FEDERAL AVIATION ADMINISTRATION AUGUST 2020 TABLE OF CONTENTS ES. Executive Summary ..................................................................................................................... ES-1 ES.1 Introduction ............................................................................................................................................................................. ES-1 ES.2 Purpose and Need ................................................................................................................................................................. ES-3 ES.2.1 Summary of the Purpose and Need .............................................................................................................. ES-3 ES.2.2 Proposed Action .................................................................................................................................................... ES-4 ES.2.3 Timeframe of the Proposed Action ................................................................................................................ ES-5 ES.2.4 Requested Federal Actions ................................................................................................................................ ES-8 ES.3 Alternatives ............................................................................................................................................................................... ES-8 ES.3.1 General Description of Alternatives ............................................................................................................... ES-8 ES.3.2 Screening of Alternatives ................................................................................................................................ ES-12 ES.4 Identification of Study Parameters .............................................................................................................................. ES-18 ES.4.1 Study Areas ........................................................................................................................................................... ES-18 ES.4.2 Analysis Years ...................................................................................................................................................... ES-19 ES.4.3 Ridership Forecast ............................................................................................................................................. ES-19 ES.5 Affected Environment and Environmental Consequences ................................................................................. ES-20 ES.5.1 Affected Environment ....................................................................................................................................... ES-20 ES.5.2 Environmental Consequences ....................................................................................................................... ES-23 ES.6 Coordination and Public Notification ......................................................................................................................... ES-25 1. Purpose and Need ......................................................................................................................... 1-1 1.1 Introduction ............................................................................................................................................................................... 1-1 1.2 Document Organization........................................................................................................................................................ 1-4 1.3 Background ................................................................................................................................................................................ 1-5 1.3.1 Description of Facilities ......................................................................................................................................... 1-5 1.3.2 Airport Access ........................................................................................................................................................... 1-9 1.3.3 Airport Passengers and Operations ...............................................................................................................1-17 1.4 Need for the Proposed Action .........................................................................................................................................1-18 1.4.1 Increasing and Unreliable Travel Times .......................................................................................................1-19 1.4.2 Limited Non-Road Access .................................................................................................................................1-21 1.4.3 Traffic Congestion on Off-Airport Roadways.............................................................................................1-22 LGA Access Improvement Project Draft EIS | i | Table of Contents FEDERAL AVIATION ADMINISTRATION AUGUST 2020 1.4.4 Limited On-Airport Options for Employee Parking and Areas for Storage of Equipment and Materials for Maintenance Activities ....................................................................................................1-26 1.5 Purpose of the Proposed Action .....................................................................................................................................1-26 1.6 Description of Proposed Action .......................................................................................................................................1-26 1.6.1 Proposed Action Components.........................................................................................................................1-28 1.6.2 Connected Actions ...............................................................................................................................................1-35 1.7 Timeframe of Proposed Action ........................................................................................................................................1-43 1.8 Requested Federal Actions ................................................................................................................................................1-43 2. Alternatives .................................................................................................................................... 2-1 2.1 Introduction ............................................................................................................................................................................... 2-1 2.2 Airport Setting and Location ............................................................................................................................................... 2-1 2.3 Identification of Potential Alternatives ............................................................................................................................ 2-2 2.3.1 No Action Alternative ............................................................................................................................................ 2-3 2.3.2 Diversion of Air Traffic at Laguardia AIrport Alternatives ....................................................................... 2-4 2.3.3 Use of Other Modes of Transportation to LGA Alternatives .................................................................. 2-4 2.3.4 Transportation Systems Management Alternatives .................................................................................. 2-9 2.3.5 Transportation Demand Management Alternatives................................................................................2-11 2.3.6 Emerging Transportation Technologies Alternatives ..............................................................................2-12 2.3.7 Off-Airport Roadway Expansion Alternatives ............................................................................................2-13 2.3.8 Subway Extension Alternatives ........................................................................................................................2-16 2.3.9 Fixed Guideway Alternatives .............................................................................................................................2-21 2.3.10 Rail Alternatives .....................................................................................................................................................2-33 2.4 Screening Process Overview ..............................................................................................................................................2-34 2.5 Screening Step 1: Would the Alternative Meet the Purpose and Need of the Proposed Action? ........2-37 2.5.1 No Action Alternative ..........................................................................................................................................2-37 2.5.2 Diversion of Air Traffic at LGA Alternatives .................................................................................................2-38 2.5.3 Use of Other Modes of Transportation to LGA Alternative..................................................................2-39 2.5.4 Transportation Systems Management Alternatives ................................................................................2-41 2.5.5 Transportation Demand Management Alternatives................................................................................2-42