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From ‘Disgraceful’ to ‘Breathtaking’: La Guardia’s $4 Billion Makeover From ‘Disgraceful’ to ‘Breathtaking’: La Guardia’s $4 Billion Makeover
(8 days later)
By the time New Yorkers return to traveling on planes, they may forget they ever hated La Guardia Airport.By the time New Yorkers return to traveling on planes, they may forget they ever hated La Guardia Airport.
The airport famously derided as “third-world” by former Vice President Joseph R. Biden Jr. will take a big leap forward on Saturday when its cramped, 56-year-old Central Terminal is jettisoned for an airy, art-filled $4 billion replacement.The airport famously derided as “third-world” by former Vice President Joseph R. Biden Jr. will take a big leap forward on Saturday when its cramped, 56-year-old Central Terminal is jettisoned for an airy, art-filled $4 billion replacement.
It will be a notable milestone for an airport long maligned as dingy and decrepit.It will be a notable milestone for an airport long maligned as dingy and decrepit.
But there will not be many travelers around to enjoy the new arrivals and departures hall in Terminal B because the coronavirus pandemic has brought air traffic to a near standstill.But there will not be many travelers around to enjoy the new arrivals and departures hall in Terminal B because the coronavirus pandemic has brought air traffic to a near standstill.
The number of passengers using La Guardia and the other airports that serve New York City has dropped by about 95 percent since the virus swept through the region. Airlines have slashed their schedules, tourist attractions have been shuttered and businesses have grounded their employees.The number of passengers using La Guardia and the other airports that serve New York City has dropped by about 95 percent since the virus swept through the region. Airlines have slashed their schedules, tourist attractions have been shuttered and businesses have grounded their employees.
The drastic decline in movement made for a muted celebration in the gleaming new terminal on Wednesday.The drastic decline in movement made for a muted celebration in the gleaming new terminal on Wednesday.
Gov. Andrew M. Cuomo, who has made rebuilding New York City’s airports one of his main missions, announced the opening and cut a ceremonial ribbon with a small retinue of invited guests, all of whom wore masks.Gov. Andrew M. Cuomo, who has made rebuilding New York City’s airports one of his main missions, announced the opening and cut a ceremonial ribbon with a small retinue of invited guests, all of whom wore masks.
Absent were the throngs of elected officials and hangers-on who have shown up for the various groundbreakings and unveilings at La Guardia since Mr. Cuomo announced five years ago that the airport would be completely rebuilt.Absent were the throngs of elected officials and hangers-on who have shown up for the various groundbreakings and unveilings at La Guardia since Mr. Cuomo announced five years ago that the airport would be completely rebuilt.
Still, Mr. Cuomo was clearly pleased, calling the new terminal “really breathtaking” and saying it was the type of large-scale development project that could energize the reopening of the state's economy after months of lockdown.Still, Mr. Cuomo was clearly pleased, calling the new terminal “really breathtaking” and saying it was the type of large-scale development project that could energize the reopening of the state's economy after months of lockdown.
“We needed this today,” Mr. Cuomo said. “We needed to see New York stand up and shine.”“We needed this today,” Mr. Cuomo said. “We needed to see New York stand up and shine.”
The pandemic did not significantly affect the completion of the main terminal, he said. But the drop in traffic has allowed the Port Authority of New York and New Jersey, which operates La Guardia, to accelerate construction of the roadways at the airport, he said.The pandemic did not significantly affect the completion of the main terminal, he said. But the drop in traffic has allowed the Port Authority of New York and New Jersey, which operates La Guardia, to accelerate construction of the roadways at the airport, he said.
With the opening of the 840,000-square-foot building, the overhaul of La Guardia will be more than halfway complete. At the east end of the airport, Delta Air Lines is building a replacement for another terminal that is scheduled to open by the end of next year.With the opening of the 840,000-square-foot building, the overhaul of La Guardia will be more than halfway complete. At the east end of the airport, Delta Air Lines is building a replacement for another terminal that is scheduled to open by the end of next year.
When everything is finished, it will amount to the first wholly new big-city airport in the country. The last major airport to open was Denver International Airport 25 years ago, Mr. Cuomo said.When everything is finished, it will amount to the first wholly new big-city airport in the country. The last major airport to open was Denver International Airport 25 years ago, Mr. Cuomo said.
The replacement of the old Central Terminal, which opened in 1964, has been planned for a decade. But it was Mr. Biden’s mocking several years ago that changed everything.The replacement of the old Central Terminal, which opened in 1964, has been planned for a decade. But it was Mr. Biden’s mocking several years ago that changed everything.
Mr. Cuomo took offense and ordered the Port Authority to think bigger and create a truly 21st-century airport. La Guardia was an “embarrassment” to the city and the state, he said.Mr. Cuomo took offense and ordered the Port Authority to think bigger and create a truly 21st-century airport. La Guardia was an “embarrassment” to the city and the state, he said.
It also was widely reviled by travelers. A survey last year by J.D. Power ranked La Guardia as the worst large airport in the country.It also was widely reviled by travelers. A survey last year by J.D. Power ranked La Guardia as the worst large airport in the country.
“I just want it to be fixed,” said Julian Shiff, a resident of Williamsburg, Brooklyn, who had just arrived from Denver Wednesday. “None of the New York airports are good.”“I just want it to be fixed,” said Julian Shiff, a resident of Williamsburg, Brooklyn, who had just arrived from Denver Wednesday. “None of the New York airports are good.”
