The Port Authority of New York and New Jersey broke ground Oct. 7 on the AirTrain Newark system at Newark Liberty International Airport, launching construction of a modern 2.5-mile automated people mover.
The new $3.5 billion system will replace the existing AirTrain, which opened in 1996 and has become outdated, over capacity and unable to accommodate Newark Liberty’s rapid growth. The Port Authority said the project will increase capacity to 50,000 daily riders, up from current 33,000 (or about 12 million passengers annually).
This will connect with the refurbished Terminal A, eliminating the current 15-minute walk between the AirTrain station and the terminal.
The system provides access to Amtrak and NJ Transit’s Northeast Corridor lines via the airport’s train station, and allows customers and employees to transfer between terminals, parking lots, and rental car facilities.
The new AirTrain system is a major piece of the ongoing redevelopment of Newark Liberty International Airport. The plan charts an extensive reimagining of the airport, complete with modern terminals and infrastructure, a more intuitive roadway network and a redesigned taxiway network to more efficiently accommodate aircraft and reduce delays. The new AirTrain system will allow for expanded passenger capacity, greater reliability and flexible connectivity in conjunction with the airport’s redevelopment plan. It is expected to begin operation in 2030.
“Breaking ground on a new AirTrain system marks another milestone in the complete transformation of Newark Liberty International Airport into a world-class gateway,” said Port Authority Chairman Kevin O’Toole. “This project is about more than just replacing outdated infrastructure. It’s about building the capacity, reliability, and customer experience that millions of travelers will depend on for decades to come as we complete a top-to-bottom reimagining of Newark Liberty.”
“The new AirTrain Newark is essential to Newark Liberty’s future,” said Port Authority Executive Director Rick Cotton. “It will improve access to the airport, support its continued growth, and knit together the airport’s terminals, rail links, and parking into a modern, unified system. Together with the new award-winning Terminal A and future redevelopment projects, the AirTrain will help deliver the 21st century travel experience that our region deserves.”
The existing AirTrain is reaching the end of its useful life and requires extensive maintenance and repair, and cannot adequately meet increasing demand. AirTrain ridership is forecast to grow by 50% by 2040, exceeding the capacity of the existing system.
Currently, the system is unable to be expanded or upgraded to newer technology and its route will hinder future airport growth, while the new system is designed to be expandable. When the current system opened, the airport served about 30 million passengers each year. In 2024, Newark Liberty welcomed nearly 50 million passengers.
The route was designed with future airport growth in mind. Planning is underway for a new Terminal B to replace the current 52-year-old terminal. The current system will largely remain in operation until the new system opens, with some intermittent outages over a 28-month period that will exclude peak summer and holiday travel times.
The Port Authority will provide connections to the current Terminal B. As the Port Authority continues to redevelop the airport, passengers will be able to connect to the terminal using options such as pedestrian walkways and bus services.
PANYNJ will also be testing the use of autonomous shuttles as a new and convenient form of transportation. The Port Authority has plans to pilot the technology through three companies in 2026, building on several successful autonomous vehicle pilots at Newark Liberty and John F. Kennedy International airports over the last three years. Conventional electric shuttle buses will remain an option. The new Terminal B will be directly adjacent to the AirTrain station.
The new AirTrain is a key piece of the agency’s EWR Vision Plan, setting the course for the airport’s continued development over the coming decades. Much of its current infrastructure dates to the 1970s, when terminals B and C and the original Terminal A were built.
The EWR Vision Plan calls for a new Terminal B, along with streamlining the airport’s outdated roadway network and redesigning the airport’s delay-prone taxiway network to maximize efficiency. This past spring, the airport was hit with a variety of problems, including malfunctioning equipment, a shortage of air-traffic controllers, and the extended closure of a runway.
Construction is also underway on an entry point to the airport’s rail station served by NJ TRANSIT, Amtrak and both the current and future AirTrain system, expanding transit and airport access for underserved areas of Newark and Elizabeth.
