| Issue 291 | October 23, 2000 |
Court Upholds AirTrain Funding
Last week, a federal court in Manhattan ruled in favor of the Port Authority and Federal Aviation Administration in a pair lawsuits challenging the funding for the Jamaica-JFK AirTrain project. The suit was brought by the Committee for Better Transit, Queens community groups and several City Council members. The Daily News recounted the court's decision on the environmental impact statement for AirTrain: "[it] adequately set forth the possible environmental consequences of the light rail system," and found FAA's interpretation of the "passenger facility charge" statute that allows the PA to use air fare surcharges to pay for the transit project "reasonable and consistent." An attorney for the plaintiffs said it was unclear whether they would appeal the decision. Courts rarely stop big construction projects that are well underway. Most of the columns that will hold the elevated rail line above the Van Wyck Expressway are completed. Construction along the route has led to numerous complaints about noise, damage to buildings and traffic impacts.
