The EWR Station Access project will massively improve airport access to underserved communities in Newark and Elizabeth thanks to a new design approval from the Board of Commissioners of the Port Authority of New York and New Jersey. The design includes a $160 million bridge extension over station platforms and tracks and a new public access area for a pick-up/drop-off point.
Even though the AirTrain is nearby, residents of North Elizabeth and Newark’s South Ward face unnecessarily long travel time to reach the airport. A journey can take as long as 40 minutes. However, these new transit options will cut that journey time to a mere 10 minutes! Residents will also have an easier trip to Jersey City and Manhattan via improved PATH connections from Newark Penn Station.
“This is a true example of how transit access can transform a community,” said Port Authority Chairman Kevin O’Toole. “This project will fill in a critical link that had been missing for too long in the South Ward and North Elizabeth, giving residents in these previously underserved neighborhoods far easier access not just to Newark Airport, but to our regional transit system and all the opportunities that come with it.”
The new public access area will be of use to private vehicles, taxis, buses, for-hire vehicles, bicyclist and pedestrians. It will span 16,350 square feet, including dedicated lanes and a cellphone lot for private cars. The westward bridge extension will be responsible for connecting travelers to this new public facility. It will be ADA-compliant with elevators and escalators between street level and the bridge. It will host ticket vending machines and show real-time bus and train arrival information.
Port Authority expects the entire project to be completed by 2026. It should produce almost $300 million in economic activity and 1,380 total job-years. “This project represents the Port Authority at its best – breaking down barriers and expanding economic opportunity all around our facilities,” said Port Authority Executive Director Rick Cotton. “Transit access is proven to be a game changer – expanding job options, shortening commutes, and promoting sustainability. We’re proud to help deliver those opportunities to these Newark and Elizabeth neighborhoods.”