By Bill Parry
The multibillion-dollar reconstruction project of LaGuardia Airport’s Central Terminal Building is in a holding pattern.
The Port Authority won’t choose an operator or builder for at least three months while a committee reviews submissions made as part of a design contest.
“My expectation is that within the 90-day period the Port Authority will have a motion on the table to approve a particular bidder,” PA Chairman John Degnan said.
The decision is the latest setback for the planned $3.6 billion redevelopment of the 51-year-old terminal, also known as Terminal B.
The selection committee, appointed by Gov. Andrew Cuomo, is reviewing submissions from three bidders. The designs are to include vast open spaces, shopping plazas, restaurants and parking garages.
Last year, Vice President Joseph Biden famously said the Central Terminal Building leaves visitors with the impression “I’m in a third world country.” Cuomo referred to the comment last week, saying, “Now that was a slight overstatement, slightly insensitive, slightly insulting but basically true.”
Cuomo also announced that the Federal Emergency Management Agency has approved more than $28 million in funding for flood mitigation and resiliency initiatives at LaGuardia to safeguard the airport from future storms.
“Hurricane Sandy caused significant damage to LaGuardia Airport, but today we are taking an important step toward strengthening its infrastructure so that it is more resilient than ever before,” Cuomo said. “To face the pattern of extreme weather, we must ensure that vital transportation hubs and economic engines like LaGuardia Airport are ready for the next major storm.”
The airport was closed for three days due to flooding from an estimated 100 millions gallons of water from Flushing Bay, inconveniencing thousands of travelers and costing the region millions in lost economic activity. The FEMA funding will allow construction of new flood walls, two gravity drainage systems and improve electrical systems.
“We must do everything we can to ensure that LaGuardia is able to withstand extreme weather and resume flight operations as quickly as possible,” Port Authority Executive Director Patrick Foye said.
The airport contributes more than $13 billion in total economic activity to the region, according to the state comptroller’s office.
“While we continue to help communities across New York recover from the devastating impact of Hurricane Sandy, it is equally important to make much-needed investments in our infrastructure to ensure our city is prepared to face the challenges of future storms,” U.S. Rep. Joe Crowley (D-Jackson Heights) said. “There is no question that one of those investments must include LaGuardia Airport, which serves tens of thousands of passengers a day and contributes to our local economy.”
The project is expected to continue through the end of 2016.
Reach reporter Bill Parry by e-mail at bparr
