The Port Authority of New York and New Jersey (PANYNJ) is partnering with three autonomous vehicle technology companies to test electric self-driving shuttles at Newark Liberty International Airport (EWR) throughout spring 2026.
The agency is evaluating options to provide automated connections between EWR’s existing facilities and the new AirTrain Newark system currently under construction. The new AirTrain Newark is scheduled to open in 2030, and planning is underway for a future Terminal B, to be located adjacent to a future AirTrain station.
Zero-emissions vehicles from each firm will be tested separately in an area of the airport that is not publicly accessible during two-week periods. The tests are designed to simulate a high-capacity shuttle network with multiple vehicles operating simultaneously in a complex airport environment.
Oceaneering will be tested in March, Ohmio in late March, and Glydways in May. The tests are intended to qualify participating firms to respond to a formal Port Authority request for proposals, which may be issued in 2027.
“As we advance the redevelopment of Newark Liberty International Airport, we are looking for opportunities to improve our passengers’ time at our airport through unique customer-first experiences as soon as you step onto airport property,” said Port Authority Chairman Kevin O’Toole.
“We have been working with self-driving technology successfully for many years, particularly at the airports, and believe autonomous shuttles offer a safe, efficient solution for moving passengers while we concurrently work to build a new AirTrain Newark and the brand-new Terminal B. These tests this spring will enable us to build on our knowledge and prior experiences working with self-driving shuttles and create a highly customized journey that will be unique to Newark Liberty and tailored to our passengers’ needs,” O’Toole added.
Request for Innovation
The Port Authority’s October 2024 request for innovation invited proposals from companies that could provide an electric autonomous transportation network. Firms were asked to respond with how they could service two locations, approximately 2,500 feet apart, for five years. The competitive evaluation process included scored submissions and interviews with top-performing firms.
Three firms were selected for tests funded by the Port Authority. Each firm also participated in adverse-weather testing earlier this winter to assess vehicle performance in snow and cold conditions.
“Autonomous vehicles are in use around the world and around the country, and they are part of the modern travel experience, whether in a private car, a for-hire vehicle, or on public transit,” said Port Authority Executive Director Kathryn Garcia. “We are building a new Newark Liberty that meets the demands of the next generation of travel, so we must embrace a future that is inclusive of all the different ways we can move this region.”
The Newark Liberty tests build on several successive years of autonomous vehicle demonstrations conducted at Port Authority airports. These include testing in summer 2024 at John F. Kennedy International Airport (JFK), which enabled members of the public to ride in autonomous vehicles at JFK’s long-term parking lot 9.
Testing the Tech
The PANYNJ has been testing self-driving technology since July 2022, when the agency successfully tested autonomous platooning and lane-keeping technology on retrofitted buses in its Exclusive Bus Lane, which expedites bus travel into and out of the Lincoln Tunnel during rush hours.
Two other previous tests of autonomous platooned vehicles were held at JFK’s Aqueduct Parking Lot in 2022 and 2023, when JFK became the first North American airport to host a demonstration of a self-driving platoon of three vehicles.
A test of a self-driving shuttle was also conducted in mixed traffic at Newark Liberty in 2023 and again in 2024
Autonomous vehicles may offer a safer, more efficient, and more cost-effective solution than traditional busing, though the agency will also evaluate conventional electric buses as part of its broader review of mitigation plans during the redevelopment of Newark Liberty.
Current Project to Replace AirTrain
The Port Authority’s $3.5 billion project to replace the existing AirTrain Newark began in October 2025 and advanced to major construction earlier this year. The current system cannot be expanded or upgraded to newer technology, and its route will hinder future airport growth, while the new AirTrain Newark is being designed to be expandable.
When the current system opened in 1996, the airport served approximately 30 million passengers each year. In 2024, Newark Liberty welcomed nearly 50 million passengers. AirTrain ridership is forecasted to grow by 50 percent by 2040, exceeding the capacity of the existing system. Its new route provides easier access to the award-winning Terminal A, eliminating the current 15-minute walk between the AirTrain station and the terminal.
Redeveloping Newark Liberty International Airport
- The Port Authority is in the midst of a complete redevelopment of Newark Liberty International Airport that began with the 2023 opening of Terminal A – the centerpiece of an airport-wide renaissance designed to establish the airport as a world-class gateway for the New Jersey and New York region. The airport’s redevelopment is outlined in the agency’s EWR Vision plan to accommodate future growth and deliver a world-class air travel experience from curb to gate. Major elements of the redevelopment of Newark Liberty include: Terminal development: A new world-class international terminal to replace the current Terminal B, while enhancing Terminal C to improve the customer experience. Both would complement the airport’s award-winning new Terminal A that opened in January 2023, which could also see further expansion. The spacious, streamlined terminals would allow the airport to accommodate continued growth in passenger volume, while leaving space for further expansion as needed.
- Airside development: Improving airport operations with a more efficient and resilient taxiway network, while accommodating the industry trend toward larger aircraft. The new network would increase parking capacity and flexibility for aircraft, while creating redundancies to minimize delays during irregular operations. It incorporates additional deicing facilities, allowing aircraft to push off from gates more quickly. It would also include the industry’s latest safety standards, increasing straight taxiway segments and minimizing the need for crossings.
- Landside development: Transformation of the airport’s vehicular and multi-modal access, prioritizing efficiency and convenience for all users. Alongside terminal buildings, frontages would be expanded to meet industry standards, providing ample space for passenger waiting, loading and unloading while minimizing walking distances. AirTrain access would be simplified, while connectivity and amenities for cyclists, pedestrians, and service vehicles would be improved. The roadway network would also be streamlined to reduce decision points and separate major flows with independent circulation for each terminal.
- Newark station access: The Port Authority has announced plans to create a new entry point to Amtrak and NJ TRANSIT’s Newark Liberty International Airport Rail Station on the Northeast Corridor line, enabling easier and faster mass transit options for residents of Newark and Elizabeth to get to the airport and New York City. The new entryway is currently under construction and will give local residents direct access to the Airport Train station, providing the community with the ability to take mass transit either to the airport via AirTrain Newark or to New York City via NJ TRANSIT. The project will also improve connections to PATH train service from Newark-Penn Station for access to Jersey City and Manhattan.
About the Port Authority of New York and New Jersey
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 major airports, critical bridges, tunnels, and bus terminals, a commuter rail line, and the busiest seaport on the East Coast has been among the most vital in the country — transporting hundreds of millions of people and moving essential goods into and out of the region.
The Port Authority also owns and manages the 16-acre World Trade Center campus, which welcomes tens of thousands of office workers and millions of annual visitors. The agency’s historic $45 billion capital plan for 2026-2035 advances a new generation of projects that will modernize, strengthen, and expand the agency’s infrastructure around the region, including: a new Midtown Bus Terminal, transformations at John F. Kennedy International Airport (JFK) and Newark Liberty International Airport (EWR), and a new era for PATH, with major service increases.
The Port Authority’s annual budget of $10 billion includes 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.