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QUEENS WEEKLY, NOVEMBER 24, 2019
$1.2M lighting upgrade for Jamaica Station is now complete
BY BILL PARRY
The New York Power Authority
and the Post Authority have
completed a nearly $1.2 million upgrade
to the lighting system at the
Jamaica Station transportation
hub.
The energy-saving improvements
will reduce greenhouse
gas emissions by nearly 800 tons
a year, the equivalent of taking
roughly 150 cars off the road.
The new lighting modernized
the station and increases
the safety and security of travelers
utilizing the hub, which
provides connections between
the Long Island Rail Road, the
New York City subway system,
and the AirTrain to JFK
Airport. The energy-efficient
project was carried out under
Governor Andrew Cuomo’s
BuildSmart NY program, a
comprehensive statewide initiative
to increase energy efficiency
in public buildings, and
directly supports the Green
New Deal, the nation-leading
clean energy and jobs agenda
that will put the state on a path
to 70 percent renewable energy
by 2030 and 100 percent carbonfree
electricity by 2040.
“The Port Authority is committed
to implementing energy
saving measures across its
facilities, and in New York our
partnership with NYPA is already
making that a reality at
JFK Airport,” Port Authority
Executive Director Rick Cotton
said. “Last month our two agencies
completed work to support
an electric fleet of ground service
vehicles by adding 38 electric
charging hubs. Today we’re
pleased to announce the completion
of work to AirTrain JFK’s
Jamaica Station including the
roughly 1,700 new LED lights.
In order to continue supporting
the record numbers of travelers
throughout the region, we must
make the important investments
to upgrade our infrastructure to
21st-century energy standards.”
The energy-saving project
called for the replacement of
inefficient metal halide and
fluorescent fixtures with LED
technology, reducing energyuse,
lowering maintenance
costs and improving light quality
at the transportation hub.
The nine-story facility operates
24/7 to accommodate the needs
of those traveling to and from
the station.
“Jamaica Station is a major
New York City transportation
hub and this lighting project
significantly reduces greenhouse
gas emissions and operating
costs for the Port Authority,”
NYPA President and CEO
Gil C. Quiniones said. “NYPA,
through administering the Governor’s
BuildSmart NY initiative,
has undertaken hundreds
of projects like this one at state
and local government facilities,
making a big impact in lowering
New York’s energy use.”
In addition to the recently
completed project at Jamaica
Station, NYPA and the Port
Authority have partnered to
complete $19 million in energy
efficiency measures and JFK
and LaGuardia airports and at
the World Trade Center under
BuildSmart NY.
Reach reporter Bill Parry by
e-mail at bparry@schnepsmedia.
com or by phone at (718)
260–4538.
A new modern lighting system has been completely installed at Jamaica
Station. Courtesy of NYPA
We Give Thanks…