November 19, 2019

Rick Cotton, Executive Director 

Port Authority of New York and New Jersey 

4 World Trade Center 

New York, NY 10007 

Dear Mr. Cotton: 

Now that the Federal Aviation Administration has approved the route for the AirTrain LGA project, the co-chairs of the coalition A Better Way to LGA are writing to ensure that the Port Authority takes advantage of the project to invest in Queens and to improve the lives of New Yorkers as this project moves forward through the FAA’s approval process.  A key location for such investment must be the Flushing Bay Promenade and World’s Fair Marina.

Our coalition is comprised of groups as diverse as the Queens Economic Development Corporation, the Times Square Alliance, Tech:NYC, JetBlue, the New York Mets, and our organizations: the Association for a Better New York, the New York Building Congress, and the Queens Chamber of Commerce. We support the AirTrain LGA and want to make it the best it can be.

We believe strongly that with careful analysis, New York can marry this crucial transit project to improving areas of Queens that need an infusion of investment. The Flushing Bay Promenade and World’s Fair Marina are primed for a full renaissance. It’s been a long time since 1964 – and this area is poised to once again become a beautiful attraction for locals and visitors alike. A place where families and friends can walk, play, and enjoy the water that surrounds northern Queens.

Unfortunately this major waterfront resource for the community has suffered from neglect and disinvestment. Several plans for major investment into the promenade have been developed since the last rehabilitation effort, but no funding has been obtained to implement them.

The Port Authority has made it clear that it is willing to make a substantial investment in the promenade to make it a better community asset, one that is more welcoming and user-friendly, and we trust that will become a reality. Let’s use this opportunity to improve the walkway, replace the fencing, add lighting and benches, make the pier more resilient to storms, and beautify this open space. We strongly urge the Port Authority to work with the community to identify the most urgent and impactful repairs and enhancements that can be made in the waterfront. 

Improving the promenade as sustainable, resilient open space is directly aligned with the goals of the AirTrain LGA project, which itself is a  sustainable, mass transit alternative that reduces greenhouse gas emissions, creates good paying jobs, improves local parks, and creates an opportunity for new sources of clean, renewable energy.

Additionally, we urge you to conduct a study to evaluate what areas in Queens need improvement and to assess where investment can have an impact in tandem with the AirTrain LGA. Going forward, it’s equally important that the FAA works with stakeholders to determine the appropriate mitigation required to address any impacts of the preferred route.

We look forward to continuing to hear from the Port Authority as this project moves ahead. We’ve appreciated your willingness to listen to ideas from all interested stakeholders. We must come together and collaborate to create a vision for this project for it to have a lasting positive impact for generations to come.

Thank you for your attention in this important matter.