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“The planned redevelopment of this important worldwide gateway to New York is vital to transforming JFK into the top rank of airports globally,” said Port Authority Executive Director Rick Cotton.
By Forum Staff
The Port Authority of New York and New Jersey has selected a Mott MacDonald and Grimshaw Architects-led consulting team to implement the vision plan set out by the Governor’s Airport Advisory Panel for the redevelopment of John F. Kennedy International Airport, Gov. Andrew Cuomo announced on Thursday.
The specific goals of the vision plan set out by the Governor’s Airport Advisory Panel include the creation of a seamless, interconnected terminal system, world-class customer service, a vastly overhauled roadway access network to reduce time-consuming bottlenecks, enhancements to JFK AirTrain together with the expansion of rail mass transit with the focus on developing a one-seat ride to and from the airport, development of modern cargo facilities and improvements to aeronautical infrastructure.
“Our plan for a transformed JFK envisions a unified, state-of-the-art airport to meet the demands of current and future passengers, and with this action, we’re making these plans a reality,” Cuomo said. “The new JFK will be a crown jewel of the New York City transportation network, an airport of the caliber that New Yorkers deserve, and a center of economic vitality and activity.”
The vision set out by the panel has the potential to drive as much as $10 billion in investment to modernize the airport and help drive economic growth, according to the administration. Based on 2016 economic impact data, the airport already annually provides $15.8 billion in wages, $43.6 billion in sales and supports more than 290,000 direct and indirect jobs. The airport served a record 58.8 million passengers last year, ranking No. 5 nationally and 16th worldwide, and is expected to top 60 million travelers this year. It also handled about 1.3 million tons of cargo.
According to the administration, Mott MacDonald is a leading global engineering and development firm with extensive experience in planning and redevelopment at some of the world’s major international airports. Grimshaw is a London, England based leading architecture and planning firm with significant experience in airport design and development. Together, the team’s portfolio includes prior master planning and redevelopment work at airports in London, South Korea, Hong Kong, Singapore, Zurich, Germany, the Netherlands, Canada, Australia, and South Africa.
At JFK, the Mott MacDonald and Grimshaw team will develop a plan in line with the recommendations from the panel to guide JFK’s redevelopment, while creating long-term program planning and project support as well as short-term operational enhancement initiatives. On airport, in addition to the integration of terminals, the planning work will include redesigning the on-airport traffic pattern, centralizing parking lots, ensuring world-class customer amenities in retail, dining and business center capabilities, expanding taxiways and fostering enhanced state-of-the-art security technology.
“Since the dawn of the jet age, John F. Kennedy International Airport has been a global leader in aviation. The planned redevelopment of this important worldwide gateway to New York is vital to transforming JFK into the top rank of airports globally,” said Port Authority Executive Director Rick Cotton. “Customers are accustomed to traveling through state-of-the art airport facilities the world over, and deserve no less from this nation’s leading international airport.”
