Port Authority of New York and New Jersey selected Parsons Brinckerhoff Inc. to conduct preliminary engineering and other planning work for a new AirTrain connection to LaGuardia Airport.
Parsons Brinckerhoff will lead the preliminary planning work for three different components of the project that involve the construction of up to 2 new AirTrain stations at the new terminal buildings at the airport, the construction of an AirTrain station at Willets Point and the construction related to the “right-of-way” for the train from the airport to Willets Point.
The company’s mandate is to develop plans and to engineer the easiest possible transfer of MTA passengers with luggage to and from the AirTrain. The LaGuardia AirTrain link with the LIRR will provide a guaranteed 30-minute ride to the airport from Midtown Manhattan’s two rail hubs – Grand Central and Penn Stations – as well as access to commuters coming from Long Island.
The LaGuardia AirTrain will serve a high-tech three-station complex at Willets Point. The station complex will create a seamless transfer for passengers between completely new LIRR and 7-line subway stations to be built over the next five years at Willets Point and the new AirTrain stop.
“The new AirTrain will improve passenger experience, reduce traffic congestion and serve as a key part of the modernization and transformation of LaGuardia into a world-class airport. LaGuardia Airport is an essential part of New York’s economy and transportation network, and by providing additional transit options we will support new economic opportunities and growth throughout the region,” New York Governor Andrew Cuomo said.
LaGuardia is currently the only major East Coast airport without rail access. By 2030, the number of passengers at LaGuardia is expected to increase by more than 6 million annually and the AirTrain is essential to accommodate that growth.
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