The Port Authority of New York and New Jersey announced Feb. 25 that it is partnering with three autonomous vehicle technology companies to test electric self-driving shuttles at Newark Liberty International Airport during the spring.
The agency is evaluating options to provide automated connections between EWR’s existing facilities and the new AirTrain Newark system under construction as part of the agency’s $45 billion infrastructure plan. The new AirTrain Newark is scheduled to open in 2030, and planning is underway for a future Terminal B that will be located adjacent to a future AirTrain station.
Zero-emissions vehicles from each firm will be tested separately in an area of the airport that is not publicly accessible during two-week periods. The tests are designed to simulate a high-capacity shuttle network with multiple vehicles operating simultaneously in a complex airport environment.
Oceaneering will be tested in March, Ohmio in late March and Glydways in May. The tests are intended to qualify participating firms to respond to a formal Port Authority request for proposals, which may be issued in 2027.
“As we advance the redevelopment of Newark Liberty International Airport, we are looking for opportunities to improve our passengers’ time at our airport through unique customer-first experiences as soon as you step onto airport property,” said Port Authority Chairman Kevin O’Toole.
“We have been working with self-driving technology successfully for many years, particularly at the airports, and believe autonomous shuttles offer a safe, efficient solution for moving passengers while we concurrently work to build a new AirTrain Newark and the brand-new Terminal B. These tests this spring will enable us to build on our knowledge and prior experiences working with self-driving shuttles and create a highly customized journey that will be unique to Newark Liberty and tailored to our passengers’ needs.”
Airports in the United Kingdom, the Netherlands, Los Angeles and Miami are among those integrating autonomous bus technology to enhance passenger experience and reduce environmental impact.
“Autonomous vehicles are in use around the world and around the country, and they are part of the modern travel experience whether in a private car, a for-hire vehicle or on public transit,” said Port Authority Executive Director Kathryn Garcia. “We are building a new Newark Liberty that meets the demands of the next generation of travel, so we must embrace a future that is inclusive of all the different ways we can move this region.”
The Newark Liberty tests build on several successive years of autonomous vehicle demonstrations conducted at Port Authority airports. These include testing in summer 2024 at John F. Kennedy International Airport (JFK) that enabled members of the public to ride in autonomous vehicles at JFK’s long-term parking lot 9.
Two other previous tests of autonomous platooned vehicles were held at JFK’s Aqueduct Parking Lot in 2022 and 2023, when JFK became the first North American airport to host a demonstration of a self-driving platoon of three vehicles. A test of a self-driving shuttle was also first conducted in mixed traffic at Newark Liberty in 2023, and a second in 2024.
