New York scraps planned $2b light-rail train to LaGuardia airport

New York Governor Kathy Hochul said on Monday the state will scrap a planned light-rail train to connect the city's LaGuardia Airport after a study found the costs of the proposed train had jumped and instead proposed upgrading bus service. Hochul put the AirTrain project on hold in late 2021 that her predecessor Andrew Cuomo had backed and estimated would cost $2.1b but is now forecast to cost at least $2.4b. She said she was grateful an expert panel provided "a clear, cost-effective path forward with an emissions-free transit solution." The Port Authority plans to bring a planning authorization request to the board for approval in the next 60 to 90 days, to start the process to fund costs associated with improving bus service. LaGuardia, the smallest of the New York City's three major airports, is the 25th busiest US airport by passengers. The panel said in a 450-page report the Port Authority should instead improve existing municipal bus service and add new non-stop airport shuttle service and dedicated bus lanes connecting to the end of a subway line in Queens rather than pay for new train service.<br/>