A planned closure of New York’s notorious Rikers Island Jail could be a boon for congested LaGuardia Airport.
Closing the jail facility could pave the way for a major expansion of LaGuardia, previously described as a ‘third world’ airport by Joe Biden.
A report by the Independent Commission on New York City Criminal Justice and Incarceration Reform recommends two possible uses for the land at Rikers, one of which would see the construction an additional terminal and runway for LaGuardia.
That could increase capacity by 40% or an extra 12 million passengers a year.
"Being next door to LaGuardia presents a rare opportunity to improve operations at one of the nation’s most challenged airports and to meet the region’s need for additional flight capacity," the report said.
Mayor Bill de Blasio announced plans to close Rikers’ jail within ten years and open smaller community jails across the city
"[Rikers] is a place that is an affront to humanity and decency and is a stain on our city’s reputation," said commission chairman Jonathan Lippman.
The LaGuardia AirTrain project, still in its initial planning stage, would need to be redrawn and extended to serve a new terminal on Rikers Island.
