en.Wedoany.com Reported - The Board of Commissioners of the Port Authority of New York and New Jersey has approved a $75 million allocation for near-term upgrades to Terminal B at Newark Liberty International Airport. This represents the first phase of a three-year, $200 million project within the agency's 2026-2035 capital plan, aimed at modernizing and maintaining the existing facility, which opened in 1973, until a new Terminal B is completed in the mid-2030s. Terminal B was designed for an annual passenger throughput of 6.8 million, but actually served approximately 11.5 million passengers in 2025. While the EWR Vision Plan advances long-term redevelopment, the Port Authority is prioritizing these near-term upgrades to enhance comfort, reliability, and the overall passenger experience, with work commencing this year.
New Jersey Governor Mikie Sherrill expressed her pleasure that the Port Authority is investing in upgrades at Newark Airport to better meet traveler needs. She views the immediate improvements to Terminal B as an important first step in enhancing the passenger experience and growing the economy.
Port Authority Chairman Kevin O'Toole noted that these investments reflect a focus on customers, and the board's approval of funds demonstrates that the current travel experience is just as important as the future terminal. Following the implementation of interim improvements, passengers should notice changes brought about by upgrades to seating, restrooms, and the terminal's internal systems. Port Authority Executive Director Kathryn Garcia emphasized that a major transformation cannot come at the expense of the current passenger experience. She stated that this investment directly targets facilities passengers encounter on every trip, such as gate areas, restrooms, escalators, and elevators, and that worn equipment is being replaced, outdated systems upgraded, and targeted improvements made.
To address aging infrastructure, the Port Authority has allocated $200 million in its 2026-2035 capital plan to modernize passenger spaces, replace aging equipment, upgrade customer technology, and enhance operational reliability. The three-year program will replace seating, flooring, and lighting in gate areas; replace escalators and elevators; improve ADA accessibility; renovate restrooms and passenger boarding bridges; upgrade HVAC systems; and refurbish the baggage handling system. The initial $75 million phase of work begins this year, prioritizing the terminal's most urgent needs, including gate areas, restrooms, high-traffic spaces, curbside frontages, lighting, and critical systems such as elevators, escalators, and boarding bridges.
The new Terminal B will be the centerpiece of the airport's long-term transformation, replacing the aging facility with a world-class international gateway designed for the future of air travel. Building on the success of the award-winning Terminal A, the new terminal will offer a modern, seamless passenger experience featuring greater gate capacity, intuitive design, advanced technology, and upgraded dining, retail, and public spaces. The redevelopment will solidify Newark Liberty's position as the region's premier global gateway while enhancing operational efficiency and resilience.
The Port Authority is advancing a comprehensive redevelopment of Newark Liberty International Airport, which began with the opening of Terminal A in 2023. The redevelopment, outlined by the EWR Vision Plan, includes terminal development, airside development, landside development, Newark AirTrain, and the Newark Station Access project. The terminal development component will build a new world-class international terminal to replace the existing Terminal B and upgrade Terminal C, complementing the award-winning new Terminal A that opened in January 2023. Airside development will improve operations through a more efficient and resilient taxiway network, accommodating trends toward larger aircraft and increasing parking capacity and flexibility. Landside development will transform vehicular and multi-modal access, expand curbside frontages, streamline AirTrain access, and improve connectivity. The Newark AirTrain will replace the aging system with a modern 2.5-mile automated train system to address passenger volumes projected to grow by 50 percent by 2040; the system currently transports approximately 33,000 passengers and employees daily, or about 12 million annually, and connects to Amtrak and NJ TRANSIT's Northeast Corridor line via Newark Liberty International Airport Station. The Newark Station Access project will build new entrances to the Amtrak and NJ TRANSIT rail station, providing more convenient public transit options for Newark and Elizabeth residents while improving connections from Newark Penn Station to PATH train service.
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