By Bryan Schwartzman
The state announced plans Monday to build a 25-minute train link providing a one-seat ride between the new Farley-Pennsylvania Station in Manhattan and Kennedy International Airport in the next four years.
The Empire State Development Corp., which develops public-private partnerships on major projects, is asking private companies to comment on the feasibility of the plan.
“A one-seat ride, similar to the highly successful Heathrow Express in London, would be another monumental achievement,” said Empire State Chairman Charles Gargano. “We are going to gauge the private sector's interest in this project.”
Last year, the Port Authority began construction of the AirTrain to connect JFK and the Long Island Rail Raid via Jamaica station. The plan was highly criticized for not offering a direct link between Manhattan and JFK. AirTrain riders will have to switch trains at Jamaica Station to and from the Long Island Rail Road.
Borough President Claire Shulman had argued that Queens should take the federal funding to build the AirTrain and that once it was under way, a one-seat ride might be developed.
“I congratulated the governor and the chairman in their support of the one-seat ride to JFK and considering it as a priority for the borough, city, and state,” Shulman said in a statement after Empire State Development unveiled its new train link plans.
Gargano said this is an opportune time to consider building the new link, with the Port Authority's AirTrain project well under way and with Penn Station slated to move into the imposing central post office building across Eighth Avenue in 2004.
Gargano said the tentative plan calls for passengers to check their luggage at Penn Station and retrieve it at the airport. Trains would leave Penn Station via existing Long Island Rail Road tracks, then switch to the completed AirTrain tracks that connect to JFK.
Gargano did not explain exactly how this would be accomplished, but he said the technology exists to make the tracks compatible. Gargano said this plan would not supersede the Port Authority's plan to connect Jamaica station to JFK, but would provide two services.
Essentially two types of trains would use the AirTrain tracks.
Yvonne Reddick, district manager of Community Board 12, said she favors the direct train link in theory, but wanted more details.
“Of course, it would be a good idea. Let's see if it's going to come to fruition,” Reddick said.
“We are skeptical of anything we are not included in,” said Cynthia Jenkins of Springfield Gardens, former assemblywoman and a candidate for a seat in the 10th state Senate District. “Everything they do affects us in a negative way at this point.”
Jenkins said the southeast Queens community does not have time to focus on this issue because it is still opposing construction of a Springfield Gardens multiplex and trying to settle the controversy over the search for a new District 29 school superintendent.
According to a news release, Empire State Development Corp. will ask for proposals later this spring and expects to select a team to develop, build and operate the new air rail project by summer.
