La Guardia AirTrain Plan Moves Forward, Circuitous Route and All

Not everyone thinks the governor’s expensive plan to improve access to the beleaguered airport will actually improve access.

1 minute read

July 11, 2018, 12:00 PM PDT

By Katharine Jose


LaGuardia Airport

ERIC SALARD / Flickr

New York Governor Andrew Cuomo, who has proposed a number of enormous projects during his term, recently announced that  the state will pursue its previously proposed—and much-criticized—plan to build a train connection to LaGuardia Airport, which is currently served only by bus lines and taxis.

LaGuardia is consistently ranked among the world’s worst airports, with some of the world’s least convenient access points, but the proposed route means most “[r]iders first have to schlep past the airport, east to Citi Field — the home of the Mets — to catch the AirTrain and then backtrack.”

The AirTrain is only part of Cuomo’s plan for the airport, which also includes a multi-billion-dollar renovation.

Monday, June 25, 2018 in The New York Times

Young Professional

I love the variety of courses, many practical, and all richly illustrated. They have inspired many ideas that I've applied in practice, and in my own teaching. Mary G., Urban and Environmental Planner

I love the variety of courses, many practical, and all richly illustrated. They have inspired many ideas that I've applied in practice, and in my own teaching.

Mary G., Urban and Environmental Planner

Get top-rated, practical training for planners

"Planetizen federal action tracker" logo superimposed over black and white image of US Capitol dome.

Planetizen Federal Action Tracker

A weekly monitor of how Trump’s orders and actions are impacting planners and planning in America.

October 28, 2026 - Zachary Whalen

A car drives through a puddle, making a large splash. Rain pours down.

California plans to bury El Niño’s downpour

If the state plays its cards right, it may be able to store a billion acre-feet of El Niño’s water in aquifers.

October 28, 2026 - Grist

A pencil rendering of Foundry Park, which shows skyscrapers and public green spaces.

Chicago breaks ground on $3 billion megadevelopment

The new neighborhood, titled Foundry Park, will one day host 3,700 residences.

October 23, 2026 - Chicago Sun Times

A rendering of a high speed rain station in California, with wide platforms and a sleep train with yellow highlights.

California High-Speed Rail Authority CEO resigns after $600,000 scandal

Under Ian Choudri, the authority used taxpayer dollars to fund first class flights and trips to nightclubs.

October 30 - Cal Matters

 A bridge stretches across the Missouri River at Chamberlain, South Dakota.

Want to study the Missouri River? Soon, you may need unanimous approval from 10 states

Legislation would require 10 governors’ permission to study or build projects moving water outside the basin.

October 30 - South Dakota Searchlight

Lake Powell with much of the water evaporated.

Desperate measures: Advocates weigh draining Lake Powell to fill Colorado River

Draining the reservoir could reduce evaporation losses by a couple hundred thousand acre-feet.

October 30 - Yale Environment 360