$3.3 billion airport project clears FAA approval

The Town of Islip received clearance from the Federal Aviation Administration for the Midway Crossing project proposal in Ronkonkoma.

In a letter to commissioner Shelley LaRose Arken, the FAA stated they determined the proposed project “would have no material impact on aircraft operations, at, to, or from the airport, would not affect the safety and property of people and property on the ground adjacent to the airport as a result of airport operations; and would not have an adverse effect on the value of prior federal investments to a significant extent.”

The Town of Islip had submitted a request for permanent change in the use of 47.2 acres of Long Island MacArthur Airport property in a long-term aeronautical lease to allow for transit-oriented, non-aeronautical development centered around the Long Island Rail Road Station (i.e., the Midway Crossing project).

Midway Crossing is described by developers as “a once-in-a-generation, transit-oriented development opportunity not only for Ronkonkoma, but also for the region as a whole. High daily ridership on the Ronkonkoma line (over 9 million in 2018), coupled with proximity to regional transportation assets, and the underutilization of land surrounding the train station makes a project in Ronkonkoma a real transformational possibility.”

A sports complex arena had been part of the original proposal, but after community engagement, was shuttered.

Currently, the Midway Crossing project includes: a Life Sciences/Commercial District, retail and shopping, and a convention center and hotel.

The public stakeholders include Suffolk County, the Town of Islip, New York State and the Metropolitan Transportation Authority (MTA). The private stakeholders include JLL as Master Developer, Cameron Engineering and Crawford Architects NY.