Release: Cuomo details $13 billion in improvements to JFK airport, including new terminals but no new runways. Press release, Youtube video, transcript iincluded. NYSNYS News
For Immediate Release: 10/4/2018
GOVERNOR ANDREW M. CUOMO
GOVERNOR CUOMO ANNOUNCES $13 BILLION PLAN TO TRANSFORM JFK INTO A WORLD-CLASS 21ST CENTURY AIRPORT
Two New Major International Terminals Will Add 4 Million Square Feet to Airport's North and South Sides, Increasing Airport's Capacity by at Least 15 Million Passengers Annually and Transforming Traveler Experience from Curb to Gate
Historic Investment Advances Governor's JFK Vision Plan for a Unified, Modern Airport with World-Class Passenger Amenities, Expanded Taxiway and Gate Capacity, State-of-the-Art Security, Streamlined Roadway Access and Centralized Ground Transportation Options - See Renderings Here
First New Gates Will Go Live in 2023 with Project Completion in 2025; 90 Percent of $13 Billion Plan Represents Private Investment
Includes 30 Percent MWBE Goal for Contracts and Financing Interests; Extensive Community Opportunities to be Created, Including Local Office to Assist with Contracting and Job Placement to Open in Jamaica this Fall
Governor Andrew M. Cuomo today announced an historic $13 billion plan to transform John F. Kennedy International Airport into a modern 21st century airport anchored by two new world-class international terminal complexes on the airport's north and south sides. This record investment — including $12 billion in private funding — advances the Governor's vision for a unified and interconnected airport system with best-in-class passenger amenities, centralized ground transportation options and vastly improved roadways that collectively will increase the airport's capacity by at least 15 million passengers a year.
"While leaders in Washington talk about investing in infrastructure, we're actually doing it at historic levels and the transformation of JFK Airport into a 21st century transportation hub will ensure New York remains the nation's front door to the world," Governor Cuomo said. "This historic investment to modernize JFK Airport and the surrounding transportation network will not only ease travel through this major hub, but it will ensure JFK joins the ranks as one of the finest airports in the world."
"We know how powerful investing in infrastructure can be as a boost to our economy and a driver of job creation," said Lieutenant Governor Kathy Hochul. "Here in New York we have transformed our state with record investments in infrastructure, especially at our airports. This latest plan for the modernization of JFK will build upon our efforts to improve the transportation network of this world-class facility, and enhance the traveler experience."
The Governor's JFK Vision Plan, initially unveiled in January 2017 and based on the recommendations from the Governor's Airport Advisory Panel, calls for an overhaul of the airport's hodgepodge of eight disparate terminal sites into one unified JFK Airport by demolishing old terminals, utilizing vacant space, and modernizing on-airport infrastructure, while incorporating the latest in passenger amenities and technological innovations. The Vision Plan also calls for increasing the number and size of gates, improving parking availability, an array of airside taxiway improvements to allow for bigger planes and reduced gate congestion, upgrading the AirTrain JFK system to handle increased passenger capacity, and enhanced roadways on and off the airport. This includes better access to JFK from regional roadways, particularly the Van Wyck Expressway and the Grand Central Parkway, including the Kew Gardens Interchange.
Today's announcement follows the selection in September 2017 of a master planning team for the redevelopment of the airport, led by Mott MacDonald and Grimshaw Architects, and whose portfolio of prior master planning and redevelopment projects includes airports in London, Singapore, Hong Kong, South Korea, Germany, the Netherlands, Canada and Australia. Starting late last year, the Port Authority of New York and New Jersey, which oversees JFK Airport, embarked on an extensive and rigorous process with the airport's existing six terminal operators—each of which operates under a long-term lease agreement—seeking proposals from each of them to modernize, expand and/or replace their facilities. These proposals were in turn evaluated by a formal comparative analysis team, comprised of seasoned experts, against a set of established criteria to determine the best combination of developments that would achieve the core master plan objectives, as well as fully leverage the Port Authority's previously approved $1 billion capital plan commitment. The plans for the two terminals announced today will now be submitted to the Port Authority's Board of Commissioners. Once lease terms are finalized, the leases will be subject to final Board approval. Additional discussions with multiple other airlines and terminal operators remain ongoing to further advance the goals of the Vision Plan.
