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Thursday, March 28, 2024

Port Authority Requests Billions To Revamp Travel Experience and Safety

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A rendering of development plans for LaGuardia Airport in Queens

A meeting occurred this week that was said to be “the most important meeting in Port Authority history,” according to Patrick J Foye, the authority’s executive director. Perhaps it was as the Port Authority of New York and New Jersey voted this week to spend billion upon billions of dollars to revamp, transform and totally upgrade the Newark Liberty International Airport and build a brand new central bus terminal in Midtown Manhattan. Mr. Foye said he thought it represented “the single largest allocation of capital” by the authority in one day.

The agency’s capital already has a lucrative spending plan in motion that includes La Guardia and Newark but the bus terminal was not part of it. Therefore, the decision to allocate funds before there is a final cost for the project and before a plan or location for the terminal has been approved, came as a huge surprise.

While no exact cost of funds has been presented for the project, Mr. Foye did state that it could cost $15 billion.

The board also agreed to paying $70 million for another major transportation infrastructure project. The millions go to place a new rail tunnel under the Hudson River to lessen congestion for those commuting from New Jersey. The cost of the tunnel, called the Gateway Project, will be paid for by the authority and the federal government.

Undoubtedly, many are looking forward to the changes who are sick and tired of crumbling, outdated and gruesome, facilities.

Governor Cuomo has been a long-time advocate of getting LaGuardia up to par. During a news conference with Vice President Biden, last year, Biden agreed with Cuomo and stated how he likened the airport to one you’d find in a third-world country.

Under major renovation, the building that houses terminal B would be destroyed and they’d rebuild a larger structure that would be closer to Grand Central Parkway. It would consist of new terminal space, a new central arrivals terminal and departures hall and connect Terminals C and D.

Governor Cuomo took pride what the revamp would entail and noted it would be the largest public-private renovation in the country.

New York official have estimated that the project will be $4 billion and a large sum of it would be paid for by private firms who are leading the development.

“This vote marks a critical step forward in our effort to overhaul La Guardia Airport,” Mr. Cuomo said in a statement following the authority’s vote. “Our plan will fundamentally transform La Guardia — replacing what is now an outdated and poorly designed complex with the world-class airport New York has always deserved.”

The vote on Thursday enables construction to begin this year.

Sheila Stein

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