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NY Governor pumps the brakes on LaGuardia's $2.1B AirTrain
Oct. 04, 2021
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3 min read
NY Governor pumps the brakes on LaGuardia's $2.1B AirTrain
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Farewell, LGA AirTrain. We hardly knew ye.
The much-ballyhooed LaGuardia Airport AirTrain project, a $2.1 billion undertaking that was supposed to make getting to and from the NYC-area airport easier, has had its plug effectively pulled by New York Governor Kathy Hochul. The elevated-rail system was thought to be well on its way to nearing the start of construction after it gained FAA approval. The AirTrain was a key component of the years-long effort to overhaul LaGuardia (LGA) from a national punchline to a world-class airport.
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But on Monday Hochul, who took over for Andrew Cuomo after he was forced to resign in August following sexual harassment allegations, told the Port Authority of New York and New Jersey to look at other options to connect the airport to mass transit options in Queens and reduce car traffic.
At a press conference Monday afternoon, Governor Hochul commented on her decision. “I don’t feel obligated to accept what I have inherited,” she said, before adding, "There were alternatives on the table that even the FAA said that people were saying people were not looking at as close as they should.”
TPG has written before about how critics of the AirTrain say it's a major waste of taxpayer dollars because of the questionable route passengers must take to get back to the city, hence why it was nicknamed the "wrong way" train. The planned route called for Manhattan-bound riders to leave LaGuardia and travel east, away from the island, before connecting to the subway at the Willets Point station in Queens, and then heading west to Manhattan.
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Related: Which NYC Airport should I fly into?
Opponents, such as Queens congresswoman Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez have said it would be faster to take a cab or bus to Midtown than the AirTrain. Making matters worse, a study by the watchdog group Reinvent Albany claimed just 6,000 riders would use the AirTrain. If that turned out to be accurate, it would put the price tag on the AirTrain at roughly $350,000 per passenger.
“I remain committed to working expeditiously to rebuild our infrastructure for the 21st century and to create jobs," Hochul said. "Not just at LaGuardia, but at all of our airports and transit hubs across New York.”
Related: Advocates campaign against LGA AirTrain
The Port Authority, which oversees the NYC-area airports, has continued to support the AirTrain project despite the growing criticism.
TPG has covered the project in detail in the past; you can read much more about it here.
Editorial disclaimer: Opinions expressed here are the author’s alone, not those of any bank, credit card issuer, airline or hotel chain, and have not been reviewed, approved or otherwise endorsed by any of these entities.
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Rewards Rate
| 4X | Earn 4X Membership Rewards® points per dollar spent on purchases at restaurants worldwide, on up to $50,000 in purchases per calendar year, then 1X points for the rest of the year. |
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Why We Chose It
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- Packed with credits foodies will enjoy
- Solid welcome bonus
Cons
- Not as useful for those living outside the U.S.
- Some may have trouble using Uber and other dining credits
- You may be eligible for as high as 100,000 Membership Rewards® Points after you spend $6,000 in eligible purchases on your new Card in your first 6 months of Card Membership. Welcome offers vary and you may not be eligible for an offer. Apply to know if you’re approved and find out your exact welcome offer amount – all with no credit score impact. If you’re approved and choose to accept the Card, your score may be impacted.
- Earn 4X Membership Rewards® points per dollar spent on purchases at restaurants worldwide, on up to $50,000 in purchases per calendar year, then 1X points for the rest of the year.
- Earn 4X Membership Rewards® points per dollar spent at US supermarkets, on up to $25,000 in purchases per calendar year, then 1X points for the rest of the year.
- Earn 3X Membership Rewards® points per dollar spent on flights booked directly with airlines or on AmexTravel.com.
- Earn 2X Membership Rewards® points per dollar spent on prepaid hotels and other eligible purchases booked on AmexTravel.com.
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- $120 Uber Cash on Gold: Add your Gold Card to your Uber account and get $10 in Uber Cash each month to use on orders and rides in the U.S. when you select an American Express Card for your transaction. That’s up to $120 Uber Cash annually. Plus, after using your Uber Cash, use your Card to earn 4X Membership Rewards® points for Uber Eats purchases made with restaurants or U.S. supermarkets. Point caps and terms apply.
- $84 Dunkin' Credit: With the $84 Dunkin' Credit, you can earn up to $7 in monthly statement credits after you enroll and pay with the American Express® Gold Card at U.S. Dunkin' locations. Enrollment is required to receive this benefit.
- $100 Resy Credit: Get up to $100 in statement credits each calendar year after you pay with the American Express® Gold Card to dine at U.S. Resy restaurants or make other eligible Resy purchases. That's up to $50 in statement credits semi-annually. Enrollment required.
- $120 Dining Credit: Satisfy your cravings, sweet or savory, with the $120 Dining Credit. Earn up to $10 in statement credits monthly when you pay with the American Express® Gold Card at Grubhub, The Cheesecake Factory, Goldbelly, Wine.com, and Five Guys. Enrollment required.
- Explore over 1,000 upscale hotels worldwide with The Hotel Collection and receive a $100 credit towards eligible charges* with every booking of two nights or more through AmexTravel.com. *Eligible charges vary by property.
- No Foreign Transaction Fees.
- Annual Fee is $325.
- Terms Apply.