AirTrain JFK — The First Nine Months of Operations

In the mid 1980s, the Port Authority of New York and New Jersey recognized that JFK International Airport was growing at a fast rate. Trends indicated that its capacity would be exceeded or its growth would be constrained in the foreseeable future if the Port Authority did not take actions to modernize the airport. Modernizing an airport means addressing the three basic characteristics of any airport. First, having airside capacity to accommodate the take-offs and landings of aircraft. Second, having terminal services to process the air passengers and to handle the larger aircraft, and third, having ground access so passengers can get to and from the airport and around the airport in a reasonable period of time. The Port Authority undertook a capital improvement program to expand airside capacity with the construction of new taxiways to allow for improved runway access, coupled with the combination of Special Project Bonds, which funded the redevelopment of Terminal One and Terminal Four at JFK, along with both American Airlines and British Airways redeveloping their respective terminals. This began the rebirth of JFK International Airport. Even with the airside and landside improvements, ground access needs on both the Van Wyck Expressway and on the Air Terminal frontages spawned the Airport Access Program, which ultimately led to the construction of AirTrain JFK.