Newark and Elizabeth Residents Getting Easy Access to Newark International Airport

On Mar 26, 2024

The Board of Commissioners of the Port Authority of New York and New Jersey yesterday approved $160 million for design and construction of the EWR Station Access project, which will add a new entry point to the Newark Liberty International Airport Rail Station. The project is expected to improve transit accessibility for underserved Newark and Elizabeth neighborhoods.

The new facility will transform transit access for residents of North Elizabeth and Newark’s South Ward. Transit trips to both Newark Liberty International Airport (EWR) and Newark Penn Station will take under 10 minutes with the new facility. Currently, the same journey via existing transit options from these neighborhoods can take 40 minutes. The project will also improve connections to PATH train service from Newark Penn Station for access to job centers in Jersey City and Manhattan, while spurring transit-oriented development around the rail station serving the airport, consistent with local community-driven planning efforts.

Currently, accessing the airport for travel or employment is unnecessarily difficult for these neighborhoods, typically requiring a private vehicle or lengthy public transit trip despite close proximity to the AirTrain.

The project will include an extension of the existing pedestrian bridge over station platforms and tracks to a new public access area off Frelinghuysen Avenue. The public access area will include a pick-up/drop-off point for private vehicles, taxis, buses, and for-hire vehicles, along with bicyclist and pedestrian access. Construction is expected to be completed in 2026.

“My administration is proud to partner with the Port Authority on the latest component in the ambitious plan to transform Newark Airport into a modern, world-class gateway,” said Gov. Phil Murphy. “This latest project will be a crucial bridge – literally and figuratively – for local residents, many of whom help power one of the world’s busiest airports. An extended pedestrian bridge will provide access to multiple modes of transportation, cutting down travel time significantly, and providing greater and easier access not only to multiple modes of transportation, but to a world of opportunities.”

The project is anticipated to generate 1,380 total job-years directly and indirectly, $125 million in direct wages, and nearly $300 million in economic activity over the life of the project. The Port Authority Board of Commissioners voted on Thursday, March 21, to advance the design and construction of the project. The Port Authority previously authorized funding for project design work in March 2023.

EWR access has been a vocal request of community members for many years, most recently expressed during the agency’s EWR Vision Plan community outreach sessions. The plan will serve as a framework for future development through 2065 and makes recommendations for both short- and long-term projects while emphasizing Newark Airport as a world-class gateway for New Jersey.

The Port Authority’s planning efforts have included significant community engagement, which will continue through future phases of the project. A town hall-style event was held in Newark’s South Ward in October 2023. Extensive governmental outreach has also been conducted with the state of New Jersey, the cities of Newark and Elizabeth, and local elected officials. The agency has also coordinated with regional transportation and technical partners, including NJ TRANSIT, Amtrak, the New Jersey Department of Transportation, the Federal Aviation Administration, and PSE&G.

Community outreach will continue through the project’s final design and construction phases. This will include direct outreach to civic organizations, additional town hall meetings in the local area prior to the start of construction, and periodic status updates throughout construction.

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