New York Construction Report staff writer
The Port Authority of New York and New Jersey has begun a major phase of construction on the new AirTrain Newark system, starting work on the guideway and track between the Newark Liberty International Airport Train Station and the P4 station.
Weekday service outages will affect the section between the P4 station and the airport train station, which connects to NJ TRANSIT and Amtrak’s Northeast Corridor. The Port Authority will run shuttle buses every four to five minutes during the outages, serving all terminals, parking, and rental car facilities. Passengers should allow up to 15 extra minutes for travel.
The $3.5 billion automated system will replace the current AirTrain, which opened in 1996 and is over capacity. The new system is expected to increase passenger capacity, improve reliability, and offer more flexible connections as part of the airport’s redevelopment plan. First passenger service is expected in 2030.
“Replacing AirTrain Newark is critical to the future of Newark Liberty International Airport,” said Port Authority Chairman Kevin O’Toole. “This next phase of construction moves that work from planning to visible progress, while ensuring travelers continue to have reliable ways to reach terminals, parking, and transit connections during construction.”
Port Authority Executive Director Rick Cotton said the project will deliver a high-capacity system to meet the airport’s growth. “We appreciate passengers’ patience during these temporary changes, enabling us to advance construction of a modern, high-capacity AirTrain that will deliver a smoother, more dependable experience for millions of passengers each year,” he said.
The weekday outages begin Thursday, Jan. 15, from 5 a.m. to 3 p.m. AirTrain service will continue between the P4, Terminal C, Terminal B, P3, and Terminal A stations, and on weekends. Outages will pause during the summer travel season from Memorial Day to Labor Day 2026 and again during the 2026 holiday travel season, Oct. 30, 2026, to Jan. 15, 2027. Additional outages are planned for 2027 and 2028.