The new passenger facilities will feature significantly larger waiting areas with high ceilings, natural light and modern architecture coupled with interior green space, exhibits and art featuring iconic New York landmarks and local artists. World-class retail, restaurants and bars will include locally-based restaurateurs, craft beverage options and Taste NY stores. Free, high-speed Wi-Fi and an abundance of charging stations throughout the terminals will enable passengers to stay connected at each step of their journey.
State-of-the-art technological improvements will be part of the terminal upgrades, with security enhancements - such as radiation detection and next-generation identification of unattended packages.
At the center of the airport, the Port Authority will seek proposals to develop the new Kennedy Central hub, issuing a Request for Information in the coming months to determine the most effective and functional way to leverage this blank canvas in a fashion that will complement and add value to airport experience. Options might include, but aren't limited to, public open and recreational space, conference centers, cultural uses and other amenities for the traveling public and the airport's workforce.
Two new centrally-located JFK Welcome Centers will serve as convenient access points for taxis, buses, for-hire vehicles and parking.
Two New World-Class Terminals Anchoring South and North Sides
The proposed new $7 billion, 2.9 million square foot terminal on the airport's south side will be developed by the Terminal One Group, a consortium of four international airlines—Lufthansa, Air France, Japan Airlines and Korean Air Lines. The plans call for replacing JFK's Terminal 1 (20 years old and undersized), which the group currently operates, and Terminal 2 (56 years old and functionally obsolete), as well as the area left vacant when Terminal 3 was demolished in 2014.
When completed, it will yield a net increase of over 2 million in square feet from the existing terminals and provide 23 international gates, 22 of which will be designed to accommodate larger, wide-body aircraft (FAA Airplane Design Group V or VI) such as the Boeing 787 Dreamliner or Airbus A380, which provides seating for over 500 passengers.
The new terminal will contain at least 24 security screening lanes, over 230,000 square feet of retail, dining and other concessions, 116,000 square feet of airline lounges, and 55,000 square feet of interior green space, children's play areas and cultural exhibits. The complex will be operated by Munich Airport International and also be connected to the existing Terminal 4, which initially opened in 2001 and has been expanded twice since then, most recently in 2013.
On the airport's north side, the proposed new $3 billion, 1.2 million square foot terminal will be developed by JetBlue. JetBlue plans to demolish Terminal 7 (48 years old, undersized and functionally obsolete) and combine it with the vacant space where Terminal 6 was demolished in 2011 to create a world-class international terminal complex that would be connected to the airline's existing Terminal 5 and be occupied by the airline and its various partners currently spread throughout the airport. Terminal 5 opened in 2008 and is the newest of JFK's current six terminals.
This new terminal will have 12 international gates, all of which be able to accommodate larger, wide-body aircraft. It will feature 74,000 square feet of retail, 30,000 square feet of airline lounges, and 15,000 square feet of recreational space.
Construction is expected to begin in 2020 with the first new gates opening in 2023 and substantial completion expected in 2025.
An additional $2 billion in private non-Port Authority funding will be allocated to an array of critical infrastructure upgrades laying the foundation for these world-class new terminals.
"World-class terminals and best-in-class customer service will go hand-in-hand at John F. Kennedy International Airport under Gov. Cuomo's leadership," said Port Authority Executive Director Rick Cotton. "The reimagined, modernized JFK Airport will be the gateway that New Yorkers deserve, enabling continued passenger growth in the decades to come."
JFK Airport is one of the region's most powerful economic engines, supporting roughly 300,000 jobs that pay $16.2 billion in wages annually while generating $45.7 billion in yearly sales. The airport set a record with nearly 60 million passengers in 2017 and is projected to eclipse 75 million passengers by 2030. Together, the new terminals are estimated to create over 9,600 direct jobs, including construction jobs and over 15,000 total jobs over the life of the project.
