Bids Are in for West Side Rail Yard Site

NEW YORK CITY-The New York Jets had a bevy of players deliver its bid by the deadline, while Madison Square Garden officials further detailed a $600-million offer. The two are among the candidates giving final bids for development rights for the western portion of the Long Island Rail Road West Side Rail Yard.

MTA chairman Peter S. Kalikow asked for bids to be submitted no later than 5 p.m. Monday, March 21. The three accepted bids–TransGas, an energy firm constructing also made an offer on the site–are expected to then be presented to the MTA board at its March 31 meeting. On Monday, the MTA posted an addendum stating that a prospective bidder requested that the deadline be extended to 5:00 p.m. on April 15, but the deadline was not extended.

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. The Jets have proposed using it for the New York Sports and Convention Center. MSG subsequently made an unsolicited $600-million proposal to acquire and develop it. “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.