AirTrain Linked To Subway, LIRR And Bus Lines

Learning from the Transit Authoritys "train-to-the-plane," that failed in 1989, PA engineers have stressed AirTrains strong linkage and compatibility with adjoining subway, commuter, and bus lines.
An important feature of the new transportation system, declared the Port Authoritys Chief Architect Robert Davidson, is that the AirTrains stations will provide many normal airport terminal services. Passengers entering the Jamaica station, he said, can purchase airline tickets, deposit their luggage, get flight information, and even get a luggage cart.
"When you enter the AirTrain area of the Jamaica station, its like entering an airline terminal in JFK," he stated. Davidson also noted that similar arrangements have also been made at the Pennsylvania station in Manhattan.
Anthony Gracchiolo, the PAs Director of Priority Programs, said that the new ten station AirTrain intermodal system has been developed to provide an efficient transportation alternative that will directly link the regions trains, subways and buses with JFKs terminals:
 Scheduled to open in 2003, the Jamaica AirTrain terminal has been designed to provide a transportation system that is effectively integrated with the adjacent LIRR/subway systems.
The AirTrain plans call for the expansion of TAs subway lobby, with the additional space enclosed behind a glazed curtain wall. Entirely glass-enclosed, the facility features elevators, wide escalators, and a communicating stair that directs patrons to the AirTrain street lobby that is adjacent to the LIRR entrance.
Escalators and elevators also speed passenger movement between the AirTrain, LIRR, and the E, J and Z subway lines.
Both platforms of the Howard Beach station will feature widened elevators, escalators, and enclosed walkways to and from the AirTrain platform. Joining both systems, these amenities will make it handicap accessible in compliance with the federal ADA regulations.
 Central Terminal Area (CTA) train loop comprises the nine airline terminals located at the airport. All air conditioned and heated train stations will feature moving walkways to airline terminals, large elevators, and wide escalators to facilitate the movement of passengers with luggage. It will open in 2002, at the same time as the Howard Beach station.
The driverless trains are fully automated and will operate 24 hours a day, seven days a week. During peak travel periods, trains will travel at four-minute headways to and from Jamaica and Howard Beach. When travel demands are lowest, trains will operate about 12 minutes apart. Travel time between Jamaica/Howard Beach stations and the CTA loop is about eight minutes.
The 8.1-mile system will operate along three main segments:
A 1.8-mile loop linking nine airline terminals.
A 3.1-mile line to the Howard Beach A line subway, with stops at airport car rental and parking lots.
 A 3-mile extension, along the Van Wyck Expwy. to the Jamaica stations LIRR, the subways E, J, and Z subway lines, and more than 40 bus lines.
The effort to actively provide mass transportation service for Queens airports is more than 30 years old. The last major proposal, introduced in the early 90s, was the $4 billion, Automated Guideway Transit system. It ran 22 miles from Manhattan, via the Queensboro Bridge, to LaGuardia Airport. From there, it ran along the Van Wyck Expwy. to the Jamaica station and then into the JFK Airport.
At one point discussions progressed to determine whether the rail line would operate either as a light rail, monorail, or a magnetic levitation (maglev) system.
The plan folded because of "fiscal constraints."