New York City’s robust airlift and 24/7 public-transportation system make it easy for meeting attendees to get here and get around. The City’s transportation infrastructure has undergone some exciting changes recently and is getting some major upgrades this year and beyond.TEASER BREAK Here’s a look at what’s happening at LGA and JFK airports as well as subway and ferry upgrades throughout the five boroughs that will benefit your attendees.
New Airlift
In January, Governor Andrew Cuomo announced a $34 million investment in Stewart International Airport, which is located 60 miles north of Manhattan in New Windsor, New York. The airport will also be renamed New York International at Stewart Field. Last June Norwegian Airlines began international passenger service—direct flights depart from Belfast and Edinburgh in the UK, Dublin and Shannon in Ireland, and Bergen, Norway—paired with enhanced 80-minute Stewart Express Bus Service to and from Port Authority Bus Terminal in Midtown Manhattan.
Airport Upgrades
New York City’s John F. Kennedy International Airport and LaGuardia International Airport—both located in Queens—are currently undergoing major transformations that will increase capacity and ease passenger crowding.
A $13 billion project to add two new international terminals and improve roadways will kick off at JFK in 2020 and is expected to wrap in 2027. A $344 million deal to add new gates to the airport's Terminal 8 was also announced in February 2019. The decommissioned TWA terminal at JFK will soon reopen as the 512-room TWA Hotel. The new design will preserve architect Eero Saarinen’s original 1962 structure, with guest rooms located in two interconnected six-story wings, a 10,000-square-foot observation deck and several bars and restaurants, including a food hall that will showcase Brooklyn- and Queens-based vendors. The hotel is expected to open next year.
At La Guardia International Airport, an $8 billion initiative is currently underway that will consolidate gates into a single, structurally unified main terminal with expanded transportation access. Terminal B will be replaced by a new 1.3 million-square-foot building with 35 gates that is expected to open to the public next year. The second half of the expansion project will connect Terminals C and D to the rest of the airport. Construction is scheduled to wrap by 2021.
Getting Around the City
Recent improvements to the New York City subway system mean that it’s easier than ever for meeting attendees to shuttle between hotels and event venues—not to mention enjoy everything the City has to offer during their downtime.
If you haven’t hosted a major convention in the City for a few years, you’re in for a pleasant surprise. The extension of the 7 subway line to 34th St./Hudson Yards means that the Javits Center now has a direct connection to Times Square, Grand Central Terminal and, further afield, Citi Field and dynamic Queens neighborhoods like Astoria and Jackson Heights.
Attendees will also benefit from extended service between Midtown and the Upper East Side on the Q line, which now runs from 96th Street in Manhattan to Coney Island in Brooklyn.
More than 400 subway stations throughout the five boroughs feature monitors that display real-time arrival information. Your attendees can now access this data both in stations and on the Metropolitan Transit Authority (MTA) website.
The City has also expanded its ferry system. Four new routes between Manhattan and various neighborhoods in Brooklyn and Queens debuted last year, and beginning this summer, ferries will connect the Bronx to Manhattan. An NYC Ferry ride costs $2.75—the same as a subway fare.
New York City’s prominence as a global business and financial capital and vibrant mix of arts and culture means it's a can’t-miss destination for meetings and events. NYC & Company, the City’s official CVB, works with planners at every stage of the event cycle to create the best possible experience for attendees. Get in touch so that we can partner with you on your next event.