Town of Islip officials unveiled a new, state-of-the-art, 12,000 sq. ft. Ground Transportation Center (GTC) at Long Island MacArthur Airport. The GTC centralizes all ground transportation to serve visitors and Long Island travelers with a more modern facility. Now rental cars, taxis, buses, auto transport, ride-hailing services, hotel courtesy shuttles, and Suffolk Bus provides transportation services from the GTC.
“This new construction and infrastructure upgrade will benefit travelers at Long Island MacArthur Airport, making it even easier to use our airport both for visitors to Long Island and for our loyal local customers,” said Town of Islip Supervisor Angie Carpenter. “We are consistently improving the customer experience at MacArthur Airport to modernize and make travel easier and more comfortable. We are so grateful to all who helped us secure funding for this project, and at no expense to local taxpayers,” she added.
“The aviation industry is rapidly changing,” said Airport Commissioner Shelley LaRose-Arken. “Technology is shifting and improving the way we travel through airports, and so further enhancing customer convenience is important to us. Centralizing transportation services is an asset for both visitors to Long Island and residents who choose mass transportation options, instead of driving now, and in the future. The efficient location and layout of the new GTC enable customers who already have a boarding pass to save time by entering the TSA checkpoint within minutes,” she added.
The space was transformed in part with $800,000 from a New York State Aviation Grant and a $650,000 grant from the Empire State Development Corp. Airport Customer Facility charges and bonds that are payable solely from airport revenues covered the remainder of the funding for the $8.4M GTC project.
Empire State Development, through the Long Island Regional Economic Development Council, awarded the Town of Islip the $650,000 capital grant to support the renovation and modernization of the Ground transportation facility. ESD’s investment reinforces the LIREDC’s mission to encourage projects that align with the Council’s strategies to promote tourism and support Long Island’s economic growth.
“ESD is proud to support the renovation of the Ground Transportation Center at Long Island’s MacArthur Airport given the aviation industry’s importance to New York State’s economy. Modernizing the GTC is an important infrastructure investment that will strengthen the region by boosting economic and tourism opportunities on Long Island and across the State,” said Hope Knight Empire State Development Acting Commissioner and President & CEO-designate.
“The new Ground Transportation Center at MacArthur Airport reflects the vital need for state-of-the-art facilities that improve access for business travelers and visitors who are drawn to Long Island for its incredible industry strengths and tourism destinations. Investment in infrastructure is an investment in economic development, and an ongoing priority for New York State,” said Kevin Law, Long Island Regional Economic Development Council Co-Chair and ESD Board Chairman Designee.
“MacArthur Airport is a major economic generator that helps create good-paying jobs for the entire region. Businesses are more likely to locate on Long Island because of this airport. There is so much potential here for Long Island and we expect to see positive growth materialize in many ways here in the months and years ahead,” said Joe Campolo, HIA-LI Past Board Chairperson, and Managing Partner at Campolo, Middleton & McCormick, LLP.
In addition to its updated functionality for travelers, the new facilities will provide a more comfortable and attractive aesthetic. “The interior will reflect the feel of Long Island with copper, sand, and blue colors to welcome visitors to our area,” LaRose-Arken added.
“The new GTC is the culmination of a lot of planning, hard work, and cooperation, and we thank all the members of the Town Board for their unwavering support. These major infrastructure projects create jobs for Long Island and the airport’s role in economic recovery is more important now than ever,” said Supervisor Carpenter.
