NEW YORK – The Port Authority Board Thursday gave its approval for a memorandum of understanding with the MTA for the Port to participate in a West-of-the-Hudson Regional Transit Access Study with the Port putting up $2.7 million for that study. This first phase study will total $5.4 million.

The study will explore ridership growth on the Metro-North Port Jervis commuter rail line and will develop transit options to serve Stewart Airport in Newburgh.

Port Director of Planning Richard Roper said it is important to study multi-modal approaches to transportation in the Hudson Valley.

“As traffic at the airport grows, and the airport development plans take shape, it is critical that we begin, now, to work with other regional transit providers, to determine the most appropriate ways to enhance access to the airport, particularly through both rail and other high occupancy vehicle modes.”

One new parking lot was quickly developed by the Port Authority after taking over Stewart Airport last November, and another is under construction.  That won’t be enough to handle the anticipated growth in passenger traffic using the airport, Roper told the Capital Programs and Agency Planning Committee, which met Thursday.

General access to the airport is easier, now that the direct connection from Interstate 84 is open.  Roper said another big leap forward will be completed in late 2009, of the long-planned I84/Thruway direct interchange, just two miles from the airport’s old entrance, off Route 207.