Hochul looks to scrap Cuomo’s controversial LaGuardia AirTrain

airtrain rendering
Photo credit Former Gov. Cuomo's office

NEW YORK (1010 WINS) — Gov. Kathy Hochul is pumping the brakes on her predecessor’s controversial LaGuardia AirTrain project.

Live On-Air
Ask Your Smart Speaker to Play ten ten wins
1010 WINS
Listen Now
Now Playing
Now Playing

Hochul on Monday ordered the Port Authority to explore alternatives to the pricy rail project that transit experts have criticized as misguided.

"New Yorkers deserve world-class transportation to world-class airports. I have asked the Port Authority to thoroughly examine alternative mass transit solutions for reducing car traffic and increasing connectivity to LaGuardia Airport,” Hochul said in a statement.

Former Gov. Andrew Cuomo’s vision would build an AirTrain between LaGuardia and the Mets–Willets Point subway station at a remarkably high per-mile cost of $2.1 billion. Critics immediately derided the route as circuitous — forcing Manhattan-bound travelers to first head out east on a journey that would negligibly improve current travel times.

The AirTrain would connect the 7 line and the Long Island Rail Road’s Port Washington branch, which would have minimal impact on Long Islanders traveling to LaGuardia since the branch is not accessible to the rest of the LIRR network.

Map of airtrain route
Photo credit AbetterwaytoLGA.com

“We must ensure that our transportation projects are bold, visionary, and serve the needs of New Yorkers,” Hochul added. “I remain committed to working expeditiously to rebuild our infrastructure for the 21st century and to create jobs - not just at LaGuardia, but at all of our airports and transit hubs across New York."

Hochul’s statement came just as elected officials opposed to the AirTrain were scheduled to have a news conference where they planned to call for the project to be stopped.

After Cuomo resigned from office in disgrace, more officials have become vocally opposed or at least skeptical to the project, including US Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez, Mayor Bill de Blasio, Queens Borough President Donovan Richards and Queens state Sen. Mike Gianaris.

Some transit advocates have mused that the AirTrain route was only selected because it would inspire the least public resistance — at the expense of longer travel times. Alternative options, like the proposal to extend the elevated N/W line in Astoria, have faced strong opposition from residents.

“It is billions and billions and billions of dollars on an infrastructure project that doesn’t make logistical sense,” Ocasio-Cortez said of the AirTrain back in April.

Featured Image Photo Credit: Former Gov. Cuomo's office