Several weeks ago, Vice President Joe Biden, Gov. Andrew Cuomo along with Congress members Carolyn Maloney, Grace Meng and Gregory Meeks held a press conference calling for the modernization of LaGuardia Airport.
All conveniently overlooked how they would come up with the billions necessary to pay for all they have promised.
For example, periodically politicians revisit an old idea – direct public transportation access to LaGuardia Airport.
This has been discussed off and for decades.
Now it is newly re-elected Gov. Andrew Cuomo’s turn.
One old recycled concept once again advocated by Cuomo is to extend the N & Q subway lines from their current Queens terminus at Astoria/Ditmars Boulevard to LaGuardia Airport.
This died due to local community opposition and will continue to do so. Everyone has long forgotten that the successful Port Authority of New York and New Jersey Air Train, which currently runs between the Long Island Rail Road Jamaica Station and Kennedy Airport was supposed to continue proceeding north along the Van Wyck Expressway to connect with LaGaurdia Airport.
The PANYNJ did not have sufficient funding to complete the original full scope of the project.
This extension to LaGuardia Airport (depending upon the final selected route) could also have connected with the Long Island Rail Road and No. 7 subway line at the Mets-Willets Point Station.
It could have been built within blocks of downtown Flushing. Construction primarily within existing highway right of way would have eased any local community opposition from those who owned homes and or businesses adjacent to the route.
Too bad the PANYNJ choose instead to spend billions in non transportation investments during this same time period instead of completing the Air Train to LaGuardia Airport.
Besides the MTA’s $15.2 billion shortfall, Cuomo has yet to make public how the state will pay back a major federal loan which financed the majority of $3.9 billion cost for replacing the Tappan Zee Bridge.
Will he have the state pick up the tab, or pass on the costs to motorists by having them pay higher tolls?
Will it double or more over the coming years and decades? $15.2 billion plus $3.9 billion adds up to $19.1 billion.
Many are counting on New York State to provide the majority of these dollars. Just how does Cuomo propose finding a $1 billion or more for transportation improvements to LaGuardia Airport?
This would run Cuomo’s tab of unfunded transportation improvements to over $20 billion!
Cuomo reminds me of the cartoon character Wimpy who famously said. “I’ll gladly pay you Tuesday for a hamburger today.”
Construction of other options via the Sunnyside Storage Yards to LaGuardia Airport could easily cost a $1 billion or more.
Good luck trying to proceed with this concept. You would have to coordinate with the Long Island Rail Road East Side Access project.
In addition, the yard is used for mid day storage by other transit operators.
Previous pilot ferry connections from the LaGuardia Airport to various Manhattan locations failed. This was due to the costs which could not attract sufficient ridership to support the service.
Those Great Neck, New Hyde Park, Herricks, Alberston, Searingtown, Williston Park, Mineola, Manhasset and Roslyn residents in the know ride the Long Island Rail Road to Woodside and transfer to the New York City Transit Q70 bus. Others use the No. 7 subway to Woodside and make the same transfer.
Why not patronize both the LIRR and Q70 Limited (which is equipped wit luggage racks) from Jackson Heights which provides limited-stop bus service between Woodside, Jackson Heights and LaGuardia Airport (Terminals B, C and D). Service operates non-stop between Jackson Heights and LaGuardia Airport.
Connections can be made with the E,F,M,R and 7 trains at Jackson Heights-Roosevelt Avenue/74th Street-Broadway and with the Long Island Rail Road and 7 train at Woodside-61 St.
Travel time between Woodside and LaGuardia Airport is approximately 10-15 minutes and between Jackson Heights and LaGuardia Airport is approximately 8-10 minutes.
Free transfers between any bus or subway are available if you pay your fare with MetroCard.
Larry Penner
Great Neck
