Well the JFK AirTrain finally opened today, 2 Billion Dollars spent and 1 very unfortunate death later.
Are there any NYers or Visitors looking forward to this?
It serves me, personally, no purpose (being where I live in Queens). Since I am only a 20 min cab ride away I see no need to drag luggage on a bus to the train to the AirTrain.
Although I have a feeling it will be a failure ( Hey, I have been wrong before) I am hoping for its success if, at least, it means that the Van Wyck, LIE, GCP and other roadways will have a considerable less amount of traffic on them. No more back ups in the summer on my way to and from Long Beach is always a good thing.
So are you Manhattanites looking forward to the AirTrain ride to the LIRR/Subway? Are you LIers now willing to get dropped off at the LIRR and trek to Jamaica to get the AirTrain? Or are you still content on sitting in traffic? Are there any Queens or Brooklyn residents close enough to a subway/LIRR line that they will give it a try? Are any of you out of town dopers going to give it a try when you visit?
No, they all missed the train. Hellen wasn’t Reddy. Linda Bliar lost her luggage and would lose her head if it wasn’t attached to her shoulders. Sid Caesar? That Joker? Now way! George Kennedy flew into LaGuardia. Gloria Swanson was having Stauffers French Bread Pizzas…
After my last trip to NYC JFK and spending $$$ and far too much time tied up in traffic, I will be one of those who will gladly hop on a subway and get to Penn Station in under 30 minutes.
I am sure you will also all be thrilled to know the first phase of the new Las Vegas monorail will be opening in January…runs behind the casinos from MGM Grand all the way to the Convention Center and Sahara Casino and then back. Plans are to extend it to downtown and to the airport. The difference in rails systems is that unlike the NY train, the Las Vegas monorail was entirely privately financed…no state or federal money.
I would, a quick ride to jamacia then a $5 extra fee to take me right there, sure beets the parking fees alone. I have considered going to newark for just this reason and that’s 3 trains, much longer and more $$$. Islip is still much easier when I can get a flight out of there, and after that LGA is the one I usually take which is also a PITA. I hope they can extent the track up to LGA eventaully as well, also with that subway line (now the F train IIRC).
Actually the track is bent already, I have seen it. It leaves Jamaica headign west then the track bends towards the south along the van-wick. If the track was totally straight it would miss the airport, and end up in manhattan (maybe in Manhattan’s livingroom)