On-Airport and Off-Airport Roadway Improvements
Outside of the terminal buildings at JFK there is also a need to simplify the spaghetti-like roadway system and enable quicker access to all terminals for private cars, taxis, ride-share and other for-hire vehicles, as well as reconfigure parking lots to ensure short-term and long-term options are more easily accessible.
Plans call for the terminal areas to be linked by two main "ring roads," a north loop and a south loop, which will make it easier to enter and exit the airport while providing significantly easier access to the terminal complex areas on the airport's north and south sides.
Off airport, the New York State Department of Transportation has targeted $1.5 billion in highway improvements designed to ease bottlenecks, particularly at the Kew Gardens Interchange with the Van Wyck Expressway and on the notoriously congested Van Wyck as well. The goal is to help reduce travel times for vehicles between midtown Manhattan and the airport.
Construction is slated to begin later this year on improvements to eliminate bottleneck conditions at the Kew Gardens Interchange - originally built in the 1930s - with the Grand Central and the Van Wyck Expressway. It still contains a series of ramps that do not meet today's standards, and the improvements are expected to be complete by the end of 2022.
On the Van Wyck itself, the 4.3-mile trip between the Kew Gardens Interchange and JFK airport can take more than a half hour during peak times. To improve the situation, the DOT is planning to build a fourth lane in both directions, which would be restricted to passenger vehicles with three or more people and for-hire-vehicles with at least one passenger. The environmental approval process is underway and expected to conclude in early 2019, with construction slated to begin in late 2019 and finished by end of 2024.
With respect to mass transit, the Port Authority will be adding 50 percent capacity to the AirTrain JFK system as well as increasing frequency of service to keep up with rising demand. More than 7.6 million paid passengers used the system in 2017, with another 12.6 million more riding it to connect between terminals and access ground transportation. Additionally, at Jamaica Station the Long Island Rail Road is constructing a new, 12-car platform that will increase capacity for those traveling to and from JFK.
Opportunities for The Local Community
The Governor also announced the creation of the JFK Redevelopment Community Advisory Council, composed of elected officials, community boards, nonprofit organizations, civic organizations and clergy leaders. The Council will be chaired by Queens Borough President Melinda Katz and U.S. Congressman Gregory Meeks, and will work with the Port Authority to expand community outreach efforts that are already underway, ensuring this ambitious project solicits ongoing feedback from local stakeholders as well as provides meaningful opportunities for local businesses, MWBE businesses and jobseekers. This includes a commitment to the Governor's nation-leading goal of 30 percent utilization of MWBEs, which applies to contracts as well as financing interests. A community office for the project will open in Jamaica, Queens later this fall, providing easier access for firms looking for business opportunities as well as local residents in search of jobs.
Robin Hayes, JetBlue Chief Executive Officer said, "As New York's Hometown AirlineTM, JetBlue has been doing its part to transform JFK Airport since our first flight 18 years ago. Building on the success of JetBlue's award-winning JFK Terminal 5, we look forward to creating a more unified world-class airport experience across Terminals 5, 6 and 7 and achieving Governor Cuomo's vision for a transformed experience at JFK."
Arthur Molins, Managing Director of the Terminal One Group, said, "We are extremely grateful for the support of the Governor and Port Authority as we partner with them to return JFK Airport to world-class status. We look forward to bringing this vision to reality."
Congressman Gregory W. Meeks said, "Today's announcement by Governor Cuomo is a welcome development that speaks to his administration's leadership. The transformation of JFK into a state-of-the-art international airport for the 21st century is closer than we can imagine, and will be inclusive in ways that are crucial to the success of the project and the advancement of the community. This massive project will create regional job growth, especially in Southeast Queens and surrounding communities, as well as new business ventures for qualified MWBEs."
Queens Borough President Melinda Katz said, "The $13 billion overhaul of John F. Kennedy will be instrumental in assuring continued economic growth and development across Queens. A project of this magnitude will bring many opportunities to the community of Southeast Queens, as well as encouraging additional investment from the state."
