It’s easy to describe the Port Authority’s new construction project at Newark Liberty International Airport in construction-like terms: It’s a $160 million effort to build an extension of the existing pedestrian bridge over platforms and tracks at the Newark Liberty International Airport Train Station to a new public access area off Frelinghuysen Avenue.
The effort will add a new entry point to the Newark Liberty International Airport Train Station served by AirTrain Newark, Amtrak and NJ TRANSIT rail. The project will create a public access area off Frelinghuysen Avenue that will include a pickup/drop-off point for private vehicles, taxis, buses and for-hire vehicles, along with bicyclist and pedestrian access.
The new entry point is expected to open in 2026.
Port Authority Chairman Kevin O’Toole describe it another way: An effort to increase access to the airport to underserved communities.
“This project is both a literal and symbolic bridge, linking communities that have been cut off for too long from the region’s broader transportation network,” he said.
Its impact cannot be overstated, O’Toole said.
“Access to efficient transportation can change lives,” he said. “It connects people to jobs, education, healthcare and family. Today, we are breaking ground on access to economic opportunities that will no longer fly over residents of these neighborhoods in Newark and Elizabeth.”
Residents in Newark’s South Ward and North Elizabeth currently face long and often complicated transit routes to reach the airport for travel or employment, often relying on private cars or lengthy journeys on public transportation.
For residents of nearby neighborhoods, the new connection will transform transit access to Newark Liberty International Airport (EWR) and Newark-Penn Station by reducing typical travel times from up to 40 minutes by bus to less than 10 minutes by train.
This project also improves access to Northeast Corridor rail lines serviced by NJ TRANSIT and Amtrak, including a one-seat ride to New York-Penn Station, and enhances community-led efforts to foster transit-oriented development around the station.
Key features of the project include:
- A westward extension of the station’s pedestrian bridge to a new access point off Frelinghuysen Avenue, with temperature-controlled indoor areas
- Accessible elevators and escalators linking the bridge to street level
- A 16,350-square-foot access area with dedicated drop-off lanes for cars, taxis, buses, and for-hire vehicles
- Pedestrian and bicycle access, along with a cellphone lot for private vehicles
- Real-time train and bus arrival displays alongside ticket vending machines
Improving public access to Newark Liberty has been a longstanding community priority and is a central goal of the Port Authority’s EWR Vision Plan, a comprehensive strategy for supporting the airport’s future growth while better serving passengers, airlines, and neighboring communities.
The project is expected to generate 675 total jobs, $125 million in direct wages, and nearly $300 million in total economic activity.
Port Authority Executive Director Rick Cotton said the impact of the access will be huge.
“This station project is about more than transit – it’s about fairness,” he said. “Breaking ground on this project is a major step toward ensuring that Newark Liberty is a gateway for everyone – international travelers and local resident alike.
“This station access project will strengthen connections between the airport and the surrounding community, opening up jobs, faster commutes, and new opportunities. As we continue to modernize Newark Liberty, we’re committed to working with the communities around the airport to share the benefits of its transformation.”
NJ Transit CEO Kris Kolluri also hailed the effort.
“This project represents a major step forward in expanding equitable access to regional transportation,” he said. “By creating a new direct entry point to the Newark Liberty International Airport Rail Station, this project will not only improve convenience and shorten travel times it also strengthens the critical connections that fuel opportunity and mobility for the communities who depend on public transit.”
Gov. Phil Murphy said the project is another effort to make the airport a global leader.
“Through this critical investment, we will ensure that Newark Liberty International Airport is a world-class gateway for all New Jerseyans while bolstering economic opportunity in the communities that surround it,” he said.
