By: Hellen Zaboulani
The $2.1 billion plans to build an AirTran at NYC’s LaGuardia Airport are stalled, due to opponents who are skeptical about the objectivity of the environmental review process.
As reported by the Wall Street Journal, construction on the AirTran was supposed to begin in June. Last week, however, a spokeswoman for the Federal Aviation Administration ( FAA) said that plans were delayed as the review process will take more time, following criticism by community groups and NY congress members. “We are working to answer additional questions from members of the New York delegations and other community groups,” a FAA spokesman said. “The FAA expects to issue a decision soon.”
The Port Authority of NY and NJ said Thursday that it looks forward to the FAA review’s conclusion and a decision. The rail link, first proposed in 2015, is being reviewed by the FAA because financing for the project stems from Port Authority revenues off a federally controlled $4.50 levy charged on passengers leaving publicly owned commercial airports. The FAA published the environmental review in March but then in April an environmental review group named Riverkeeper wrote to Transportation Secretary Pete Buttigieg asking the agency to find a better option to the Airtran. Then US Rep Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez (D) chimed in, asking for approval to be withheld. “For the most part, from our community, I’ve heard almost nothing but resistance to this project”, said Ms. Ocasio-Cortex in April.
Governor Andrew Cuomo has been a staunch supporter of the project, saying it will be a good alternative to the congested roads. Port Authority officials also say that the AirTran will provide reliable traffic-free transportation, which will take about 30 minutes to travel from LaGuardia to Penn Station or Grand Central Terminal. As per the WSJ, though, critics claim that the elevated 1.5 mile AirTran isn’t worth the cost, and that it takes a circular route going east and then west. The Riverkeeper group also took a jab at the 30 minute time estimate, saying it doesn’t include the time spent waiting for a train. “A 36-minute door-to-door car ride may actually be quicker than a 28 minute train ride when the time to travel from the door to the station platform is factored in,” the documents read.
The head of the Port Authority, Rick Cotton, replied to the criticism in an April 22 press conference, saying that the AirTrain will provide passengers a predictable travel time upon arrival at the stations.