Senator James Sanders Jr. said, "The redevelopment of JFK has the potential to provide many great opportunities, and I want to make sure that those opportunities are also reaped by those who live closest to the airport. We look forward to a Community Benefits Agreement that solidifies the state's commitment to the residents of Southeast Queens, and we are delighted by the 30 percent goal for Minority and Women-Owned Enterprises (MWBE) contracting and look forward to helping the Governor and the Port Authority reach that goal."
Senator Joseph P. Addabbo, Jr. said, "As the busiest airport in New York City, the demand for an airport that can accommodate the record-setting numbers of passengers each year is high, and this investment is precisely what is needed to make that vision a reality. These upgrades will make a real difference in the lives of New Yorkers who frequent JFK, and for visitors whose first impression of the state is the moment they step off the plane. I have lived near the airport all my life and understand it's importance to our local economy and job growth. I applaud Governor Cuomo for staying true to his promise to improve our infrastructure and grow New York's economy."
Senator Todd Kaminsky said, "The new JFK, with the addition of two new world-class terminal spaces, promises an improved traveler experience, with better access to airlines, terminals, and public transportation. As one of our busiest airports, these improvements are critical to the airport's transformation and I thank Governor Cuomo for getting it done with 90 percent private investment, saving taxpayer dollars in the process."
Assembly Member Alicia Hyndman said, "Governor Cuomo has consistently made significant investments in New York's infrastructure, and he has continued that with today's JFK announcement. We are pleased That this transformative plan will provide New York with the world-class airport that it deserves. I commend Governor Cuomo for his commitment to our community directly affected by this redevelopment. I look forward to upgraded infrastructure, and look forward to seeing the new JFK."
Assembly Member Clyde Vanel said, "The JFK Vision Plan to create unified, interconnected terminals on the north and south sides of this gateway airport is critical to revolutionizing the way travelers experience their visits to or departures from New York. This is key to not only bolstering New York's economy, but to attracting travelers and visitors to the state to experience this world-class transportation hub for generations to come."
Assembly Member Michaelle C. Solages said, "This exciting announcement is critical to bringing New York City's infrastructure into the 21st century, accommodating the dramatic growth this airport sees each year. The transformational plan will keep New York's economy moving forward in the decades ahead."
Mario Cilento, President of the New York State AFL-CIO said, "The governor's historic investment will not only transform John F. Kennedy Airport into a world-class transportation hub, it will create hundreds of good-paying union construction jobs. This is exactly the type of commitment we need to help support working families, grow the middle class and boost our economy."
Gary LaBarbera, Building & Construction Trades Council of Greater NY President said, "JFK's redevelopment is central to providing a world-class customer experience. With more than 60 million passengers traveling through JFK each year, the airport needs an overhaul. Airport access, terminals, roadways, and cargo facilities will receive the attention they need to make JFK the world-class facility it should be, while creating good union construction jobs for hardworking New Yorkers and building a strong middle class."
Héctor Figueroa, 32BJ SEIU President said, "Coming on the heels of the Port Authority's historic vote to enact a $19 minimum wage, Governor Cuomo's JFK announcement represents another historic investment in our airports. Not only will the JFK Redevelopment plan improve the travel experience for those traveling to New York by offering world-class amenities, it will provide significant job and business opportunities for the residents of Southeast Queens. This $13 billion renovation will transform JFK into a world-class, 21-century facility."
Stuart Appelbaum, RWDSU President & Vice Chair Global Gateway Alliance said, "The way JFK is currently configured doesn't work -- terminals were built as needed over the last 70 years, creating a divided airport. As JFK continues to move closer to capacity, it is essential that we offer better access to terminals, and provide a more unified design to the airport overall."
George Miranda, Chairman, International Brotherhood of Teamsters Airline Division said, "The JFK Vision Plan will transform JFK into a unified, interconnected, world-class airport. It is clear these improvements on the airport's north and south sides are essential in order to handle the expected growth in passengers over the next 30 years."
