The Port Authority’s proposed AirTrain is of critical importance
to New York City and the entire metropolitan region. There are few
public investments that will benefit this City more. It is long
overdue and will create both immediate construction employment and
long-term economic opportunity and development.
The Building Congress and its 1,200 individual members urge the
City Council to approve the AirTrain proposal. By linking Kennedy
Airport with the regional transportation system at the Howard Beach
and Jamaica stations via a modern rail system, AirTrain will provide
New York with a 21st Century solution to a decades-old problem.
This rail connection and $7 billion in new construction at Kennedy
Airport are creating the largest center of development activity
in New York City and the tri-state region. These investments will
bring an economic transformation to Queens and stimulate continued
economic resurgence in the City.
The Building Congress believes the connection to Jamaica is critical
to the overall success of Kennedy Airport’s rebirth. Like previous
investments with York College and the Federal Social Security Building,
Jamaica Center will be the beneficiary of public actions that could
have been made elsewhere. Consider how successful these earlier
projects have been for central Queens. The Kennedy rail link will
have the same positive effect B only more so. There are a number
of important dimensions of the proposed AirTrain, which the Finance
and Economic Development Committees should consider:
That multiple links with the public transit system are essential
– With so many people traveling to the airport from so many origins,
AirTrain should provide more than a one-seat ride, which would
serve far too few, especially those who live in Queens. The Port
Authority rail link will build on the strengths of the existing
transit system by effectively using it and feeding passengers
into it.
The project will help all passengers, including those with luggage
– Keep in mind that half of all potential riders are airport employees
who carry no luggage. Business travelers make up another large
segment, leaving less than 10 percent of JFK passengers carrying
two or more pieces of luggage, according to Port Authority surveys.
These parties will be helped through an improved overall transportation
system.
Passenger facility charge funds should be spent on overall airport
improvement – The Air Transport Association is arguing that PFC
funds should be used only at the airport. But AirTrain will make
the airport work better, especially benefitting nearby residents.
Why should we allow airline executives headquartered elsewhere
in the United States to tell us how our airports should be planned?
AirTrain is the best proposal for a rail link – Opponents claim
that other routes are preferable, such as on the old Rockaway
branch of the Long Island Rail Road. Options like these have been
studied and rejected for decades. We must seize the opportunity
to act now and accomplish what 30 years of debate have failed
to do – – create an airport access system that is fully integrated
with the region’s transit.
Construction activity will not severely impact local residents
– Every effort is being made to minimize construction noise and
inconvenience, and the AirTrain will be quiet in operation. Few
inconveniences will impact communities adjacent to the Van Wyck
Expressway.
When completed in 2002, the AirTrain will provide excellent transportation
service and strong economic development stimulus. It will provide
jobs and contribute to the economic rebirth of New York City. It
will be where America greets the world through the City’s pre-eminent
international airport. This proposal deserves the unanimous support
of the City Council. The New York Building Congress urges endorsement
by the Finance & Economic Development Committees and approval
by the full City Council.
The Port Authority’s proposed AirTrain is of critical importance
to New York City and the entire metropolitan region. There are few
public investments that will benefit this City more. It is long
overdue and will create both immediate construction employment and
long-term economic opportunity and development.
The Building Congress and its 1,200 individual members urge the
City Council to approve the AirTrain proposal. By linking Kennedy
Airport with the regional transportation system at the Howard Beach
and Jamaica stations via a modern rail system, AirTrain will provide
New York with a 21st Century solution to a decades-old problem.
This rail connection and $7 billion in new construction at Kennedy
Airport are creating the largest center of development activity
in New York City and the tri-state region. These investments will
bring an economic transformation to Queens and stimulate continued
economic resurgence in the City.
The Building Congress believes the connection to Jamaica is critical
to the overall success of Kennedy Airport’s rebirth. Like previous
investments with York College and the Federal Social Security Building,
Jamaica Center will be the beneficiary of public actions that could
have been made elsewhere. Consider how successful these earlier
projects have been for central Queens. The Kennedy rail link will
have the same positive effect B only more so. There are a number
of important dimensions of the proposed AirTrain, which the Finance
and Economic Development Committees should consider:
That multiple links with the public transit system are essential
– With so many people traveling to the airport from so many origins,
AirTrain should provide more than a one-seat ride, which would
serve far too few, especially those who live in Queens. The Port
Authority rail link will build on the strengths of the existing
transit system by effectively using it and feeding passengers
into it.
