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New Jersey lawmakers approve Stewart Airport buy
By TOM HESTER Jr.
Associated Press Writer
March 15, 2007, 7:30 PM EDT
TRENTON, N.J. -- New Jersey lawmakers voted Thursday to give the Port Authority of New York and New Jersey permission to buy Stewart International Airport in Newburgh, N.Y., to ease congestion in the New York City region's skies and airports.
The Assembly voted 60-18 to give final legislative approval to the deal.
Gov. Jon S. Corzine has said he will sign the bill.
"The purchase of Stewart airport is a vital initiative for our region's transportation infrastructure," Corzine spokesman Brendan Gilfillan said.
The Port Authority plans a $78.5 million, 93-year lease of the airport 60 miles north of New York and hopes to take over operations by October.
About 300,000 passengers used Stewart last year, although authority officials have said it could handle 1.5 million and relieve congestion at LaGuardia, John F. Kennedy International and Newark Liberty International airports.
Those airports handled more than 100 million passengers last year, a total projected to reach 150 million by 2025.
"Stewart Airport may not be in New Jersey, but New Jersey needs this bill," said Assemblyman Gary Schaer, D-Passaic.
The legislation matches New Jersey law with New York law to authorize the Port Authority to buy or build two new airports _ one in each state _ outside the agency's district, which extends for a 25-mile radius from the Statue of Liberty.
Port Authority officials have said they have no plans to open a new airport in New Jersey, but bill foes raised concerns about that Thursday.
"It is irresponsible of us as legislators to give the Port Authority a blank check to locate a major airport in the state without knowing where it's going to be and when it's going to be," said Assemblyman Richard Merkt, R-Morris.
New Jersey legislators hope Stewart will also ease congestion at Bergen County's Teterboro Airport, which has become one of the nation's busiest smaller airfields.
By TOM HESTER Jr.
Associated Press Writer
March 15, 2007, 7:30 PM EDT
TRENTON, N.J. -- New Jersey lawmakers voted Thursday to give the Port Authority of New York and New Jersey permission to buy Stewart International Airport in Newburgh, N.Y., to ease congestion in the New York City region's skies and airports.
The Assembly voted 60-18 to give final legislative approval to the deal.
Gov. Jon S. Corzine has said he will sign the bill.
"The purchase of Stewart airport is a vital initiative for our region's transportation infrastructure," Corzine spokesman Brendan Gilfillan said.
The Port Authority plans a $78.5 million, 93-year lease of the airport 60 miles north of New York and hopes to take over operations by October.
About 300,000 passengers used Stewart last year, although authority officials have said it could handle 1.5 million and relieve congestion at LaGuardia, John F. Kennedy International and Newark Liberty International airports.
Those airports handled more than 100 million passengers last year, a total projected to reach 150 million by 2025.
"Stewart Airport may not be in New Jersey, but New Jersey needs this bill," said Assemblyman Gary Schaer, D-Passaic.
The legislation matches New Jersey law with New York law to authorize the Port Authority to buy or build two new airports _ one in each state _ outside the agency's district, which extends for a 25-mile radius from the Statue of Liberty.
Port Authority officials have said they have no plans to open a new airport in New Jersey, but bill foes raised concerns about that Thursday.
"It is irresponsible of us as legislators to give the Port Authority a blank check to locate a major airport in the state without knowing where it's going to be and when it's going to be," said Assemblyman Richard Merkt, R-Morris.
New Jersey legislators hope Stewart will also ease congestion at Bergen County's Teterboro Airport, which has become one of the nation's busiest smaller airfields.
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