Politics & Government

Islip Notebook: Improvements Slated For MacArthur Airport

Construction of terminal canopy, upgrades to roadways approved by Town Council.

The Islip Town Board approved a set of resolutions at its meeting this past Tuesday for a series of improvements at Long Island MacArthur Airport.

One resolution approved covers the construction of a terminal drop-off canopy and vehicle inspection canopy. The cost of the project is approximately $2.7 million and will be paid using funds from passenger facility charges collected by the airport.

An airport spokesperson said the new canopy would be constructed in front of the terminal where passengers are currently dropped off for departing flights.

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The vehicle inspection canopy will be constructed on the roadway leading to the terminal, but further back up the road. It will be used in the event of heightened security to allow for vehicle inspection.

In addition, the Town Board approved funding for improvements to the airport’s terminal access roadway. The project, at a cost of nearly $7.2 million, will also be paid for using funds collected from passenger facility charges.

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The terminal access roadway improvements will impact all roads in the front part of the airport and include the Foreign Trade Zone roadway as well.

The projects come at a time when airport officials continue to court new airlines and discuss the possibility of adding service to Canada. Newsday reported that representatives from Air Canada recently met with town and airport officials to explore the possibility of adding service at Long Island MacArthur.

This follows the airport’s public courtship of Jet Blue in recent months and published reports indicating that US Airways is considering adding service from MacArthur to Reagan National Airport in Washington, D.C.

Improvements For West Islip

The Town will be applying for a New York State grant to help cover 50 percent of the cost for improvements to Sequams Lane West in West Islip. The grant provides financial aid to help local municipalities revitalize communities and waterfronts as part of the Local Waterfront Revitalization Program.

The funds would be used to help cover the cost of improvements of the drainage system on Sequams Lane West and reduce future impacts from flooding. The estimated cost for the project is $2.2 million.

Several residents living on the roadway spoke at Tuesday’s Town Council meeting, expressing frustration over what they felt has been a lengthy process to make repairs to the road. Town Supervisor Phil Nolan responded by saying the Town has limited funding for road repairs, but is aware of the issue and working to solve the problem.


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