The project will help all passengers, including those with luggage
– Keep in mind that half of all potential riders are airport employees
who carry no luggage. Business travelers make up another large
segment, leaving less than 10 percent of JFK passengers carrying
two or more pieces of luggage, according to Port Authority surveys.
These parties will be helped through an improved overall transportation
system.
Passenger facility charge funds should be spent on overall airport
improvement – The Air Transport Association is arguing that PFC
funds should be used only at the airport. But AirTrain will make
the airport work better, especially benefitting nearby residents.
Why should we allow airline executives headquartered elsewhere
in the United States to tell us how our airports should be planned?
AirTrain is the best proposal for a rail link – Opponents claim
that other routes are preferable, such as on the old Rockaway
branch of the Long Island Rail Road. Options like these have been
studied and rejected for decades. We must seize the opportunity
to act now and accomplish what 30 years of debate have failed
to do – – create an airport access system that is fully integrated
with the region’s transit.
Construction activity will not severely impact local residents
– Every effort is being made to minimize construction noise and
inconvenience, and the AirTrain will be quiet in operation. Few
inconveniences will impact communities adjacent to the Van Wyck
Expressway.
When completed in 2002, the AirTrain will provide excellent transportation
service and strong economic development stimulus. It will provide
jobs and contribute to the economic rebirth of New York City. It
will be where America greets the world through the City’s pre-eminent
international airport. This proposal deserves the unanimous support
of the City Council. The New York Building Congress urges endorsement
by the Finance & Economic Development Committees and approval
by the full City Council.
The Port Authority’s proposed AirTrain is of critical importance
to New York City and the entire metropolitan region. There are few
public investments that will benefit this City more. It is long
overdue and will create both immediate construction employment and
long-term economic opportunity and development.
The Building Congress and its 1,200 individual members urge the
City Council to approve the AirTrain proposal. By linking Kennedy
Airport with the regional transportation system at the Howard Beach
and Jamaica stations via a modern rail system, AirTrain will provide
New York with a 21st Century solution to a decades-old problem.
This rail connection and $7 billion in new construction at Kennedy
Airport are creating the largest center of development activity
in New York City and the tri-state region. These investments will
bring an economic transformation to Queens and stimulate continued
economic resurgence in the City.
The Building Congress believes the connection to Jamaica is critical
to the overall success of Kennedy Airport’s rebirth. Like previous
investments with York College and the Federal Social Security Building,
Jamaica Center will be the beneficiary of public actions that could
have been made elsewhere. Consider how successful these earlier
projects have been for central Queens. The Kennedy rail link will
have the same positive effect B only more so. There are a number
of important dimensions of the proposed AirTrain, which the Finance
and Economic Development Committees should consider:
That multiple links with the public transit system are essential
– With so many people traveling to the airport from so many origins,
AirTrain should provide more than a one-seat ride, which would
serve far too few, especially those who live in Queens. The Port
Authority rail link will build on the strengths of the existing
transit system by effectively using it and feeding passengers
into it.
The project will help all passengers, including those with luggage
– Keep in mind that half of all potential riders are airport employees
who carry no luggage. Business travelers make up another large
segment, leaving less than 10 percent of JFK passengers carrying
two or more pieces of luggage, according to Port Authority surveys.
These parties will be helped through an improved overall transportation
system.
Passenger facility charge funds should be spent on overall airport
improvement – The Air Transport Association is arguing that PFC
funds should be used only at the airport. But AirTrain will make
the airport work better, especially benefitting nearby residents.
Why should we allow airline executives headquartered elsewhere
in the United States to tell us how our airports should be planned?
AirTrain is the best proposal for a rail link – Opponents claim
that other routes are preferable, such as on the old Rockaway
branch of the Long Island Rail Road. Options like these have been
studied and rejected for decades. We must seize the opportunity
to act now and accomplish what 30 years of debate have failed
to do – – create an airport access system that is fully integrated
with the region’s transit.
Construction activity will not severely impact local residents
– Every effort is being made to minimize construction noise and
inconvenience, and the AirTrain will be quiet in operation. Few
inconveniences will impact communities adjacent to the Van Wyck
Expressway.
When completed in 2002, the AirTrain will provide excellent transportation
service and strong economic development stimulus. It will provide
jobs and contribute to the economic rebirth of New York City. It
will be where America greets the world through the City’s pre-eminent
international airport. This proposal deserves the unanimous support
of the City Council. The New York Building Congress urges endorsement
by the Finance & Economic Development Committees and approval
by the full City Council.