New Jersey O.K.s airport expansion
Acting New Jersey Gov. Richard J. Codey signed legislation Thursday that will allow the Port Authority of New York and New Jersey to purchase the lease of Stewart Airport in Newburgh, N.Y.
The expansion of Stewart, located about 55 miles north of New York City, is hoped to ease air traffic at four port authority-owned airports: JFK International and LaGuardia in New York, and Newark Liberty and Teterboro in New Jersey.
'This legislation is vital to the economic future of our state and region,' said Codey, the Senate president who has taken over Gov. John Corzine's duties since he was injured in a high-speed automobile accident. 'Expanding our capacity to handle air traffic will reduce the tremendous strain placed on our airports and will ensure that they can continue to serve as drivers of economic growth in the future.'
The legislation also allows New Jersey to designate an airport for expansion, but an airport has not yet been chosen. It mirrors legislation passed in New York.
'This bill will help residents and businesses near Newark and Teterboro airports who have dealt for far too long with the noise and the air traffic congestion,' said N.J. Sen. Paul Sarlo, who sponsored the bill in the Senate. 'When the port authority gets through fixing up Stewart, it will draw air traffic and cargo flights from the northern areas which now have no viable alternatives to the metropolitan airports in and around New York City.'