Vision Plan Advances an Airport Transformation Already Under Way with Construction of New Terminal A, New AirTrain, and Parking Garage/Centralized Rental Car Facility

The Port Authority of New York and New Jersey has issued a Request for Proposals (RFP) for a master planner to oversee architectural, planning, engineering, and business development services for the next phase of the redevelopment of Newark Liberty International Airport (EWR), a key part of the agency’s ongoing commitment to creating a new world-class airport.

Under the direction of the EWR Vision Project Team, the planning consultant will establish a far-reaching strategy for the future layout of Newark Liberty by anticipating facility and customer demands, identifying new areas for construction and redevelopment, pinpointing potential sustainability and resilience programs, and laying out all other key elements of a master plan for the airport.

The selected firm will be asked to evaluate Newark Liberty’s current capacity to accommodate passenger and cargo growth, and to deliver a comprehensive framework in the near-, medium-, and long- term to meet future aviation demand, up to the year 2065. An important planning element will be the analysis of the impact of COVID-19 on the airport’s travel volumes and customer demands in the near and longer terms.

“The reimagining and renovation of Newark Liberty International Airport will be a gamechanger for the state and the region’s status as a transportation hub,” said New Jersey Gov. Phil Murphy. “The Newark Liberty Vision Plan will continue making improvements that build on New Jersey’s strategic location and improve the travel experience for the millions of people who make their way through Newark Airport every year.”

“Today marks another bold step forward in the Port Authority’s effort to reimagine what EWR can be,” said Port Authority Chairman Kevin O’Toole. “The aim of the Newark Liberty Vision Plan is nothing less than the creation of a stunning, world class gateway that delivers best-in-class facilities for our passengers and further enhances the airport’s economic importance to the region.”

“We continue to move toward a modern, state-of-the-art Newark Liberty Airport that delivers for our travelers at the highest level,” said Port Authority Executive Director Rick Cotton. “With this next phase of the redevelopment of Newark Liberty, we are creating a new vision for the airport to serve air passengers at a world-class level in the decades ahead.”

Pre-pandemic, Newark Liberty ranked as the nation’s 12^th busiest airport in total passengers, with 33 airlines serving more than 47.5 million customers in 2019 offering non-stop service to more than 160 destinations globally. Newark Liberty also serves as a powerful economic engine for the region, with about 23,000 people employed in airport-related jobs.

Newark Liberty is in the midst of an airport-wide transformation with three major projects on the books and underway, totaling about $5.3 billion in public and private investment.

First, a new Terminal A is scheduled to open later this year. Measuring more than one million square feet, the $2.7 billion facility — the largest design-build project in New Jersey history – is in the final stages of construction. It is replacing the outdated current Terminal A and incorporating a new roadway access network and additional terminal-front parking once completed. The new Terminal A represents the largest single investment in New Jersey by the Port Authority in the agency’s 100-year history.

Second, a new privately financed Consolidated Rent-A-Car (ConRac) facility combined with Port Authority-funded public parking also is in the final stages of construction with a partial opening scheduled for later this year and a full opening in 2023.

Third, the Port Authority is moving forward with development of a $2.05 billion Newark Liberty AirTrain to replace the current outdated AirTrain.

Vision planners also will also be looking beyond the airport proper, seeking ways to enhance the quality of life for nearby residents and to increase the economic value of the airport to the region by maximizing job creation and economic opportunities in Newark, Elizabeth, and throughout the Port District.

In addition, planning consultants will be developing strategies for more operationally efficient parking facilities, road access and potential creation of new Ground Transportation Center (GTC) facilities to meet current and future needs. Experts hired to conduct the study will also be asked to identify new, cutting-edge technology resources to improve the customer experience and wayfinding capabilities.

Contact:
The Port Authority of New York and New Jersey
212-435-7777
[email protected]

The Port Authority of New York and New Jersey is a bi-state agency that builds, operates, and maintains many of the most important transportation and trade infrastructure assets in the country. For over a century, the agency’s network of aviation, ground, rail, and seaport facilities is among the busiest in the country, supports more than 550,000 regional jobs, and generates more than $23 billion in annual wages and $80 billion in annual economic activity. The Port Authority also owns and manages the 16-acre World Trade Center site, where the 1,776-foot-tall One World Trade Center is the tallest skyscraper in the Western Hemisphere. The Port Authority receives no tax revenue from either the states of New York or New Jersey or from the city of New York. The agency raises the necessary funds for the improvement, construction or acquisition of its facilities primarily on its own credit. For more information or for updates from the Now Arriving blog, please visit https://www.panynj.gov/blog.