Renders courtesy of the Port Authority of New York and New Jersey
Newark Liberty International Airport’s outdated AirTrain will be replaced with a modern 2.5-mile automated system capable of handling 50,000 daily passengers, officials announced at a groundbreaking ceremony.
The Port Authority of New York and New Jersey has broken ground on a new automated people mover system at Newark Liberty International Airport, marking the start of construction on a $3.5 billion replacement for the facility’s aging AirTrain.
The new 2.5-mile system will replace the existing infrastructure, which opened in 1996 and has become outdated and over capacity. Designed to accommodate 50,000 daily passengers, up from the current 33,000-passenger capacity, the project addresses forecasted ridership growth of 50 percent by 2040.
The upgraded system is a key component of Newark Liberty’s comprehensive redevelopment plan, which includes terminal modernization, improved roadway networks, and redesigned taxiway infrastructure. The new AirTrain will provide direct access to the award-winning Terminal A, eliminating the current 15-minute walk between the station and terminal.
“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.”
The existing system will largely remain operational until the new AirTrain begins service in 2030, with some intermittent outages planned outside peak travel periods. The project comes as Newark Liberty continues to experience significant growth, welcoming nearly 50 million passengers in 2024, up from approximately 30 million when the original AirTrain launched.
Myrna Whitaker 
Nils Lund 
Anna Broberg 
