2025 Theses Master's

Benchmarking Airport Ground Access: A Spatial And Policy Analysis Of Ground Transportation To New York City International Airports - John F. Kennedy International Airport (JFK), Laguardia Airport (LGA), And Newark Liberty International Airport (EWR)

Sze, Andrea

New York City is a major world-class destination served by three international airports: John F. Kennedy International Airport (JFK), LaGuardia Airport (LGA), and Newark Liberty International Airport (EWR), welcoming 62 million travelers and increasing every year. Airport ground access refers to the ways in which travelers get to and from airports. Due to the spatial distribution of these airports within New York City, ground access varies in travel time, cost, and overall accessibility.

This research aims to benchmark the travel accessibility of the three major airports by asking: How accessible are JFK, LGA, and EWR to neighborhoods across New York City, and what historical, policy, and funding barriers have shaped this access? A mixed methods approach was employed utilizing GIS, historical and policy research, and site visits. Travel time is the primary quantitative factor in assessing airport ground access across all neighborhoods in New York City.

The findings of this research reveal differences in accessibility to all three airports through both private and public forms of transportation, identifying neighborhoods where investments in transportation infrastructure should be made. Furthermore, research indicates that Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) regulations on airport ground access projects greatly restrict how projects can be funded through the Airport Improvement Program (AIP), Passenger Facility Charge (PFC), and Airport Revenue. This research serves as a benchmark for airport ground access today, identifying gaps in transportation infrastructure and contributing to future planning that supports more equitable and efficient travel for future generations.