Port Authority to test self-driving shuttles at Newark airport this spring
The Port Authority of New York and New Jersey will test electric self-driving shuttle buses at Newark Liberty International Airport this spring as part of the facility's massive redevelopment project, according to agency officials.
The Port Authority of New York and New Jersey will test electric self-driving shuttle buses at Newark Liberty International Airport this spring as part of the facility’s massive redevelopment project, according to agency officials.
The Port Authority selected three companies—Oceaneering, Ohmio and Glydways—for the autonomous vehicle trials, which aim to evaluate whether self-driving shuttles could transport passengers between existing airport facilities and the new AirTrain Newark system scheduled to open in 2030. As previously reported, the Port Authority announced plans to test these three autonomous shuttle companies as part of its broader innovation initiative.
Each company will conduct separate two-week trials in non-public areas of the airport, according to the Port Authority. The tests will simulate a high-capacity shuttle network in a complex airport environment and could qualify the firms to compete in a formal request for proposals expected in 2027.
The initiative stems from a request for innovation the Port Authority issued in October 2024, seeking proposals for an electric autonomous shuttle system to operate between two airport locations about 2,500 feet apart for five years. The competitive review process included scored submissions and interviews before the agency selected the three companies for funded testing, including winter weather trials.
“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.
O’Toole noted that the agency has worked with self-driving technology for many years and believes “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.”
The shuttle testing builds on several previous autonomous vehicle pilots at Port Authority facilities, including earlier tests at Newark Liberty, John F. Kennedy International Airport and on the Lincoln Tunnel Exclusive Bus Lane, according to agency records.
Officials say autonomous shuttles could provide a safe, efficient and cost-effective transportation option while the airport undergoes major upgrades. The Port Authority is also evaluating conventional electric buses as part of its planning during construction.
The autonomous shuttle trials represent one component of the Port Authority’s sweeping redevelopment of Newark Liberty. The broader plans include the $3.5 billion AirTrain replacement project, a new Terminal B, enhancements to Terminal C, expanded roadways and improved rail access, according to the agency.
The overhaul follows the opening of the new Terminal A in 2023 and comes amid record passenger growth at the airport. The moves aim to modernize facilities and increase capacity to meet future demand, officials said.
“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 spring trials will help the Port Authority build on its knowledge and prior experiences with self-driving shuttles to create what O’Toole described as “a highly customized journey that will be unique to Newark Liberty and tailored to our passengers’ needs.”
The testing phase will determine whether autonomous shuttles become a permanent fixture at one of the region’s busiest airports as it undergoes its most significant transformation in decades.