Green light for LGA makeover & new bus terminal

NEW YORK (FOX 5 NY) - The Port Authority of New York and New Jersey, the agency that controls New York City-area airports, several bridges, tunnels and the bus terminal in Manhattan, gave the green light to improving LaGuardia Airport and building a new bus terminal.

The approval came after an often rancorous board meeting Thursday in which board members sparred over how much the LaGuardia project will cost and how it will be managed.

A newspaper report this week claimed it will cost $5 billion.

$4 billion will be spent on the redevelopment of the aging airport and an estimated $10 billion to $15 billion on the construction of a new bus terminal near its current site on West 42nd Street.

The executive director of the Port Authority of New York and New Jersey criticized the report. Pat Foye says it counts money spent years ago on projects unrelated to a new terminal. Foye was appointed by Democratic New York Gov. Andrew Cuomo.

Chairman John Degnan sharply criticized Foye and called the report accurate. Degnan was appointed by Republican New Jersey Gov. Chris Christie.

To New Jersey lawmakers, the best thing about the proposed new Port Authority Bus Terminal in New York is that ... it's in New York.

Some Port Authority board members had considered putting a new bus terminal in northern New Jersey, possibly in Secaucus, to connect to inbound trains.

That idea was opposed by New Jersey lawmakers who said it would create a two-seat ride for commuters.

Sweeney called it a "tremendous victory" for New Jersey.

More than 100,000 people take buses from New Jersey to New York each weekday.

With the Associated Press