Roberta Aguirre
New York City's airports have no direct rail connections, unlike other major cities such as London, Amsterdam, and Boston. This is due to a variety of factors, including the airport's inability to use fees to fund direct connections to the mass transit system, the influence of charismatic figures promoting car culture, and NIMBYism. While two out of three major airports have rail connections, they are not direct and require transfers to the subway, making them less convenient and accessible for travellers.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Reason for lack of direct connections to rail at NYC airports | NIMBY attitude, obsession with cars, and the airport's inability to use fees to fund direct connections to the mass transit system |
| Examples of airports with direct rail connections | Schiphol station, Amsterdam; Dublin, Prague, Budapest, Palma, Heathrow, Gatwick, Luton, Stansted, City Airport |
| NYC airports with rail connections | LGA, JFK, EWR |
| NYC airports without direct train access | LGA |
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What You'll Learn
NIMBYism and car obsession
NIMBYism, an acronym for the phrase "not in my backyard", is a significant factor in the lack of direct rail connections to NYC airports. This phenomenon describes the opposition of residents to proposed infrastructure developments in their local area, often due to concerns about increased traffic, congestion, and negative impacts on their communities. In the case of NYC airports, NIMBYism has likely contributed to the absence of direct rail connections, as residents may have resisted the construction of train lines or stations near their neighbourhoods.
NYC's unique geography and the location of its airports could also play a role. Unlike other cities with centralized transportation hubs, NYC's airports are relatively far from the city centre, making them less than ideal locations for multi-modal transport hubs. Instead, each NYC airport has its own set of transportation options, which may have further disincentivized the development of rail connections.
Another critical factor is the city's historical obsession with cars. NYC has a high rate of car ownership and usage, which has likely influenced transportation planning and infrastructure development. The convenience and perceived necessity of driving in NYC may have reduced the demand for alternative transportation options, including rail connections to airports.
The high cost of living and the presence of established, wealthy communities in NYC may have also contributed to NIMBYism and car obsession. Residents with financial means may be more likely to own cars and prioritize their convenience and privacy over public transportation options. Additionally, the high population density and limited infrastructure in certain areas of NYC could make the addition of rail connections challenging and controversial.
Finally, the political landscape and local power dynamics in NYC have likely influenced transportation planning. Local communities and council members have held significant power over land-use and development decisions, allowing them to block or delay projects that may bring negative impacts to their immediate vicinity. As a result, the implementation of rail connections to airports may have faced strong opposition and encountered significant regulatory and financial hurdles.
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Lack of funding
New York City's airports lack direct rail connections due to a variety of factors, including historical ones. Up until 2021, airports in NYC could not legally use their fees to fund a direct connection to the city's mass transit system. This meant that airports like JFK and LaGuardia (LGA) lacked the necessary funding to establish direct rail links.
LGA, in particular, has no direct train access, and passengers must take a cab to a nearby subway, which can cost around $10. This is a common issue in the United States, where charismatic figures have promoted car culture, making it less likely that airports will prioritize funding for rail connections.
While some airports in other cities, such as Miami, Boston, Chicago, and Los Angeles, have direct rail connections, NYC airports have faced challenges in allocating funds for similar projects. The issue is not solely a lack of funding, but also how that funding is perceived and directed, with airports now having more flexibility to direct fees towards transit projects.
The lack of direct rail connections has been a source of frustration for many travelers, who often resort to taxis or other means of transportation to get to and from NYC airports. This has led to discussions about the potential benefits of extending existing rail lines to service the airports, providing more efficient and seamless travel options for passengers.
NYC airports, particularly JFK and LGA, have faced challenges in establishing direct rail connections due to a combination of legal, financial, and cultural factors. While there have been recent developments in fee allocation, the historical lack of funding directed towards transit projects has contributed to the current situation.
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Distance from city centres
While New York City (NYC) is served by three major airports, none of them have direct rail connections to the city. This is in contrast to other major cities such as Amsterdam, where Schiphol station offers both long-distance high-speed rail and local trains, as well as London, where Heathrow and Gatwick airports are served by express trains. Even smaller airports like London City Airport are connected via the DLR light metro.
Historically, airports were located close to city centres, but after World War II, massive airports were built further away from cities. These newer airports were anticipated to have rail links, but this never materialised. One of the primary reasons for the lack of direct rail connections to NYC airports is the distance from the city centres. Airports are typically located far from city centres due to several factors, including noise and traffic concerns, the availability and cost of land, and the willingness of people to commute.
