Council Gives Green Light To AirTrain

by DAVID OATS After passing a $35.3 billion City budget, the City Council cleared the last hurdle for the controversial $1.5 billion AirTrain project on Monday. The project, which will be fueled by a $3 a ticket surcharge imposed on flights from JFK Airport, will not provide riders with a one-seat ride to Manhattan, a point that had drawn heavy criticism of the plan. Nevertheless, the project found clear sailing in the Council with only three members of the entire body voting against it. The lone Queens dissenter was Flushing Councilwoman Julia Harrison.
Despite heavy criticism from southeast Queens residents who object to the construction of an elevated structure that will be built along the center of the Van Wyck Expwy., all councilmembers from that section of Queens voted for the AirTrain. The train will make a loop around JFK Airport’s terminals, then take passengers to either downtown Jamaica or Howard Beach, where riders will then change to either subways or the Long Island Rail Road for the trip to Manhattan. The Council’s vote was the last stage of the City’s land use review process. The Council’s okay now clears the way for continuation of the project which Port Authority officials say should be operational by 2002.
Meanwhile, the Queens city Council delegation announced that budget funds for important borough needs will be included in the fiscal year 2000 budget.
"I am very proud of this budget, which will expand services and resources for young people and seniors," stated Council Speaker Peter F. Vallone of Astoria. "It will also offer a $166 million property tax reduction for co-op and condo owners, a $48 million earned income tax credit for families earning less than $30,000 a year and the elimination of the City 4 percent sales tax on clothing and footwear under $110 effective Dec. 1, 1999."
"The hard work of the Queens delegation has brought meaningful programs and services to the residents of our Borough," stated Deputy Majority Leader Archie Spigner of Jamaica and Councilmember Morton Povman of Forest Hills, co-chairs of the Queens delegation.