Governor Cuomo Announces Selection of Top Aviation Planning Team for Initial Engineering and Design to Implement JFK Vision Plan

Press Release

Governor Andrew M. Cuomo today announced the Port Authority's selection of a Mott MacDonald-led consulting team, following a competitive RFP process, to implement the vision plan set out by the Governor's Airport Advisory Panel for the redevelopment of John F. Kennedy Airport. This announcement is the next major step in the Governor's plan to transform JFK Airport - which welcomes more international passengers to the United States than any other U.S. airport -- into a unified, world-class operation to accommodate substantial forecasted passenger growth, while helping to further boost the New York City regional economy.

"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," Governor 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 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.

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.

Along with Mott MacDonald and Grimshaw Architects, the new team comprises expert firms including TranSolutions, Harris Miller Miller & Hanson, VJ Associates, ACB Architects, EnTech Engineering, Naik Consulting, Reichman Frankle, and Holmes Keogh to meet a 30 percent MWBE goal for this contract, consistent with Governor Cuomo's nation-leading 30 percent goal for participation of minority and women-owned businesses. Together, the entire team has provided master planning and redesigns at 10 of the world's top 20 airports, according to 2016 rankings by Skytrax, a respected international rating service for airlines and airports.

Port Authority Executive Director Rick Cotton said, "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. 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."

The vision set out by the Governor's Airport Advisory Panel has the potential to drive as much as $10 billion in investment to modernize the airport and help drive economic growth. 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.

Transforming JFK Airport is part of Gov. Cuomo's vision to overhaul both of New York City's pre-eminent airports, with construction already underway to create a new LaGuardia Airport with a unified terminal system and revamped roadway network. The Governor and Port Authority of New York and New Jersey, which operates Kennedy and LaGuardia airports, have based the framework for changes at both airports on the recommendations of the Governor's Airport Advisory Panel, which was tasked with developing comprehensive best practices for ensuring these busy airports remain at the vanguard of airport systems worldwide.

At JFK Airport, the Mott MacDonald and Grimshaw Architects' team will develop a plan in line with the recommendations from the Governor's Airport Advisory Panel to guide JFK Airport'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.

A major task for Mott MacDonald and Grimshaw Architects will be developing forecasts of JFK Airport's aviation demands - passenger numbers, cargo tonnage, type of jet fleets and general aviation needs - anticipated through mid-century, while analyzing the requirements to meet expected peak demand needs. Key priorities include optimizing airfield capacity to reduce ground delays, improving rail access and capacity to and from the airport and developing best-in-class cargo facilities and operations.

At Heathrow Airport in London, for example, the team was responsible for developing a comprehensive, master plan for the airport that serves 120 million passengers per year. In Hong Kong, the contingent focused on an engineering and environmental master plan with the goal of boosting the annual number of passengers from 70 million to 120 million. In Singapore, the group handled program planning and ongoing design for creation of a fifth terminal.

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