By Bryan Schwartzman
The dinner reception was organized by the Greater Jamaica Development Corporation and attended by U.S. Sen. Chuck Schumer (D-N.Y.), Public Advocate Mark Green and U.S. Secretary of Transportation Rodney Slater.
“Meeks believes, as I believe, that transportation will be the backbone of economic development,” said Slater during a short speech.
Slater touted the East Side Access proposal, which includes a Second Avenue subway line in Manhattan and a LIRR link between Jamaica station and Grand Central Station. The link to Jamaica station would allow travelers to take the train from Grand Central and switch in Jamaica to the AirTrain to John F. Kennedy International Airport.
“East Side Access and the AirTrain will help make Jamaica a destination in its own right, said Robert Boyle, the executive director of the Port Authority of New York and New Jersey.
It was not clear how the bill would be footed for the project. If New York state voters approve the Transportation Bond Act at the polls this week, $1 billion would be earmarked for developing the project. Slater said Congress is also expected to allocate a comparable amount of money for the public transportation undertaking.
While Slater, a longtime member of President Clinton's cabinet, is a strong supporter of East Side Access, it was not known if the project would receive similar backing if Republican George W. Bush won the presidency.
“Well, then the governor would have to step in,” said Meeks, referring to George Pataki, who presumably would have try to raise the money if the White House lost interest.
Meeks, who was introduced by Slater and given a model Long Island Rail Road train for his efforts on the East Side Access project, has said the AirTrain would spur economic development in downtown Jamaica.
“People are working together, both Democrats and Republicans, to make East Side Access a reality,” said Meeks.
“Transportation is about creating jobs, about helping more people realize the American dream,” Meeks said.
