NEWARK, NJ — The Port Authority of New York and New Jersey kicked off construction of the agency’s project to add a new entry point to the Newark Liberty International Airport (EWR) Train Station served by AirTrain Newark, Amtrak, and NJ TRANSIT rail. The project will expand transit and airport access for the historically underserved areas of Newark and Elizabeth, New Jersey.
The $160 million project includes 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 public access area 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.
“[This] marks the beginning of a transformative effort to enhance regional connectivity surrounding Newark Liberty International Airport,” New Jersey Governor Phil Murphy said. “This project will not only improve mobility, but it will open doors for the communities that have been excluded from access to this major transportation hub. 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.”
“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,” Port Authority Chairman Kevin O’Toole said. “Access to efficient transportation can change lives. It connects people to jobs, education, health care, and family. ... 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 and Newark-Penn Station by reducing typical travel times from up to 40 minutes by bus to less than 10 minutes by train.
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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
“Transportation is all about connecting people and communities,” NJDOT Commissioner Fran O’Connor said. “The Newark Airport station access project will safely connect South Ward and North Elizabeth residents to our regional transit system and Newark Airport. It will open doors to an underserved community and make a lasting impact on their quality of life for years to come.”
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Improving public access to Newark Liberty has been a long-standing 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.
