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The Port Authority of New York New Jersey and its allies are mounting a major push to save one of the biggest New York City public works projects in decades-the proposed $1.5 billion rail link to JFK International Airport.
The light-rail plan has run into unexpected trouble in the City Council in the last several weeks, placing its future in jeopardy. The council has scheduled a vote for June 7. To salvage the "train to the plane," the Port Authority's lobbying campaign has been joined by politically powerful building trade unions and construction companies eager for the 4,150 jobs and $580 million in payroll the project would create.
They are opposed by the Air Transport Association, the trade group for the nation's airlines, which has teamed up with community groups in southeast Queens that fear the impact of construction on their neighborhoods. The ATA says the funds dedicated for the light-rail link should be spent instead on airport improvements at JFK.
Both sides have hired big-name lobbyists with clout in the council. "Some of us are talking about charging rent to the lobbyists because they're all camped outside our offices," jokes Councilman Walter McCaffrey, D-Queens.
Observers say the key to the council vote is Council Speaker Peter Vallone, who has so far been publicly noncommittal on the project. In private, officials say, Mr. Vallone has been supportive. But a...
