MTA chairman Peter S. Kalikow sent letters to the New York Jets and Madison Square Garden that asks for bids to be submitted no later than Monday, March 21, 2005. Those bids are expected to then be presented to the MTA board at its March 31 meeting. Bid documents will be provided to the two parties and other interested parties on Tuesday.

For more than a year, the MTA has been negotiating for the potential development of the site with the Jets and the New York State Empire State Development Corp. MSG subsequently made an unsolicited $600-million proposal to acquire and develop the LIRR West Side Rail Yards.

"The MTA board, as well as the customers it serves, need an expeditious and orderly resolution of the sale of this important asset," says Kalikow. "Both parties will be able to put their best offer on the table to the board in a fair and open process. This should allow the board the necessary information to make its decision in the best interests of the riding public."

"While RPA strongly supports an open bidding process for the MTA's western rail yard, the process proposed yesterday is fatally flawed," says Regional Plan Association president Robert D. Yaro. "By requiring bidders to assume that the current, outdated zoning remains in place, the process will make it impossible for the site to support its 'highest and best' use or for the MTA to receive fair market value for the site.

Citing concerns raised during the public review process, the New York Jets recently unveiled a redesigned New York Sports and Convention Center that reduces the height and bulk of the structure by 120 feet and creates more open and retail space. In addition, it replaces the exterior steel structure--including its wind turbines--with a floating glass veil. The NYSCC, which, if approved by all agencies, will be built over rail yards located between 11th and 12th avenues and 30th and 33rd streets and is anticipated to cost upwards of $1.4 billion. The NYSCC will be able to operate as a 75,000-seat stadium or a plenary hall seating up to 45,000 people when used in combination with an expanded Jacob Javits Convention Center.

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MTA Seeks Best Offer for Rail Yard Development Rights

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