Clearing a Path for the Proposed AirTrain to LaGuardia

Eminent domain powers will be necessary to build a route for an AirTrain connecting to LaGuardia Airport.

1 minute read

June 14, 2018, 12:00 PM PDT

By James Brasuell @CasualBrasuell


AirTrain

Leonard Zhukovsky / Shutterstock

A new bill in the New York State Legislature would move forward a controversial proposal by Governor Andre Cuomo to build an AirTrain connection to LaGuardia Airport.

"On Monday, Queens Assemblyman Jeffrion Aubry introduced a bill on the governor’s behalf that would let the state use eminent domain to secure the corridor between Willets Point and LaGuardia," reports Dana Rubinstein.

"Roughly speaking, the train to LaGuardia would run parallel to the 7 subway line at Flushing Meadows Corona Park, then along the 'the edge of the Citi Field parking lot previously alienated for stadium use,' according to the bill, and, finally, along the Grand Central Parkway to the airport," according to Rubinstein.

As noted by Rubinstein in an article from 2015, the idea has received criticism as circuitous and unnecessary.

The Port Authority of New York and New Jersey is "spearheading" the Air Train project, with the help of the Metropolitan Transportation Authority.

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