Rick Cotton, the executive director of the Port Authority, said that New York’s airports have been “substandard” and that La Guardia had become a laughingstock in skits on “Saturday Night Live.”Rick Cotton, the executive director of the Port Authority, said that New York’s airports have been “substandard” and that La Guardia had become a laughingstock in skits on “Saturday Night Live.”
“The experience at La Guardia was disgraceful,” Mr. Cotton said after leading a tour of the new terminal. He pointed with pride to the newest security screening technology, the contactless system for ordering food and the much larger restrooms.“The experience at La Guardia was disgraceful,” Mr. Cotton said after leading a tour of the new terminal. He pointed with pride to the newest security screening technology, the contactless system for ordering food and the much larger restrooms.
He said he hoped that the new building, filled with shops and restaurants that evoke New York, would help spur a resurgence in air travel.He said he hoped that the new building, filled with shops and restaurants that evoke New York, would help spur a resurgence in air travel.
“Providing travelers with a first-class airport experience is a today issue,” Mr. Cotton said. “Air traffic will come back. There will be a vaccine and people will lose their fear of getting on planes.”“Providing travelers with a first-class airport experience is a today issue,” Mr. Cotton said. “Air traffic will come back. There will be a vaccine and people will lose their fear of getting on planes.”
Before the pandemic, La Guardia was busier than it had ever been, despite all of the construction that made getting in and out aggravating. Its short runways were overburdened, and delays were among the worst of any American airport.Before the pandemic, La Guardia was busier than it had ever been, despite all of the construction that made getting in and out aggravating. Its short runways were overburdened, and delays were among the worst of any American airport.
The rebuilt airport will sit on the same, small piece of land, wedged between the Grand Central Parkway and the East River. But the new terminals have been shifted closer to the highway, creating more space for airplanes to taxi to and from gates but no more space to take off and land.The rebuilt airport will sit on the same, small piece of land, wedged between the Grand Central Parkway and the East River. But the new terminals have been shifted closer to the highway, creating more space for airplanes to taxi to and from gates but no more space to take off and land.
Updated August 6, 2020 Updated August 12, 2020
Mr. Cotton spoke to reporters on an elevated walkway 97 feet above the ground, which airplanes will be able to pass under after the old Central Terminal is demolished. That demolition will begin this month, after the switch to Terminal B is completed.Mr. Cotton spoke to reporters on an elevated walkway 97 feet above the ground, which airplanes will be able to pass under after the old Central Terminal is demolished. That demolition will begin this month, after the switch to Terminal B is completed.
Among the features of the new terminal will be an outdoor dining area that will offer views of the Manhattan skyline and jets taking off and landing near the water’s edge. It also has an indoor area for passengers to wait for taxis and eventually will have a station for an AirTrain that will connect to the No. 7 subway line and the Long Island Rail Road, Mr. Cotton said.Among the features of the new terminal will be an outdoor dining area that will offer views of the Manhattan skyline and jets taking off and landing near the water’s edge. It also has an indoor area for passengers to wait for taxis and eventually will have a station for an AirTrain that will connect to the No. 7 subway line and the Long Island Rail Road, Mr. Cotton said.
The AirTrain, another of Mr. Cuomo’s pet projects that has not yet received all of the necessary permits, has been a source of controversy. Residents of the neighborhood closest to the airport in East Elmhurst have objected to it as a potential eyesore, while transit advocates have criticized it because it will take travelers east of the airport, where they have to make a connection to reach the terminal.The AirTrain, another of Mr. Cuomo’s pet projects that has not yet received all of the necessary permits, has been a source of controversy. Residents of the neighborhood closest to the airport in East Elmhurst have objected to it as a potential eyesore, while transit advocates have criticized it because it will take travelers east of the airport, where they have to make a connection to reach the terminal.
Mr. Cuomo defended the AirTrain plan on Wednesday, saying that in normal, pre-pandemic traffic, “it can take you an hour easily to get into Manhattan.”Mr. Cuomo defended the AirTrain plan on Wednesday, saying that in normal, pre-pandemic traffic, “it can take you an hour easily to get into Manhattan.”
The Port Authority has promised that the AirTrain, estimated to cost more than $2 billion, would provide a “reliable, 30-minute” trip from Midtown to the airport.The Port Authority has promised that the AirTrain, estimated to cost more than $2 billion, would provide a “reliable, 30-minute” trip from Midtown to the airport.
But that project, and several others the Port Authority has planned, are in doubt now that the agency has lost so much revenue during the pandemic, Mr. Cotton said.But that project, and several others the Port Authority has planned, are in doubt now that the agency has lost so much revenue during the pandemic, Mr. Cotton said.
The agency, which normally funds its operations and building with money it collects in tolls and fees, has asked the federal government for $3 billion in emergency aid to preserve its long-term capital plan. Without that help, Mr. Cotton said, the agency will have to “triage” its ambitious projects.The agency, which normally funds its operations and building with money it collects in tolls and fees, has asked the federal government for $3 billion in emergency aid to preserve its long-term capital plan. Without that help, Mr. Cotton said, the agency will have to “triage” its ambitious projects.
In the meantime, he said, the Port Authority was committed to building a new passenger terminal at Newark Liberty International Airport in New Jersey and completing the rebuild of La Guardia.In the meantime, he said, the Port Authority was committed to building a new passenger terminal at Newark Liberty International Airport in New Jersey and completing the rebuild of La Guardia.
The La Guardia overhaul “should have been done decades and decades and decades ago,” Mr. Cuomo said. “It’s long overdue.”The La Guardia overhaul “should have been done decades and decades and decades ago,” Mr. Cuomo said. “It’s long overdue.”