Letter to Deputy Mayor Doctoroff, MTA, Port Authority and LMDC RE: Downtown-to-Long Island/JFK Airport Link

February 9, 2004

Dear Mssrs. Kalikow, Seymour, Doctoroff and Rampe:

We write to offer several guiding principles as your joint study of options for a possible downtown-to-Long Island Rail Road/John F. Kennedy International Airport link move forward,.

In our view, any proposal for a downtown-to-LIRR/JFK link should:

1. Not degrade or disrupt existing subway service. This principle would rule out any proposals that would result in significant negative impacts on transit riders, such as having to make additional transfers, receiving reduced service, experiencing more crowding or suffering less reliable service due to operational impacts, or having their line re-routed;

2. Be cost-effective, moving enough people to justify a $3 billion to $7 billion-plus price tag. Clearly, the viability of a downtown-to-LIRR/JFK link will turn on projections of both costs and ridership.

3. Not take away funding from important projects already well underway, such as the Second Avenue Subway and the link between the Long Island Rail Road and Grand Central Terminal. All of us are keenly aware of both the scope of current ambitions for new system expansions and the finite limits of funding. In this regard, we were concerned by recent comments that the Metropolitan Transportation Authority would consider making a "significant contribution" toward a downtown-to-LIRR/JFK link. Such support would raise a direct competition with the current MTA expansion projects — as well as basic state of good repair funding for the subways and commuter railroads operated by the MTA — unless new sources of revenues can be found.

With these principles in mind, we are enclosing a non-exhaustive list of questions we ask that your study address. Our groups look forward to being kept informed of your on-going study and stand ready to assist in your analysis.

Yours truly,

Environmental Defense
New York City Transit Riders Council
NYPIRG Straphangers Campaign
Regional Plan Association
Transportation Alternatives
Tri-State Transportation Campaign

cc: Hon. Charles Schumer Susan Kupferman
Hon. Michael Bloomberg Marc Shaw
Hon. Sheldon Silver Katherine Lapp
Hon. Richard Brodsky Lawrence Reuter
Hon. Joseph Bruno Martin Brennan
Hon. Cathy Nolan Polly Trottenberg
Hon. Marty Markowitz Douglas Blais
Hon. Helen Marshall Madelyn Wils

QUESTIONS TO ADDRESS:
STUDY OF FOUR OPTIONS FOR A DOWNTOWN-TO-LIRR/JFK LINK

Below is a non-exhaustive list of questions that the current study of four possible alternatives for a downtown-to-LIRR/JFK link should address:

  • What is the projected ridership for each link alternative?
  • What would each alternative cost?
  • What is the cost-effectiveness of each alternative?
  • Where would the funding come from?
  • Would any of the alternatives be significantly quicker or more convenient than existing service to downtown from JFK or the LIRR?
  • What would be the impact on the subways of alternatives using existing subway tunnels?
  • Where would the link stop downtown?
  • Would there be stops in Brooklyn?
  • Would the link serve subway riders? Would the link have connections to subway lines?
  • Would existing LIRR Brooklyn stops at East New York and Nostrand Avenue be retained?
  • How convenient will the connections be between the link and the LIRR and to JFK Airport?
  • What would the fare be at different points along the route?
  • How often would a link run?
  • Who would operate the service?
  • Who would pay for the ongoing cost of operations?
  • How long would it take to construct?
  • How would construction impact subways and LIRR?
  • Could a new-type car be built that can operate on the LIRR, AirTrain and subway?