Newark Airport's snazzy $3.5 billion AirTrain has commenced construction-here's why it'll be major for travelers

"The Port Authority of New York and New Jersey broke ground this week on the 2.5-mile automated people mover, which will serve as the backbone of Newark's ongoing airport transformation. When it debuts in 2030, the new AirTrain will move up to 50,000 passengers per day (up from about 33,000 currently), connecting all three terminals, parking lots, rental car facilities and NJ Transit and Amtrak's Northeast Corridor rail lines."

""Breaking ground on a new AirTrain system marks another milestone in the complete transformation of Newark Liberty International Airport into a world-class gateway," said Port Authority Chairman Kevin O'Toole. "This project is about more than just replacing outdated infrastructure. It's about building the capacity, reliability, and customer experience that millions of travelers will depend on for decades to come." That transformation is no small feat. Newark's redevelopment plan calls for revamped terminals, streamlined roadways and a modernized taxiway system to reduce delays."

"The AirTrain is a critical piece-designed to eliminate the current 15-minute slog between Terminal A and the rail station while providing smoother connections for future terminals (including a new Terminal B) and amenities like the Consolidated Rent-A-Car facility. "The new AirTrain Newark is essential to Newark Liberty's future," added executive director Rick Cotton. "It will improve access to the airport, support its continued growth, and knit together the airport's terminals, rail links, and parking into a modern, unified"

Construction has begun on a $3.5 billion, 2.5-mile automated AirTrain at Newark Liberty International Airport, scheduled to open in 2030. The system will increase capacity to about 50,000 passengers per day, up from roughly 33,000 today, and tie together all three terminals, parking, rental car facilities, and NJ Transit and Amtrak's Northeast Corridor. The AirTrain aims to eliminate a 15-minute transfer between Terminal A and the rail station and provide smoother connections for future terminals, including a new Terminal B, plus a Consolidated Rent-A-Car facility. Newark's broader redevelopment includes revamped terminals, streamlined roadways and a modernized taxiway system to reduce delays.

Read at Time Out New York