Port Authority to test autonomous shuttles at Newark airport (photos)

The basics:

• Port Authority to test electric self-driving shuttles at Newark Liberty International Airport in spring 2026
• Oceaneering, Ohmio, Glydways selected for two-week autonomous vehicle trials
• Testing supports $3.5B AirTrain Newark replacement, broader airport redevelopment
• Formal RFP for long-term autonomous shuttle system expected in 2027

The Port Authority of New York and New Jersey will test electric self-driving shuttle buses at Newark Liberty International Airport in spring 2026 as part of its broader redevelopment plan.

The agency is partnering with three companies for the trials: Oceaneering, Ohmio and Glydways. It aims to evaluate autonomous vehicles as a potential way to transport passengers between existing airport facilities and the new AirTrain Newark system. The updated monorail is scheduled to open in 2030.

In October 2024, the Port Authority issued a request for innovation. The call sought 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. Following that, the Port Authority selected these three companies for funded testing, including winter weather trials.

Each company will conduct separate two-week trials in non-public areas. The tests will simulate a high-capacity shuttle network in a complex airport environment. They could qualify firms to compete in a formal request for proposals expected in 2027. The Port Authority is also evaluating conventional electric buses as part of its mitigation planning during construction.

A ‘safe, efficient and cost-effective’ option

The initiative builds on several prior autonomous vehicle pilots at Port Authority facilities, including earlier tests at EWR, which NJBIZ has reported on, as well as at John F. Kennedy International Airport and on the Lincoln Tunnel Exclusive Bus Lane.

Officials say autonomous shuttles could provide a safe, efficient and cost-effective transportation option while the airport undergoes major upgrades.

The shuttle testing is part of the Port Authority’s sweeping redevelopment of Newark Liberty. The plans also include the $3.5 billion AirTrain replacement project, a new Terminal B, enhancements to Terminal C, expanded roadways and improved rail access. It comes on the heels of the opening of the award-winning new Terminal A in 2023.

The overhaul follows record passenger growth at the airport. The moves aim to modernize facilities as well as increase capacity to meet future demand.

The ‘next generation’ of travel

“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.

He said that the agency has worked with self-driving technology successfully for many years.

“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,” said O’Toole. “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.”

“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.”