A Faster Way to LGA

A vital component of designing a new, world-class LaGuardia Airport is creating public transportation that will move passengers to the new facilities quickly and efficiently. After an exhaustive analysis of 14 mass transit options, a panel of transportation experts determined the best options were to improve the existing MTA Q70 LaGuardia Link service and create a non-stop airport shuttle service from the last stop on the N/W subway line in Astoria.

by the Numbers

$160

Million

New funding to enhance Q70 service.

5

Million

Projected annual passengers who will benefit from Q70 improvements and new shuttle service to the N/W subway line.

$500

Million

Estimated capital cost for all bus service improvements to LaGuardia.

$160 Million Plan for Faster, More Reliable Q70 Service

Building on that work, Governor Kathy Hochul and the Port Authority have announced a $160 million proposal to enhance Q70 LaGuardia Link service — making it faster, more frequent, and more reliable. The Port Authority Board of Commissioners is set to approve funding to advance this project, which was recommended by the independent expert panel.

 

At the request of Governor Kathy Hochul, a wide-ranging analysis of transit options to LaGuardia Airport began in late 2021 and was carried out by a multi-disciplinary team of well-recognized outside engineering, construction and transportation firms. The three-member independent, outside expert panel of world-class transportation leaders was established at the Governor’s request to oversee the study and to make recommendations based on the analysis, and the panel recommended substantial improvements to bus service to LaGuardia Airport.

 

This panel consisted of Mike Brown, former commissioner of Transport for London and former managing director of Heathrow Airport; Janette Sadik-Khan, principal at Bloomberg Associates and former commissioner of the New York City Department of Transportation; and Phillip A. Washington, CEO of Denver International Airport and former CEO of Los Angeles Metro. The MTA worked closely with the engineering/construction firms and the expert panel throughout the study and attended all panel meetings.

 

The Plan Forward

The Port Authority will move forward with two key bus options:

  1. Substantial improvements to the existing MTA Q70 LaGuardia Link, now backed by $160 million in funding.
    1. Traffic signals that will prioritize the Q70 bus on Roosevelt Ave and Broadway to minimize travel time
    2. An exclusive bus lane on the shoulder of the northbound Brooklyn-Queens Expressway between Northern Blvd and Astoria Blvd, to increase service reliability between Jackson Heights and LaGuardia Airport
    3. Increased frequencies during peak periods (10 a.m. to 4 p.m.) starting June 1 to accommodate increased ridership
    4. A new, specially designated bus pick-up and drop-off area near Terminal C with direct, exclusive road access to avoid congestion on the airport roads
    5. Wayfinding and lighting improvements at Jackson Heights-Roosevelt Av / 74 St (7, E, F, M, R) and 61 St-Woodside Stations (7, LIRR) to improve the customer experience
    6. Enhanced branding and signage to promote the improved service      
  2. Planning and design work for a new non-stop airport shuttle service from the Astoria-Ditmars Boulevard subway station, serving all three terminals, with:
    • Fully electric buses to eliminate noise and emissions
    • Transit signal priority and dedicated bus lanes, potentially during peak hours
    • Improved facilities and ADA accessibility at the Astoria-Ditmars Boulevard station