Port Authority Breaks Ground on New $3.5B AirTrain Newark System

On Oct 8, 2025

The Port Authority of New York and New Jersey yesterday broke ground on a new 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 The new $3.5 billion system will replace the existing AirTrain, which opened in 1996 and has become outdated, over capacity, and unable to accommodate Newark Liberty’s rapid growth.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 new AirTrain system will allow for expanded passenger capacity and flexible connectivity in conjunction with the airport’s redevelopment plan. It is expected to begin operation in 2030.

AirTrain ridership is forecasted to grow by 50% by 2040, exceeding the capacity of the existing system. The current 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 approximately 30 million passengers each year. In 2024, Newark Liberty welcomed nearly 50 million passengers.

The new $3.5 billion AirTrain system will also be better positioned to meet the needs of the redeveloped and modernized airport. The system will be able to handle 50,000 passengers per day, up from the current system’s 33,000-passenger capacity. Its route will allow for easier access to the new Terminal A, eliminating the current 15-minute walk between the AirTrain station and the terminal.

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 entire airport, passengers will be able to connect to the current terminal using a variety of options, including pedestrian walkways and efficient bus services. The agency will also be testing the use of autonomous shuttles as a new and convenient form of transportation that leverages 21st century technology to provide a convenient, comfortable experience.

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 as well. The new world-class Terminal B will be directly adjacent to the AirTrain station.

The Port Authority is delivering the new AirTrain Newark system through a multi-phase procurement process:

In December 2023, the Port Authority selected Doppelmayr, a market leader in cable-propelled transport systems, for the design, construction, operation and maintenance of the automated people mover system and its vehicles.

In summer 2024, engineering firm Stantec was selected to design the new 70,000 square-foot maintenance and control facility (MCF) and the pedestrian connectors, and to decommission the existing AirTrain.

In November 2024, the Port Authority selected the joint-venture firm of Tutor Perini/O&G to design and build a new 2.5-mile elevated rail structure, known as the guideway, and three new stations.

The new AirTrain is a key piece of the agency’s EWR Vision Plan, a wide-ranging blueprint setting the course for the Newark Liberty International 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. Today, the airport’s legacy infrastructure struggles to meet the needs of modern air travel. 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.

Construction is also underway on a new entry point to the airport’s rail station served by NJ TRANSIT, Amtrak and both the current and future AirTrain system, dramatically expanding transit and airport access for historically underserved areas of Newark and Elizabeth.

“Newark Airport is the front door to our region – and modernizing the AirTrain system is part of our commitment to reimagining a world-class airport that is worthy of our state,” said Gov. Phil Murphy. “Building on the transformation of Terminal A, the new system will meet an increasing number of travelers and deliver the airport experience they deserve.”

“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.”

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