Partnership for New York City President and CEO Kathryn Wylde said, "JFK has long been the dreaded airport in New York, with outdated amenities, confusing navigation, and challenging access from the outside. This investment is an unprecedented commitment to modernizing our infrastructure and ensuring that New Yorkers and visitors will have the 21st century travel experience they have come to expect. I commend the Governor for his leadership on this project and for continuing to invest in the future of New York."
Carlo A. Scissura, Esq., President and CEO, New York Building Congress said, "Under Governor Cuomo's leadership, New York is building bigger and better than ever before. The transformational redevelopment of JFK will support economic growth, create jobs and deliver a world-class airport of the caliber that New Yorkers deserve. I applaud Governor Cuomo for his vision and leadership."
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or Immediate Release: 10/4/2018
GOVERNOR ANDREW M. CUOMO
VIDEO, AUDIO, PHOTOS & RUSH TRANSCRIPT: GOVERNOR CUOMO ANNOUNCES $13 BILLION PLAN TO TRANSFORM JFK INTO A WORLD-CLASS 21ST CENTURY AIRPORT
Two New Major International Terminals Will Add 4 Million Square Feet to Airport's North and South Sides, Increasing Airport's Capacity by at Least 15 Million Passengers Annually and Transforming Traveler Experience from Curb to Gate
Historic Investment Advances Governor's JFK Vision Plan for a Unified, Modern Airport with World-Class Passenger Amenities, Expanded Taxiway and Gate Capacity, State-of-the-Art Security, Streamlined Roadway Access and Centralized Ground Transportation Options - See Renderings Here
First New Gates Will Go Live in 2023 with Project Completion in 2025; 90 Percent of $13 Billion Plan Represents Private Investment
Includes 30 Percent MWBE Goal for Contracts and Financing Interests; Extensive Community Opportunities to be Created, Including Local Office to Assist with Contracting and Job Placement to Open in Jamaica this Fall
Earlier today, Governor Andrew M. Cuomo announced an historic $13 billion plan to transform John F. Kennedy International Airport into a modern 21st century airport anchored by two new world-class international terminal complexes on the airport's north and south sides. This record investment — including $12 billion in private funding — advances the Governor's vision for a unified and interconnected airport system with best-in-class passenger amenities, centralized ground transportation options and vastly improved roadways that collectively will increase the airport's capacity by at least 15 million passengers a year. More information available here.
VIDEO of Governor Cuomo's remarks is available on YouTube here and in TV quality (h.264, mp4) format here.
AUDIO of Governor Cuomo's remarks is available here.
PHOTOS of the event are available on the Governor's Flickr page.
A rush transcript of the Governor's remarks is available below:
Thank you, thank you very much. Thank you very much. Boy, this is great news and the lord knows we need some good news just about now. To the Port Authority, to the Port Authority Board that has been extraordinary, Chairman O'Toole of the Port Authority wanted to be with us here today, he was coming across the bridge O'Toole and the Port Authority Board a big round of applause, thank you for your leadership, thank you for getting it done.
Rick Cotton, who as he said in his mild mannered way, he can be sitting back at NBC, he has been a phenomenal success in the private sector, he could be doing anything, anywhere, or just sitting on the beach and playing a little golf. He is an example of public service at its best. He is quality, he doesn't need to do this, he's doing it just to make a difference and we thank Rick Cotton.
To Steven Rubenstein congratulations on your leadership, it does my heart good to do a son following in his father's footsteps, so let's give Steven Rubenstein a big round of applause.
You know, JFK, LaGuardia, it's amazing when you think about it how long these situations have been allowed to go on. It's not like this happened overnight, that JFK was outdated or LaGuardia was outdated. JFK has been outdated all of my life. I'm a Queens boy in case you can't tell the accent. But, in my home when the call went out, you have to pick someone up at JFK, it was drawing up the short straw. That was a torture. If you could survive the Van Wyck Expressway, right, put splinters under my fingernails instead, it would be quicker. And then trying to figure out that spaghetti bowl of JFK with all those signs, it was just impossible. I wouldn't do it, I made my younger brother Chris do it. It has instilled in him a deep resentment, to this day, that actually exists.
