Options for Mass Transit Solutions to LGA - Expert Panel Recommendation

A Statement from the Expert Panel:

In November 2021, at the request of New York Governor Kathy Hochul, the Port Authority formed an

independent panel of transportation experts and asked us to oversee, guide, and review a study of mass

transit options to enhance access to LaGuardia Airport. Over the last year, we have had regular meetings

with representatives from the Port Authority, Metropolitan Transportation Authority (MTA), and the

consultant team, to refine the evaluation factors, discuss the options, and assess the outputs of the study.

Throughout this process, we have appreciated the depth, rigor, and quality of the analysis performed by the

study team, which included the outside expert consultants: Bechtel, WSP, Nelson\Nygaard, Foursquare ITP,

and Ramboll. We have been impressed by the due diligence performed to find and present the facts of both

the benefits and challenges presented by each alignment and travel option. To supplement the technical

analysis, we also reviewed feedback that the Port Authority solicited from elected officials, community

stakeholders, and the public at-large.

We are unanimous in our opinion that a one-seat ride via subway from the west is the optimal way to

achieve the best mass transportation connection to LaGuardia Airport. In our professional experience, a

one-seat ride has been the most successful in encouraging a shift to public transit from other transportation

modes. Through the study process, however, it has become clear that there are serious funding and

constructability challenges for alignments that run past the southern end of Runway 04-22. The expert study

team has been unable to determine the viability of underground tunneling solutions in this area that are

compliant with FAA regulations. Additional field surveys and geotechnical studies would be needed to

determine whether building a subway south of the runway is feasible, and at what cost (preliminary

estimates indicate approximately 12-13 years to completion at an estimated cost of $5-$7 billion).

While the cost and constructability issues for the subway option may be prohibitive, there are near-term

options (within 2-5 years) that could provide significant benefits to a large number of airport passengers.

We recommend that the Port Authority, in partnership with the MTA, advance improvements to bus access

as follows:

Q70 LaGuardia Link Improvements

Q70 improvements studied by the panel are projected to provide immediate benefits to

approximately 3.5 million passengers per year. We recommend that the following

improvements to this route (Option B-1C) be initiated:

• Transit signal priority on Roosevelt Ave and Broadway to minimize travel time

• A mile-long exclusive bus lane built on the shoulder of the northbound Brooklyn-Queens

Expressway between Northern Blvd and Astoria Blvd to increase service reliability between Jackson

Heights and LaGuardia Airport

• Frequency improvements, as needed, in response to increased demand

• A new specially-designated bus pick-up and drop-off area near Terminal C with direct, exclusive

road access to avoid congestion on the airport frontage

• Wayfinding and lighting improvements at Jackson Heights-Roosevelt Av / 74 St (7, E, F, M, R) and

61 St-Woodside Stations (7, <7>, LIRR)

• Enhanced branding and signage to promote the improved service

As presented to us on pages ES-16 to ES-19 of the study team’s Executive Summary (Report Section

6.1), this package of improvements to the already successful Q70 service would, on a cost efficient

basis, deliver shorter travel time to and from the Jackson Heights subway station while minimizing

community impacts.

New Astoria-Ditmars Blvd Non-Stop Bus Service

We recommend that a non-stop bus service (Option BRT-2), as described to us on pages ES-10 to ES-

15 of the study team’s Executive Summary (Report Section 7.2), be developed with a connection from

all three airport terminals to the N/W line at Astoria-Ditmars Blvd Station, benefitting approximately

3 million passengers per year. Improvements would feature:

• Service to run non-stop “express” directly between Astoria-Ditmars Blvd subway station and the

airport serving all three terminals at LaGuardia

• Exclusive use of fully electric buses to eliminate noise and emissions

• Dedicated bus lanes (potentially limited to peak times) on 31

St and 19

Ave with transit signal

priority, to minimize travel time

• Improved facilities at Astoria-Ditmars Station, including new elevators and escalators, providing

ADA accessibility

• End of the N/W line station will assure ease of use by airport travelers

In closing, we would like to commend the Port Authority and study team for carrying out the in-depth and

careful analysis that informed these recommendations.

Mike Brown

Janette Sadik-Khan

Phillip A. Washington