Islip to launch search for developer for new terminal at MacArthur Airport

Islip Supervisor Angie Carpenter on Tuesday plans to launch a search for a developer to build a new air terminal at Long Island MacArthur Airport in Ronkonkoma, following the collapse in January of the $2.8 billion Midway Crossing project, which was to include an air terminal plan.

The town said in a news release it plans to construct a "state-of-the art, comfortable and modern terminal" with a direct connection between the terminal and the Ronkonkoma Long Island Rail Road station about a mile away.

Carpenter, a Republican, said developers would be offered a choice of two potential locations for the terminal — a northern site closer to the train station, or another parcel nearer to the existing terminal by Veterans Memorial Highway.

“Long Island MacArthur Airport has the opportunity to become a more viable, convenient and affordable option for air travel in the region,” Carpenter said in a statement, adding that the terminal would be privately financed and operated. “We are going to ensure that it can grow Long Island to provide more travel destinations for the current and next generation of travelers. ”

Supporters of building a new terminal and connecting it to the rail station have said it would encourage passengers to take the train to the airport and relieve traffic congestion in the area.

Detractors, including some town board members, have questioned whether air passengers will take the train to MacArthur in sufficient numbers to make the project worthwhile.

Gov. Kathy Hochul had announced in February the state would contribute $150 million to connect the MacArthur terminal and the train station.

A new air terminal and the train station connector would have been part of Midway Crossing, a megacomplex that was to have included a hotel, convention center and health sciences offices. The complex would have been built on Suffolk County-owned land between MacArthur and the train station.

The project was canceled in January by County Executive Edward P. Romaine. Romaine said Chicago-based developer JLL, or Jones Lang LaSalle, had failed to meet county deadlines for planning the project.

Romaine has said he plans to issue a Request for Expressions of Interest and Qualifications to seek a new developer to build on the Ronkonkoma site.

This will be Carpenter's second attempt to jump-start the air terminal project.

In December, the Republican-majority town board had blocked Carpenter's request for $872,000 in seed money to pay for engineering studies and to search for potential builders. 

Islip on Tuesday will issue a formal call for development proposals, known as a Request for Qualifications. The RFQ does not require town board approval, Islip spokesperson Caroline Smith said.

Town board member James O'Connor, who voted against Carpenter's request in December, said in an email Monday that "I will allow the process to evolve in a fair, even and balanced way. It is wrong to pre-judge proposals that do not yet exist, and it is wrong to try to manipulate or micromanage the process to any desired result. I promise not to do that.”

Developers have until May 2 to register for the competition and until Aug. 14 to submit their statements of qualification, town officials said. That will be followed by a "rigorous multistep" evaluation process, officials said.

The current air terminal dates to the 1960s and has been updated and expanded several times since then.

Carpenter said in her statement the new terminal would create "high-paying jobs, spark huge economic opportunity, and make Islip even more attractive for sustainable business development."

Democrat Jorge Guadron, who also voted against Carpenter's request in December, said, “I know that by going this route, we are going to ensure that not only the town of Islip, but Long Island at large, will be provided better and more destinations.”

MacArthur drew almost 1.3 million passengers last year on four carriers: Southwest, Frontier, JetBlue and Breeze, town officials said. Houston-based Avelo Airlines announced in March it plans to begin flights next month from MacArthur to airports in Florida and North Carolina. 

With Sam Kmack

By Carl MacGowan

carl.macgowan@newsday.comCarlMacGowan

Carl MacGowan is a Long Island native who covers Brookhaven Town after having previously covered Smithtown, Suffolk County courts and numerous spot news and feature stories over his 20-plus year career at Newsday.