John Leland provides coverage of a big idea by Jim Venturi, the son of architects Denise Scott Brown and Robert Venturi, for the renovation and expansion of LaGuardia International Airport in New York.
Jim Venturi's idea for LaGuardia is presented as Robert Moses-inspired aspirational planning versus today's culture of naysayers. The plan, as proposed by Venturi and described by John Leland for the new York Times: "a massive, 22-track rail station and airport terminal in Port Morris, and put the gates [for LaGuardia] on Rikers — connected by a shuttle train, as at the airports in Atlanta and Denver? The present La Guardia space could then accommodate four runways instead of the current two, with extensions into the East River to lengthen them."
There's more: "another transit hub in Sunnyside, joining the subways that already stop there — the E, M, N, R, Q and 7 trains — with new connections to Metro-North, Amtrak, the Long Island Railroad and New Jersey Transit? The rail lines could continue to Penn Station in one direction, and up to the new La Guardia superstation in the other. (He’d extend the new Second Avenue subway up there as well.)"
There is more as well, and while Venturi is still looking for an architect and/or planning firm to partner with to submit the proposal to a design competition recently announced by New York Governor Andrew Cuomo, Leland's article invites readers to ponder their own politics on the issue of making large, expensive plans, without worrying about obstacles.
FULL STORY: Thinking Big. Then Thinking Bigger.
Governor Cuomo Announces Master Plan Competition for New York's Airports
When Vice President spoke earlier this year about the less than world class conditions at New York's LaGuardia Airport he found an audience in New York Governor Andrew Cuomo.
LaGuardia Airport Redesign Fails To Address Key Concerns
After an $8 billion renovation, critics of the much-maligned airport claim the design is disjointed, while public transit access to the new terminals remains minimal.
Regional Plan Association Recommends Closing One Airport, Expanding Others Near New York
The total cost of the recommendations from a new report on the future of air travel in the New York region: $50.8 billion over 40 years.
Planetizen Federal Action Tracker
A weekly monitor of how Trump’s orders and actions are impacting planners and planning in America.
Congressman Proposes Bill to Rename DC Metro “Trump Train”
The Make Autorail Great Again Act would withhold federal funding to the system until the Washington Metropolitan Area Transit Authority (WMATA), rebrands as the Washington Metropolitan Authority for Greater Access (WMAGA).
The Simple Legislative Tool Transforming Vacant Downtowns
In California, Michigan and Georgia, an easy win is bringing dollars — and delight — back to city centers.
The States Losing Rural Delivery Rooms at an Alarming Pace
In some states, as few as 9% of rural hospitals still deliver babies. As a result, rising pre-term births, no adequate pre-term care and "harrowing" close calls are a growing reality.
The Small South Asian Republic Going all in on EVs
Thanks to one simple policy change less than five years ago, 65% of new cars in this Himalayan country are now electric.
DC Backpedals on Bike Lane Protection, Swaps Barriers for Paint
Citing aesthetic concerns, the city is removing the concrete barriers and flexposts that once separated Arizona Avenue cyclists from motor vehicles.
Urban Design for Planners 1: Software Tools
This six-course series explores essential urban design concepts using open source software and equips planners with the tools they need to participate fully in the urban design process.
Planning for Universal Design
Learn the tools for implementing Universal Design in planning regulations.
Smith Gee Studio
City of Charlotte
City of Camden Redevelopment Agency
City of Astoria
Transportation Research & Education Center (TREC) at Portland State University
US High Speed Rail Association
City of Camden Redevelopment Agency
Municipality of Princeton (NJ)