Meng, Israel Urge Port Authority to Soundproof Schools Affected by Airplane Noise

U.S. Reps. Grace Meng, D-Flushing, and Steve Israel, D-Great Neck, are calling on the Port Authority to look into soundproofing schools that are affected by ongoing airplane noise in northeast Queens.

The Congress members sent a letter Tuesday to Patrick Foye, executive director of the Port Authority of New York and New Jersey, asking the agency to help schools in Bayside and Douglaston that are constantly being interrupted by planes flying over their communities.

“The barrage of increased aircraft noise over Queens continues to impact the quality of life in the borough, but it is imperative that we not let it affect our kids,” Meng said. “Our children should not be forced to attend schools where they need to wear earplugs during class. They deserve to be taught in quiet classrooms that are conducive to learning.”

For more than a year-and-a-half, northeast Queens residents have been complaining of constant airplane noise over their communities that resulted from a new flight pattern out of LaGuardia Airport.

Recently, a group of local community leaders known as Queens Quiet Skies has secured an agreement with the Federal Aviation Administration to form an aviation roundtable.

In their letter to Foye, Meng and Israel call on the Port Authority to work with Community District Education Council 26, which covers northeast Queens schools, to identify schools affected by airplane noise.

A total 45 schools across New York City have been soundproofed to prevent airplane noise from disrupting classes.

“It’s bad enough that the quality of life for many Queens residents is suffering due to new flight patterns,” Israel said. “It’s even worse that it’s now affecting our children’s ability to learn.”