A $30 million plan to improve bus service to LaGuardia Airport was approved by the Port Authority of New York and New Jersey Board of Commissioners last week, officials said.
The money will fund planning and design for a new non-stop airport shuttle bus service from N/W Subway in Astoria, as well as improved Q70 bus service. The project is expected to benefit nearly 5 million passengers annually.
“A vital part of building world-class airports is creating the modern and efficient public transportation that will get passengers and the public to our new facilities. That’s why the Port Authority is continuing to make major investments in mass transit improvements to LaGuardia, Newark Liberty and JFK International airports,” said Port Authority Chairman Kevin O’Toole. “The finest airports in the world deserve the quality mass transit options.”
The plan was recommended to the Port Authority by a panel of experts who reviewed 14 mass transit options to the airport at Gov. Kathy Hochul’s request. In its report “Options for Mass Transit Solution to LGA,” the panel recommended the Port Authority move forward with improvements to airport access through improving existing services as well as creating new non-stop airport shuttle service. With funding in place, the Port Authority said it would move forward immediately on the planning and design process.
“Today’s vote by the Board of Commissioners is a major step forward in making the improvements in mass transit to LaGuardia Airport that were recommended by the panel of experts after an exhaustive study,” said Port Authority Executive Director Rick Cotton. “We look forward to working with the MTA and other stakeholders in planning and designing effective and efficient bus service to LaGuardia that will serve an estimated 5 million passengers a year.”
Improvements to the MTA Q70 LaGuardia Link include a mile-long exclusive bus lane built on the should of the northbound Brooklyn Queens Expressway between Northern and Astoria boulevards, frequency improvements, specially designated bus pick-up and drop-off areas near LaGuardia’s Terminal C, and better wayfinding and lighting. The new non-stop shuttle service will run directly from the N/W subway line at the Astoria-Ditmars Boulevard station to the airport and feature exclusive use of fully electric buses, dedicated bus lanes on 31st Street and 19th Avenue with transit signal priority, and improved facilities at the Astoria-Ditmars Blvd station.