Airports are hubs of high human and aircraft traffic, generating significant noise pollution. People generally do not want to live near airports, and the surrounding land is often devalued as a result. Additionally, acquiring large tracts of land in a city for airport expansion is challenging and expensive compared to purchasing land outside the city.
The distance of airports from city centres is also influenced by the willingness of people to commute. Most individuals already factor in travel time to the airport, so an additional half-hour drive may not significantly deter travellers. This factor sets airports apart from other businesses, as customers are generally willing to travel farther for air travel services.
The lack of direct rail connections to NYC airports has been attributed to various factors, including NIMBYism (Not In My Back Yard) and a historical obsession with cars. Until 2021, airports were legally unable to use their fees to fund direct connections to mass transit systems. For example, extending the PATH train further down the NEC ROW to create a direct single-seat connection to Manhattan from EWR was technically feasible but could not be funded by airport fees.
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Airport ownership
The New York metropolitan area has the busiest airport system in the United States and the second busiest in the world. The metro area has three major airports: John F. Kennedy International Airport (JFK), Newark Liberty International Airport (EWR), and LaGuardia Airport (LGA). These three airports are operated by the Port Authority of New York and New Jersey and have been since 1947. The Port Authority contracts out the airports' operations to third-party companies.
In addition to the three major airports, there are several smaller airports in the New York metropolitan area. Long Island MacArthur Airport (or Islip Airport) is located in Suffolk County and is owned and operated by the Town of Islip. Westchester County Airport is located in and owned by Westchester County, New York. Republic Airport is owned by the New York State Department of Transportation, which contracts its operations out to a third party. Teterboro Airport is located in New Jersey and is owned by the Port Authority of New York and New Jersey.
Smaller airports in the New York metropolitan area include Igor I. Sikorsky Memorial Airport and New York Skyports Inc. Seaplane Base. There are also numerous heliports in the area, including the Downtown Manhattan Heliport, which was the first in the United States to be certified for scheduled passenger helicopter service.
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Airtrain/monorail alternatives
New York City's airports have been criticised for lacking direct rail connections to the city's mass transit system. However, there have been several proposals and feasibility studies for AirTrain/monorail alternatives to address this issue.
One notable example is the AirTrain JFK, an 8.1-mile-long elevated people mover system that connects John F. Kennedy International Airport (JFK) with the New York City Subway at Howard Beach station and the Long Island Rail Road and subway in Jamaica, Queens. While the AirTrain JFK provides a connection to the city's rail system, it has been criticised for not offering a direct route to Manhattan, requiring passengers to transfer between trains.
In 2017, New York Governor Andrew Cuomo announced a plan to renovate JFK Airport, which included the possibility of a direct track connection to the city's transportation system. This plan, with a projected cost of $7-10 billion, also envisioned a direct connection between the AirTrain, LIRR, and subway at Jamaica station. However, the project's cost had increased to $13 billion by 2018, and it is unclear if and when this proposal will be implemented.
Another proposal, suggested by U.S. senator Chuck Schumer, involves a direct rail link from JFK Airport to Manhattan's Fulton Center. A feasibility study for this project was conducted between 2003 and 2004, examining 40 alternatives and four options for extending the AirTrain. Unfortunately, the project was halted in 2008 before an environmental impact statement could be created.
In addition to proposals for JFK Airport, there have also been efforts to improve rail connections to other NYC airports. For example, the Port Authority of New York and New Jersey has approved plans to replace the ageing monorail system at Newark Airport with a cable car, at a cost of $950 million. This new AirTrain is designed to provide a modern and reliable mass transit option for travellers, similar to systems used at other airports globally.
While there are no current plans for a direct rail connection to LaGuardia Airport, it is worth noting that two out of three major NYC airports do have existing rail connections, which is considered a blessing by some.
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Frequently asked questions
Until 2021, federal rules prohibited the extension of most existing rail transit lines to airports. There are also suggestions that bureaucracy and airline companies' priorities are to blame for the lack of direct train connections.
Yes, there are plans to implement direct train connections to NYC airports in the future. However, these plans have been delayed.
Many airports around the world have direct train connections, including Schiphol (Amsterdam), Oslo, Dublin, Prague, Budapest, Palma, and Brisbane. Some US cities with direct airport train connections include Philadelphia, Chicago, and Cleveland.
