Recent LGA AirTrain news has revealed a remarkable shortsightedness among our transit writers and politicians. They keep begging for the Triboro RX and airport one-seat rides and thus they oppose incremental connections. But might our AirTrains one day be expanded into a system similar to the Vancouver SkyTrain?  Might one-seat airport rides to Manhattan be easier than most transit writers claim? Dream with me for a moment.

One Seat Rides & CBTC

Transit writers tell us the LIRR tunnels lack the capacity for one-seat airport rides. But might they one day in the future?

This dismissive article tells us that CBTC only added two trains per hour on the the No. 7 train. But the LIRR has four east river tubes to Penn Station (soon to be six when East Side access is included)! Let’s assume two tubes are used per direction.  If CBTC adds two trains per tube we get four additional trains per hour hour per direction, or nonstop rides leaving every 15 minutes. Just saying . . .

NYC SkyTrain

The LGA AirTrain could easily be extended along nearby highways to serve College Point or Queens College, among other destinations. Think of it as NYC’s version of the Vancouver SkyTrain.

This could be an opportunity for equity-minded politicians to build on the AirTrain instead of opposing it. Imagine connecting it to Queens College and giving students free rides. Imagine connecting transit starved Fresh Meadows and/or College Point.

Finally, hook it together with the existing JFK AirTrain and you almost have a Triboro RX.