So, it was long, long overdue, but so many of the things that we're talking about are long overdue. And it's not just a New York story, it is a United States story. We are losing the development race, it's a race that we won, it's a race that made America, America, it's a race that made New York, New York, and now we're losing it. You fly around the world and look at what everyone else it building and then you come back to the United States and you understand that we are being left behind, it's a mentality, and we're resting on our laurels. Well our forefathers did all this and it's our inheritance, it's our legacy, they handed it to us, and we're just going to sit and enjoy their gift. That's not the way it works. Either you are building and you are creating, or you are getting left behind, that is the simple reality of life.
I was HUD Secretary and I would fly all around the country and my message to every city was the same. Look, either you're developing, and the future is coming to you, or they're going to someone else. But, status quo, sitting where you are, that is a formula for loss, my friends. You are what you build, A.J. Parkinson, great quote. And you are what you build and look at what we built as New Yorkers. We built the greatest state in the nation. It didn't just happen, it wasn't evolution. We built it, we made it happen. Tallest building, 600 miles of subways, longest bridges. You can't do it, it's impossible. Baloney, we're New York, we will do it. And we did do it and that's what we made.
Every president has said, we must rebuild our infrastructure. We must rebuild our transportation. Democrat, Republican, Ronald Reagan said it, Jimmy Carter said it, President Clinton said it, President Obama said it, Vice President Biden is still saying it. President Trump said--not to get political. Are you a non-profit organization? Donald Trump said when he was running, I will invest in the infrastructure $1.5 trillion. That was his promise, that's what he said. You know what we've gotten? Nada. Niente. Nothing has happened.
So what we said in New York is look, we're not going to wait for the federal government. We've never waited before. New York's legacy is not what it is because we waited for the federal government to tell us what we should or should not do. We did it. And the rest of the nation followed us. So we said, we're going to fund the largest construction program in the United States of America, $100 billion. And people said, oh jeez, we don't know, government doesn't know how to build. Every time government goes to build they mess it up. The big dig in Massachusetts. Everyone has a horror story. We said, we're going to learn from the past, we're going to learn from our mistakes. You know what? We're not going to build anything. Know what you know and know what you don't know. And it's more important to know what you don't know in life.
We're not going to build. Why? Because government is lousy at building, that's why. Government can master plan, but then give it to the private sector, let them design it, let them build it, bid it, get the best price, incentives for early delivery, sanctions for late delivery, but you get government out of the building and the design process. And that's exactly what we did. And we are building more than any state in the United States. Steven is right, we're building more than has been built since Robert Moses, in a more sensitive, community-friendly way. Not to criticize Robert Moses.
Jacob Javits Center was opened in 1984. My father opened it. When it opened it was state-of-the-art. It was the biggest, it was the best. Time moved on, it is no longer the biggest and the best. We're losing the big shows. We're going to basically double the size of the Jacob Javits Convention Center. Getting those shows here is a tremendous economic vehicle for the city.
Penn Station is the circles of hell. It is. Amtrak doesn't like it when I say it, I'm sorry, but the truth is the truth. I have a large nose. Admitting it is just reality. We have to make significant changes in Penn and in the meantime what we're doing is building an entirely new train hall across the street. The Moynihan-Farley Complex. It was a dream of Senator Moynihan, it sat on the shelf, we are doing it, it's under construction, it's on schedule, it's $2.5 billion. And that's happening now. New Kosciuszko Bridge is being built, slides are going backwards, new Goethals Bridge as you heard from Rick is being built. Long Island Railroad has been stagnant for 70 years. It's basically the same railroad system that they built 100 years ago. When you hear about the problems on the Long Island Railroad in the morning and they say there is a problem on the track—that is literally correct. Because in some places, there's one track. And if anything happens on that track, it delays trains for hours. God forbid a squirrel walks on the tracks and has a heart attack, everybody is four hours late for work. We're building a second track, we're building a third track, we're rebuilding the whole Long Island Railroad.
