Governor Hochul: "The Q70 bus could be this interim means to let people know that this is a good way to get from the airport to the next station, 10 minutes away starting May 1st, the fares on the Q70 bus will be suspended while we're going through our process of alternative means with the AirTrain."
Earlier today, Governor Kathy Hochul announced that she is directing the Metropolitan Transportation Authority to extend the Q70 LaGuardia link bus service fee waiver from selected holiday weeks to the full year. The LaGuardia Link connects subway customers from the 74 Street-Broadway/Jackson Heights Roosevelt Avenue subway station with the airport in just 10 minutes. It also connects Long Island Rail Road customers from Woodside Station, at 61st Street and Roosevelt Avenue, where Q70 bus service begins.
VIDEO of the event is available on YouTube here and in TV quality (h.264, mp4) format here.
AUDIO of the event is available here.
A rush transcript of the Governor's remarks is available below:
But while I'm here, I also want to talk about the rethinking of the AirTrain. Okay, what are our options? We're going to need real leadership between the MTA and the Port Authority and the Governor's Office. And we'll get that done. And I also just want to reminder we convened an expert panel. They're now engaged, as I've asked them to be, engaged with the community, getting the best ideas there's ideas they came up with, but what does the community want? This is their mode of transportation. We need to look at the 14 options, everything from direct connections from the subway, bus options, a ferry option, all kinds of exciting things. But in the meantime, every once in a while, I peruse at the newspapers. Saw a rather enlightened editorial, Daily News. And they suggested that we make the fares on the Q70 free.
I thought that made a lot of sense that the Q70 bus could be this interim means to let people know that this is a good way to get from the airport to the next station, 10 minutes away. So when there's ideas that are out there that make sense to us, we're not going to debate it and study it and think about it for a long time, I'm a person of action. And fortunately, I have people of action around me who will say, "Yes, let's get that done." So I'll be looking for continued support for this. And I'm saying we're approaching May, let's get it done on May 1st. So starting May 1st, the fares on the Q70 bus will be suspended while we're going through our process of alternative means with the AirTrain. So, let's just give people a little bit of good news here today as well. So I wanted to make that announcement while I was here with you. But at this point, it is time to recognize the people that I know don't feel like they're heroes, but I'm sorry, you are, to us. You are to us, and your families and your community. And we're so indebted for what you did on that day, two weeks ago. Thank you.
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