By Philip Newman
An expected increase of 50 million passengers in the next 25 years will require vast changes at John F. Kennedy International and Newark Liberty airports, including more runways, which could mean filling in parts of Jamaica Bay at JFK, a new study found.
The Regional Plan Association said passengers are expected to increase from 104 million last year to 150 million by the 2030s, fueled by global economic expansion, the attraction of the New York region for visitors and population growth.
“However, flight delays exceeding those of other cities and lack of airport capacity already costs the region billions of dollars per year in lost wages and business income,” the report said.” By 2030, these losses could reach as many as 125,000 fewer jobs, $6 billion in wages and $16 billion in business sales each year.”
For years, JFK, Newark Liberty and LaGuardia have been at the top of lists of the nation’s airports with the worst flight delays. The study did not recommend any makeover at LaGuardia, which has negligible space to expand.
Under the RPA plan, sections of both JFK and Newark Liberty would be torn down and rebuilt in the name of modernization and efficiency.
Christopher Ward, executive director of the Port Authority of New York & New Jersey, which partially financed the report, said his agency was eager to examine it.
The study acknowledged that any plan that included filling in parts of Jamaica Bay would meet opposition.
Indeed, almost immediately, the environmentalist agency Jamaica Bay Ecowatchers said using the bay for new runways “would do irreparable harm to the fragile ecosystem of Jamaica Bay.
“It is one of the most significant bird sanctuaries in the northeastern United States and more than 60 reptile and dozens of species of fish can be found in this bay,” Jamaica Bay Ecowatchers said.
The plan for additional runways at JFK also include alternatives to filling in part of the bay.
The cost of the changes at JFK could run from $1 billion to $3.5 billion with the higher figure likely if more than one airport is built, according to The New York Times. The report put the work at both airports at $15 billion.
The RPA looked into whether promoting the use of smaller, outlying airports such as Stewart and MacArthur airports on Long Island could significantly reduce congestion and delays at New York City airports.
“The findings here suggest that they will be a complementary, not primary action to address the capacity needs at the three airports,” the RPA said.
The RPA said Terminals 2 and 3 at JFK were “inefficient and should be replaced. The Port Authority is currently discussing plans to replace or demolish these two terminals.”
“Terminal 6, an outmoded facility, is currently idle and should be replaced,” the report said, adding that the Port Authority is discussing tearing it down and making it part of Terminal 5.”
Space has long been a problem at New York City Airports. For instance, JFK comprises 4,930 acres while Denver International Airport takes in 33,920 acres.
Reach contributing writer Philip Newman by e-mail at timesledgernews@cnglocal.com or phone at 718-260-4536.
