The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA), on Tuesday, Approved the estimated $2.1 Billion New York AirTrain Project, to connect LaGuardia Airport with New York City Midtown, via Mono-Rail despite Opposition from Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez (D-14th District, Queens) and some Community Groups.
The Proposed Route from, LaGuardia to Midtown, connects the Delta Air Lines Terminal to Willets Point, where Passengers will be able to hop on the 7 Train and the Long Island Rail Road to reach New York City and Long Island.
The AirTrain will create 3,000 Construction Jobs and generate $500 Million in Contracting Opportunities for, Minority and Women, Owned Businesses, together with Permanent Operation and Manufacturing Jobs for Local Residents, according to Projections by the Queens Chamber of Commerce.
“Today is a great day to be in Queens,” said Tom Grech, President of the Queens Chamber of Commerce. “At the end of the day, it will open up that part of Queens around Willets Point, Citi Field, the United States Tennis Association and that whole area there to all kinds of growth and development."
The Proposal faced more than Two years of Opposition from some Community Groups and Local Leaders, who rallied Against the Project.
Ocasio-Cortez had Mocked the Proposal and said it would create a Greater Reliance on taking Cars because of the Direction of its Proposed Route into Queens.
Others in the Community, such as State Sen. Jessica Ramos (D-13th District, Queens), Criticized the AirTrain Proposal, saying it would Exploit East Elmhurst Neighborhoods while it would Contribute No Economic Benefit to the District.
Gov. Andrew Cuomo (D), who had been Pushing the Project, hailed the Announcement.
"The new LaGuardia Airport—the first new airport in the United States in over 25 years and the front door to New York—deserves a reliable, efficient, and affordable transit connector worthy of its destination,” the Governor said in a Statement.
Cuomo called the Approval Process “the culmination of years of advocacy by this administration” and characterized it as “a key moment” in New York’s efforts to Rebuild its Infrastructure for the 21st Century.
Currently there is an AirTrain to JFK International Airport.
NYC Wins When Everyone Can Vote! Michael H. Drucker
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