The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) published the Final Environmental Impact Statement (FEIS) for the LaGuardia Airport Access Improvement Project (AirTrain) on March 15. A Record of Decision is expected to be issued after 30 days.
Project stakeholders note New York LaGuardia (LGA) is the only major East Coast airport lacking a direct rail link and the proposed $2-billion project promises a 30-minutes ride from Midtown Manhattan. Providing a more reliable transit link to LGA through various plans has been explored for 30 years, which the FEIS notes in its Executive Summary "demonstrates a continued regional interest in improved access to LGA."
The Port Authority of New York and New Jersey preferred alternative calls for the construction of two-mile elevated rail system, which would include three stations (two on airport, one off) that would connect to New York City Transit’s 7 Line and the Long Island Rail Road Port Washington Branch. The project also includes passenger walkways connecting to the LGA Central Hall, which provides access to Terminal B and C, parking garages, public transportation and ground transportation facilities.
FAA prepared the FEIS in accordance with the National Environmental Policy Act of 1969 and examined 47 alternatives, more than half of which were identified by the public during scoping for the EIS. FAA explains the alternatives were evaluated to see if they met the purpose and need of the proposed action and if they would be reasonable to construct and operate. The FEIS contains responses to comments received during public review of the Draft EIS, which was released in August 2020.
Should FAA approve the project, construction of the LGA AirTrain is expected to begin in June 2021 and be completed in December 2025.
The FEIS can be viewed here.
Mischa Wanek-Libman | Group Editorial Director
Mischa Wanek-Libman is director of communications with Transdev North America. She has more than 20 years of experience working in the transportation industry covering construction projects, engineering challenges, transit and rail operations and best practices.
Wanek-Libman has held top editorial positions at freight rail and public transportation business-to-business publications including as editor-in-chief and editorial director of Mass Transit from 2018-2024. She has been recognized for editorial excellence through her individual work, as well as for collaborative content.
She is an active member of the American Public Transportation Association's Marketing and Communications Committee and served 14 years as a Board Observer on the National Railroad Construction and Maintenance Association (NRC) Board of Directors.
She is a graduate of Drake University in Des Moines, Iowa, where she earned a Bachelor of Arts degree in Journalism and Mass Communication.
