FAA OKs Rail Link To Kennedy

<B> FAA OKs Rail Link To Kennedy</B>

By Barbara Cook

The Federal Aviation Administration has approved a proposal from the Port Authority of New York and New Jersey to use passenger facility charge revenue to build a light rail line connecting John F. Kennedy International Airport with a commuter rail line stop in Jamaica, Queens.

The rail link ultimately would offer passengers a cheaper and faster way to travel between New York City and the airport, Port Authority officials said. The agency, which owns and operates the metropolitan area's three major airports, plans to institute the first phase of the project sometime this year, with the first rail link set to be in place by 2002.

The airlines, however, have fought the light rail project, arguing that PFC revenue should be spent on improvements within the airport grounds. FAA justified its precedent-setting ruling by pointing out that the new rail line would reduce congestion between the city and the airport.

While approving the bulk of the $1 billion project, FAA deemed ineligible portions of the plan that would have paid for the system's operations, maintenance, storage facilities, fare collection equipment and any other costs that would result "from an over-designed system.