10 Minutes To The Airport: $160M Project Will Boost Newark, Elizabeth Residents

NEWARK, NJ — It will soon become much easier for Newark and Elizabeth residents to get to Newark Airport – whether it's by train, car, bike, bus, taxi or foot.

The Port Authority of New York and New Jersey recently announced that ground has been broken on a $160 million project that will add a new entry point to the rail station at the busy airport (see artist renderings in the photo gallery above).

The new upgrade is expected to open in 2026.

Currently, getting to the airport can be a frustratingly tricky task for people living in the South Ward of Newark and the northern part of Elizabeth. The ride can take up to 40 minutes on public transit – a tough pill to swallow when you live so close. But when the new additions at the airport are complete, the trip will only take 10 minutes by train, officials say.

“Access to efficient transportation can change lives – it connects people to jobs, education, health care and family,” Port Authority Chair Kevin O’Toole said.

“Today, we are breaking ground on access to economic opportunities that will no longer fly over residents of these neighborhoods in Newark and Elizabeth,” O’Toole added.

According to the Port Authority, some key features of the project include:

• A westward extension of the station’s pedestrian bridge to a new access point off Frelinghuysen Avenue, with temperature-controlled indoor areas
• Accessible elevators and escalators linking the bridge to street level
• A 16,350-square-foot access area with dedicated drop-off lanes for cars, taxis, buses, and for-hire vehicles
• Pedestrian and bicycle access, along with a cellphone lot for private vehicles
• Real-time train and bus arrival displays alongside ticket vending machines

The project also improves access to Northeast Corridor rail lines serviced by NJ Transit and Amtrak – including a “one-seat ride” to New York-Penn Station, Port Authority officials said.

The project is expected to generate 675 total jobs, $125 million in direct wages, and nearly $300 million in total economic activity by the time it crosses the finish line.

Last week's groundbreaking got a big thumbs-up from Gov. Phil Murphy and several other elected officials from the Newark area, including U.S. Sen. Cory Booker, U.S. Rep. LaMonica McIver, U.S. Rep. Rob Menendez Jr., New Jersey Sens. Teresa Ruiz, Renee Burgess and Joe Cryan, New Jersey Assembly Speaker Craig Coughlin, New Jersey Assemblywoman Eliana Pintor Marin, Essex County Executive Joseph DiVincenzo Jr., Newark Mayor Ras Baraka and Newark city councilmember Patrick O. Council.

“This project will not only improve mobility, but it will open doors for the communities that have been excluded from access to this major transportation hub,” Murphy said.

“Through this critical investment, we will ensure that Newark Liberty International Airport is a world-class gateway for all New Jerseyans while bolstering economic opportunity in the communities that surround it,” Murphy added.

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