Brady PieperThe Port Authority of New York and New Jersey (Port Authority) is launching a comprehensive initiative designed to transform Newark Liberty International Airport over the coming decades. Dubbed the EWR Vision Plan, these guidelines will accommodate increasing passenger traffic and improve travel conditions at one of the busiest airports in America.
“A modern, efficient, world-class Newark Liberty Airport is more than just a dream. We now have an actionable path forward thanks to this comprehensive vision plan,” Port Authority Chairman Kevin O’Toole says in a press release. “As the blueprint shows, we’re ready to take a top-to-bottom look at everything from terminals to roadways to taxiways as we build EWR into a best-in-class global gateway and position it to continue serving as a vital economic engine for New Jersey and the region.”
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Located in Newark, New Jersey, The 96-year-old Newark Liberty International Airport is one of the oldest and busiest airports in the United States. It’s a major hub for domestic and international flights, providing access to both New York City and other key Northeast markets. Despite its economic and community impact, most of the airport’s current infrastructure hasn’t been updated since the 1970s.
The Port Authority’s plan includes the construction of new terminals, upgrades to existing facilities, a reimagined roadway network and taxiway system improvements.
It also calls for the replacement of the current AirTrain system with a new state-of-the-art automated system and the development of a new locomotive access point to the Newark Liberty International Airport Rail Station – serving underserved communities in Newark and Elizabeth.
As passenger traffic and airport congestion continue to rise, the Port Authority anticipates Newark Liberty’s continual redevelopment will help service an estimated 76 million passengers by 2045, according to an FAA Terminal Area Forecast. Furthermore, the plan would advance the agency’s sustainability initiatives as it attempts to achieve net-zero carbon emissions by 2050.
The EWR Vision Plan includes key elements such as:
- Terminal Development: Plans for a new world-class international terminal to replace Terminal B and enhancements for Terminal C. Complimenting the recently completed Terminal A, the reimagined Terminals B and C will offer a spacious, streamlined experience needed to accommodate increasing passenger volumes.
- Airside Development: A revamped taxiway network designed to improve operational efficiency and accommodate larger aircraft, along with additional deicing facilities to expedite gate departures. The Port Authority would also bring facilities and operations up to the industry’s latest standards by increasing straight taxiway segments and minimizing unnecessary intersections and crossing.
- Utility Development: A plan to replace aging airport utility infrastructure with more sustainable sources of energy. Additionally, the Port Authority will fully replace the airport’s Central Heating and Refrigeration Plant to meet future energy demands in a more environmentally friendly manner.
- Landside Development: The Port Authority will focus on improving roadway access and multi-modal connectivity to ensure a seamless experience for passengers arriving at the airport. Improvements include expanded frontage roads for faster passenger loading and unloading, simplified AirTrain access, improved amenities for cyclists, pedestrians and service vehicles and roadway network streamlining.
To start EWR Vision Plan’s next phase, the Port Authority anticipates beginning a two- to three-year process in 2025 to finalize the redevelopment details, including cost projections and project delivery methods.
Ranked the nation’s twelfth busiest airport in terms of total passengers, the Newark Liberty Airport serves over 47.5 million passengers annually. Regarded as a regional economic engine, the airport contributes more than $33.6 billion in annual economic activity to the New York-New Jersey metropolitan region, generates over 170,000 total jobs and pays approximately $11 billion in annual wages.
Building on previous momentum, the Port Authority will develop this plan while integrating aspects from other airport redevelopment projects completed in recent years.
Notably, the construction of the new Terminal A and related roadway and parking upgrades at Newark Liberty will set the precedent for the work to come in the following years. Highlighting the Port Authority’s airport modernization efforts, the $2.7 billion award-winning Terminal A facility was the single largest investment in New Jersey by the Port Authority in the agency’s 100-year history.
Photo by Chris Leipelt on Unsplash
