As the summer travel season kicks-off, Regional Plan Association (RPA) has released a report entitled “Upgrading to World Class - The Future of the Region’s Airports Revisited” which outlines the need and a vision for expanded, better connected and climate change adapted airports to increase capacity and support continued growth. RPA leadership unveiled the report today at a City Hall news conference with Newark Mayor Ras Baraka.
This report builds on RPA’s long track record of research and planning for airports in the tri-state area, dating back to the middle of last century. Prior reports helped establish the region’s current system of three major airports managed by the Port Authority and argued against the creation of a fourth jetport in the 1970s. RPA’s last report on the state of the region’s airports issued in 2011 called attention to the severe constraints facing the region’s airports. Since then ridership has grown nearly twice as quickly as predicted and though some of the technological improvements that the report called for have been implemented, no actions have been taken to begin the process of adding new runway capacity at any of our region’s largest airports.
Passenger growth at JFK and Newark airports has led to growth in jobs at and around the airport, contributing to the economic revival of Jamaica, Queens and the city of Newark. In Newark, the report’s recommendation for a redesigned airport with easy rail access would reinforce the city’s role as a global and regional hub.
Read the Full Report.