PANYNJ LaGuardia Airport BRT

Based on this study, the independent panel of experts recommended to the Governor that the PANYNJ move forward with two of the bus and BRT alternatives developed by Nelson\Nygaard.

Over the last decade, the Port Authority of New York and New Jersey (PANYNJ) has been studying mass transit alternatives to LaGuardia Airport (LGA) in New York City. In early 2021, an EIS review concluded with a recommendation to build an AirTrain to Willets Point in Queens. However, in October 2021, at the request of the Governor of New York, the PANYNJ started a new review of a broader range of potential connections, services, and alignments. This effort was under the direction of an independent panel of experts—consisting of Janette Sadik-Khan, Phillip Washington, and Mike Brown—who were keenly interested in seeing near-term, competitive, and world class Bus Rapid Transit (BRT) alternatives.

Working in close collaboration with a multidisciplinary team of consultants under a responsive, fast-paced, and high-profile environment, Nelson\Nygaard led the development of all bus and BRT alternatives that would connect LaGuardia Airport with key transit hubs in Queens and Manhattan. The Nelson\Nygaard team developed, designed, and analyzed a range of BRT alternatives that included amplifying speed, reliability, and amenities on existing transit lines serving LGA; refining alignments explored through previous initiatives; and developing new alignments with a fresh and creative perspective. Nelson\Nygaard developed conceptual designs and operation plans for over ten BRT alternatives, including terminus and layover facilities, transit priority infrastructure, operating scenarios, runtime calculations, and operating cost estimates.

In March 2023, based on this study, the independent panel of experts recommended to the Governor that the PANYNJ move forward with two of the bus and BRT alternatives developed by Nelson\Nygaard. The Governor accepted these recommendations and has called for its immediate implementation.

"The team has done a very good job dealing with all the changes in direction and special requests and trying to turn things around quickly for us. We appreciate all the hard work”

— Matthew DiScenna, Senior Program Manager, Port Authority of New York and New Jersey