I most certainly wouldn't want to take any time to actually give credit to A.O.C for this, but she did bring up a good point about this, and reality sets in that the LGA AirTrain plan is far less sensible than what the Governor thinks. At this point, even if he were to extend the AirTrain to connect with the JFK AirTrain in Jamaica would actually make better sense as it would create a true north-south Queens line, and would distribute passengers at various locations rather than one station. But it would do far less for travel time to NYC. But here too is also a mistake being made. Focusing on LGA to NYC shouldn't be the only goal in any plans. The point would be to expand on LGA's access which technically JFK did just that by running the AirTrain to Jamaica, allowing it to tap into the market in Nassau and Suffolk counties. Sadly Geography plays a role into this, and the northern subway and LIRR lines do not connect well to the eastern portions of Queens and so on. I actually envisioned an Airtrain using the GCP to the Amtrak Hell Gate branch and head southwest and then branch off south to the Woodside station of both the LIRR and no. 7 Line. There would need to be some obsticles that need to be dealt with specifically that the Amtrak line crosses over the GCP at a rather high level and heading somewhat SE of this location, but im sure it would be practical, and considering the high price tag of the proposed AirTrain, surely we can be much more creative with the money and find a more direct route. A real dare devil politician would use money wisely and kill two birds with one stone and attempt to connect LGA with rail service but also offer more by expanding rail service into an overcrowded and underserved Borough of Queens. I find that all projects both at JFK and LGA are always focused solely on getting to and from NYC but never to Eastern Queeens or LI. Not everybody flies out of ISP on LI and destinations are not in abundance. WE have to fly out of JFK or LGA and once LGA is done, and if the prices are right, I may go there. Heck, JetBlue at the Marine Terminal has already sold me twice so, that's something that should be taken into consideration. But the fact that I can take the LIRR to Jamaica and then the Airtrain to JFK makes life easier for me, so we end up at JFK most of the times.
I too enjoy drawing lines on a map, but sometimes, what you see from your car or from the window of the train, you can see many alternatives than what is being proposed and what has been proposed. One last thing, Ferries might seem practical to some, but you also must address the part where passengers must still trek to the waterways to catch a ferry, and most subway lines don not connect well to one, making the portion of travel in NYC either via Taxi, walking, or bus. A crosstown ride on a bus or cab from the East River to the west side will take as long as a ferry from the west side to LGA directly. I am one of those people that does feel that rail service would be best for LGA, and not alternatives. my two cents.