Cashless tolling—they did it all across the country. Only New York couldn't figure out how to do it. We did it, we did it fast. It saves time, it saves money, when you go through a bridge or a tunnel it's a totally different experience and frankly it happened so quickly that people didn't even realize. Quick digression, funny story. An aunt of mine was coming through in a car—coming into Manhattan. She didn't come in all that often. And she's getting on in years at the time. And the driver goes to drive right through tollbooth right to the tunnel and she says 'stop, stop, we didn't pay the toll.' And the driver says 'no, this is now an electronic toll.' She says 'no, no, my nephew is the Governor, I have to pay the toll.' It literally happened so fast and so well that it changed people's experience.
New LaGuardia Airport as you knew, new JFK International Airport. Our two main airports. Now a cynical times reporter will say 'oh that's all you're doing is two new airports?' Well, actually, not exactly. Two new airports downstate. Upstate, New Plattsburgh Airport, new Elmira-Corning Airport, new Syracuse International Airport, new Rochester Airport, new Albany Airport, new Ithaca Airport, New York Stewart International Airport that's going to open up the Hudson Valley. So it's not just downstate. This is a statewide rehabilitation and new New York program.
What's next in terms of challenges? It's going to be the MTA. And fixing the New York City subway system. It's going to require the largest investment in history--$30 billion. It is something that we have to do. And we have to come to terms with it. What is the obstacle to rebuilding the subway system? It is the money, honey. That's what it is about. It is about the money. And you're now having this political discussion 'well where should the money come from?' Here are the options—God is going to send down $33 billion and it is going to descend from the clouds. That's not going to happen. Option two, we'll look under the city and the state mattress and maybe we will find $33 billion. That's not going to happen. Well New York City is going to dig into its pocket and they're going to ante up and the state will ante up. That's not going to happen. that's not going to happen. There is only one way it happens, that is [inaudible]. Everything else is political blather, 'well, ideally we would like to have a millionaire's tax.' Yes, I wish I could be an elected official who lived in the ideal. Unfortunately, I'm an executive so I actually have to get things done. The only realistic option is congestion pricing, we have to get it done, we have to get it done next year, I need your help.
If we get the funding, we will get it done. If we get the funding, we will get it done. Well, how do we know you will get it done? Because we have a track record for performance. Good look at what they're doing at LaGuardia, it is amazing that you can operate an airport and build a new airport on that small piece of land. Not that it's pretty, not that it's easy, but we are doing it on time and on budget. Go look at the new Kosciuszko Bridge, and go look at the Mario Cuomo Bridge, largest infrastructure project in the United States of America, a $4 billion project, it was on the cover of President Obama's last budget document as the premiere infrastructure program, it came in on time, it came in on budget. We can do it. If we get the funding, we will make these things happen because we work at it every day. You ask anyone who's in the real estate construction industry, how do you get a project done on time, you show up every day and you push that project along. And that is exactly what we did with the Tappan Zee, what Rick and the Port Authority are going to do with JFK and LaGuardia, and that's what we will do with the MTA projects.
I'm going to propose next year to raise our $100 billion investment to $150 billion over the next five years. It will provide thousands of good paying, middle class jobs, which is what this nation needs, that middle class anxiety. It will provide a generation of good paying union jobs that have an apprentice program, and have benefits, and have safety, and have training. And it will create a new economic future for New York. I, as I mentioned, I was HUD Secretary. The state that leads in transportation and infrastructure and technology is going to be the state where the economy wins. That can be New York, that can be New York, and we are on the track to do it. There's a moment in time for us to seal our future and our fate as the number one state in the nation again. Fortune favors the bold and New York is the state of the bold. We always have been. Look at what we've done, look at what we've built, look at what we've accomplished. We took a little sliver of land called Manhattan, we made it one of the greatest places in the United States of America. Every building, every design, every architectural challenge, we lead the nation because we dared to lead. Leadership is not easy, it's frightening, and it's risky, and it's hard, and you have to work at it. But that's why we are New Yorkers, that's what's in our blood and in our DNA and in our cells, otherwise we would not be here. You wouldn't make it in this city if you didn't have that constitution and that drive, so let's do it. Thank you and God bless you.