4 The QUENS Courier • june 4, 2015 for breaking news visit www.queenscourier.com First draft of Flushing express bus plan publicly revealed BY ALINA SURIEL asuriel@queenscourier.com @alinangelica The preliminary design for a proposed Select Bus Service (SBS) line from Flushing to Jamaica was publicly revealed for the first time on May 27 in an interactive open house at Flushing Town Hall. “We understand that we need streets to work for bus riders, we need the streets to work for businesses, and we need the streets to work for the residents and communities, so the open house tonight is really our opportunity to share our proposal,” said Nicole Garcia, Queens Commissioner of the DOT, during the open house. The proposal was presented in an informal open house, in which different components of the plan were printed out onto large posters and displayed on easels. Officials from the Department of Transportation (DOT) were on hand to explain each poster to community members and answer any questions, and attendees were encouraged to post their reactions onto a comment board for collection. Event participants were largely supportive of the proposed changes, which include repavement of the general traffic lanes, as well as the installation of dedicated bus and right turn lanes alongside a curbside parking lane. Pedestrian sidewalks are also set to be made wider to accommodate dense foot traffic in the district. “I want to see improvement for the Q44,” said Samuel Santaella, a community member who said that he thinks off-board fare collection is one of the most important upgrades to be implemented upon the arrival of SBS along the Q44 bus route connecting Flushing to the Bronx. “To kill two birds with one stone, I want to see improvements to Main Street too, on the pedestrian side.” The DOT will meet with community boards again in June to continue the feedback process and create a finalized street design. The new SBS service is projected to be implemented in fall 2015. Although there is widespread anticipation among commuters looking forward to improved bus service from Jamaica to Flushing and the Bronx, the creation of an SBS line was initially met with some contention from some officials and local business owners who feared the designated bus lane would cause a displacement of parking resources and additional traffic congestion for private vehicles. But even among those who had been initially skeptical, there was a feeling of some compromise being reached. “They really meant it when they said they wanted to engage the community and hear what the community had to say,” said Don Capalbi, president of the Queensboro Hill Flushing Civic Association and a vocal advocate for the preservation of local parking resources. “I really feel that they’re listening to the concerns of Joe Sixpack and his neighbors in our community.” Port Authority selects group to build, manage LaGuardia Airport’s Central Terminal Building BY LIAM LA GUERE lguerre@queenscourier.com @LiamLaGuerre The Port Authority of New York and New Jersey finally announced on May 28 the winning group for a $3.6 billion project to build and manage LaGuardia Airport’s new Central Terminal Building. The bi-state agency selected LaGuardia Gateway Partners, a team comprised of Swedish construction firm Skanska, Vantage Airport Group and various financial firms. The group was selected over the other project finalist, which includes a team comprised of Tutor Perini Corp., Goldman Sachs Group, TAV Construction and other firms. The Global Gateway Alliance, which supports improvements to the local airports, applauded the selection of the partnership, and called for the Port Authority to act quickly so the team can start the project to replace the more than five-decadeold building, known as Terminal B. “A new terminal is the linchpin in finally changing LaGuardia’s reputation from ‘third world’ to world class,” the organization said in a statement. “But the project has already faced delays, so we urge the Port and the winning consortium to finalize the agreement quickly and get redevelopment underway so travelers don’t have to wait one day longer than necessary for a firstclass experience at LaGuardia.” The Port Authority was supposed to pick the group that would build and manage the terminal last year, but that selection was delayed because Gov. The Port Authority of New York and New Jersey finally announced on May 28 the winning group for a $3.6 billion project to build and manage LaGuardia Airport’s new Central Terminal Building. Andrew Cuomo launched a design contest for the terminal. The Port Authority hasn’t selected a winning design despite having announced the group that will build the terminal. An advisory panel overseeing the redesign contest recommended that the new terminal include a central “great hall” to serve as the airport’s entry, a 100- to 200-room hotel in the airport, people-movers between terminals, and docking for a future AirTrain, which Cuomo announced earlier this year. THE COURIER/Photo by Alina Suriel A Department of Transportation employee explains aspects of the Select Bus Service plan to a community member. THE COURIER/File photo
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