A one-seat train ride to JFK Airport has long been discussed, but it is not likely to happen. However, a number of options could improve the trip.
Gov. Andrew Cuomo talked last year about a one-seat train trip to Kennedy International Airport. But a recently released $13 billion upgrade plan for JFK did not mention this, and Larry Penner says it is unlikely to come to fruition:
It is a safe bet that there never will be a one-seat train ride to JFK. Creating one from Penn Station by extending either the LIRR [Long Island Rail Road] using AirTrain tracks or extending the AirTrain using LIRR tracks will not work: LIRR and AirTrain equipment are not compatible.
Since the 1960s numerous ideas have been floated, says Penner, but they lacked the political support needed to push them through. Still, possibilities exist to improve travel to the airport. Better direct shuttle bus service from transit stations, easier transfers to the AirTrain, and extension of the AirTrain are all viable alternatives, says Penner.
An even better solution, suggests Penner, is to bring back the E line in Brooklyn. This would encourage people to take the AirTrain to Howard Beach, and then they could more easily get to Brooklyn and Manhattan.
FULL STORY: One thing missing from Cuomo's JFK plan
La Guardia AirTrain Plan Moves Forward, Circuitous Route and All
Not everyone thinks the governor’s expensive plan to improve access to the beleaguered airport will actually improve access.
For Two Days Only TWA Terminal Re-Opens Its Doors
In 2001, Eero Saarinen's famed TWA Terminal in John F. Kennedy International Airport closed after American Airlines bought the airline out. Completed in 1962, this terminal is now rarely accessible by the public.
PDX International Airport’s New Terminal Is a Mass-Timber Marvel
Needing to expand to accommodate 35 million annual passengers by 2045 but constrained by Portland’s urban growth boundary, PDX had to think outside the box when planning its expansion. The result is a case study in sustainability.
What ‘The Brutalist’ Teaches Us About Modern Cities
How architecture and urban landscapes reflect the trauma and dysfunction of the post-war experience.
‘Complete Streets’ Webpage Deleted in Federal Purge
Basic resources and information on building bike lanes and sidewalks, formerly housed on the government’s Complete Streets website, are now gone.
The VW Bus is Back — Now as an Electric Minivan
Volkswagen’s ID. Buzz reimagines its iconic Bus as a fully electric minivan, blending retro design with modern technology, a 231-mile range, and practical versatility to offer a stylish yet functional EV for the future.
Healing Through Parks: Altadena’s Path to Recovery After the Eaton Fire
In the wake of the Eaton Fire, Altadena is uniting to restore Loma Alta Park, creating a renewed space for recreation, community gathering, and resilience.
San Diego to Rescind Multi-Unit ADU Rule
The city wants to close a loophole that allowed developers to build apartment buildings on single-family lots as ADUs.
Electric Vehicles for All? Study Finds Disparities in Access and Incentives
A new UCLA study finds that while California has made progress in electric vehicle adoption, disadvantaged communities remain underserved in EV incentives, ownership, and charging access, requiring targeted policy changes to advance equity.
Urban Design for Planners 1: Software Tools
This six-course series explores essential urban design concepts using open source software and equips planners with the tools they need to participate fully in the urban design process.
Planning for Universal Design
Learn the tools for implementing Universal Design in planning regulations.
City of Albany
UCLA Lewis Center for Regional Policy Studies
Mpact (formerly Rail~Volution)
Chaddick Institute at DePaul University
City of Piedmont, CA
Great Falls Development Authority, Inc.
HUDs Office of Policy Development and Research