Against the objections of community groups and even Congressional Representative Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez, the Federal Aviation Administration has approved a $2.1-billion project connecting LaGuardia Airport with Midtown via rail, reports Crains.

The proposed AirTrain LGA system calls for the construction of a 1.5-mile transit link between the airport's Delta Airlines terminal and Willets Point, where passengers can access the 7 train and the Long Island Rail Road.  The Port Authority has previously estimated that the overall trip will result in a 30-minute trip between Manhattan and LaGuardia.

Transfer point from LIRR at Willets Point StationHOK

The project is expected to create 3,000 temporary construction jobs and $500 million in contracting opportunities for minority and women-owned businesses, the Queens Chamber of Commerce projects. Additionally, the AirTrain system will be accompanied by more than $50 million investment for the Flushing Bay Promenade and other local parks. 

The Port Authority is scheduled to select a contractor for AirTrain by the mid-2022, with operations on the transit link scheduled to begin by 2025.

While the project will address the lack of a rail link to LaGuardia, opposition to AirTrain has stemmed in part from its roundabout alignment and its potential impacts on the community through which it will travel.

LaGuardia Redevelopment Plan

“This is a huge slap in the face by @NYGOVCuomo to the residents of East Elmhurst,” tweeted State Senator Jessica Ramos, an opponent of the project, in response to the FAA decision. “COVID has already taken a devastating toll on our neighbors. The last thing we need is a multi-billion dollar vanity project that will further affect the health & well-being of our communities.”

Likewise, the project has faced pushback due to its ballooning price tag.  The current estimate represents a four-fold increase from the $500-million cost estimated in 2015.