areas, and said in a statement Tuesday: “LaGuardia Airport is the only major airport on the east coast without a link. rail transit, and it is high time for this embarrassment to end. “

The agency also said that by starting construction this summer, it will provide “regular engagement opportunities for local residents … to ensure transparency and accountability.”