View renderings of upcoming renovations at Newark Airport near NYC

Flying from Newark is often cheaper than JFK or LaGuardia airports, but getting there is definitely a hassle. But in about five years, the trip from NYC will be even more worthwhile.

In November, The Port Authority of New York and New Jersey was released Renderings of huge updates coming Newark Liberty International Airport (EWR) This includes a new 2.5-mile elevated rail system that replaces the existing AirTrain and adds three new stations for Terminals A, B and C. The construction will also replace the current Terminal B and modernize Terminal C.

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In addition, PANYNJ is working to improve airport operations, efficiency, security, aircraft parking capacity, passenger waiting areas and its roads. Already, the recently reopened Terminal A offers a more seamless experience with 33 gates, four lounges and four lanes for curbside drop-off and pickup and is designed to handle 13 million passengers per year.

In case you didn’t know, Newark’s existing AirTrain first opened in 1996 and, according to the Port Authority, is outdated and unable to meet today’s demand for air travel. Before the pandemic, it carried an average of 33,000 passengers per day, or about 12 million passengers per year. According to PANYNJ, AirTrain Newark has carried nearly 5.5 million passengers year to date in 2024, with the vast majority using the system at the airport to transfer between airport facilities.

When it reopens in 2030, the new AirTrain Newark will be entirely “m.”“A modern, reliable automated people mover train system,” says the Port Authority.

“Our major airports are this region’s gateway to the rest of the world and ensuring easy and reliable public transportation to and from the airport is critical,” Port Authority Executive Director Rick Cotton said in a statement. “As we embark on the Newark Vision Plan, a new AirTrain is critical to both meeting increasing traffic at our airports and providing a first-class passenger experience for Newark Liberty passengers.”

Construction of the new AirTrain is scheduled to begin in 2025, with passenger traffic scheduled to begin in 2030.

Regarding the new terminals, the plan is to create a world-class international terminal to replace the current Terminal B. Updates are planned for Terminal C with a more efficient and resilient taxiway network with more space to accommodate the industry trend toward larger aircraft. More redundancies will be added to minimize delays during irregular operations, and more de-icing facilities will be added to ensure flights can take off more frequently in bad weather. Of course, they have the latest safety standards in the industry.

There will be larger walkways and closer waiting, loading and unloading areas for passengers (to reduce walking distances) and access to the AirTrain will be easier. Access for cyclists, pedestrians and service vehicles will also be improved and the streets will be “streamlined” to ease traffic flow.

“As we work toward a modern new airport in Newark that will include new or expanded airport facilities, a reliable airport transit system will ensure passengers and airport employees get where they need to go using a new state of the art technology. the state-of-the-art AirTrain system,” said Port Authority Chairman Kevin O’Toole said in a statement.

The Port Authority will begin its two- to three-year planning process in 2025. The project’s budget is currently $3.5 billion.

You can follow along at EWRredevelopment.com.