GatewayJFK executive director James Johnson found many examples of illegal truck parking on the streets of southeast Queens the morning after the Port Authority announced a plan to expand the JFK Airport Plaza tripling the number of truck parking spots.
Courtesy of GatewayJFK
Southeast Queens residents have complained of illegal truck parking around JFK Airport for years, a quality-of-life issue that was exasperated during the COVID-19 pandemic. On Nov. 21, the Port Authority Board of Governors approved a lease supplement with JFK AP LLC, the operator of a truck parking, fueling and concessions at the airport that will triple the number of the facility’s truck parking spaces to accommodate the growth in cargo volume at JFK and help reduce the number of trucks parking on residential streets and airport roads.
“Revising this lease is a win for the community that has seen an increase in trucks parking and idling on their streets, it’s a win for the environment and it’s a win for the drivers who help to keep our region moving,” Port Authority Executive Director Rick Cotton said. “This is another example of how the Port Authority has been working closely with our neighbors to improve conditions for the community and connect local residents and businesses to the economic opportunities that modern new airports present.”
Cambria Heights resident James Johnson, a former City Council candidate who was named executive director of GatewayJFK in August, made eradicating illegal truck parking around JFK one of his top priorities.
“I am thrilled to witness the Port Authority’s bold initiative to address the longstanding challenge of truck parking scarcity in the southeast Queens community,” Johnson said. “This scarcity not only impacts our valued commercial tenants and retail businesses but also resonates with the everyday lives of our residential homeowners. The expansion of the JFK International Airport Truck Plaza is a testament to the Port…
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