Originally Posted by
bhrubin
Where in the world would you build a world class airport in the NYC area? There is too much development already and no appropriate space for such a project. Unless they create land by reclamation, which would have been a disaster when Hurricane Sandy hit, there is no suitable location. Otherwise, you'd have to do a massive eminent domain purchase to clear the space--and in a democratic nation that isn't an easy thing to do. The voters have a say. With the jurisdictional issues in NYC being some of the most complicated in the country, it gets even more problematic.
Apart from improving EWR capacity and rebuilding terminals A, B, one could start by demolishing JFK terminals and building a fresh, but that isn't going to happen.
A long term answer, but one which is not going to happen any time soon, if ever, would be to finally build up SWF: new terminals and rail connections to Manhattan have long been proposed. All mucked up in a combination of democracy, politics, and mismanagement (both public and private). At only 60mi out of the city, there is no technological reason that one could not build ultra-fast public transit connections. Don't hold one's breath...