The Port Authority of New York and New Jersey need’s a vision guy—or gal—for Newark Airport.
Authority officials recently issued a Request for Proposals for a master planner to oversee architectural, planning, engineering, and business development services for the next phase of the redevelopment of Newark Liberty International Airport.
The job description reads in part that under the direction of the EWR Vision Project Team, the planning consultant will establish a strategy for the future layout of the airport by anticipating facility and customer demands, identifying new areas for construction and redevelopment, pinpointing potential sustainability and resilience programs, and laying out all other key elements of a master plan for the airport.
Plan With a Vision
“The aim of the Newark Liberty Vision Plan is nothing less than the creation of a stunning, world class gateway that delivers best-in-class facilities for our passengers and further enhances the airport’s economic importance to the region,” said Port Authority Chairman Kevin O’Toole in a statement.
The selected firm will be asked to evaluate Newark Liberty’s current capacity to accommodate passenger and cargo growth, and to deliver a comprehensive framework in the near-, medium-, and long- term to meet future aviation demand, up to the year 2065.
Planning Beyond the Airport
Vision planners will be tasked with looking beyond the airport proper, seeking ways to enhance the quality of life for nearby residents and to increase the economic value of the airport to the region by maximizing job creation and economic opportunities in Newark, Elizabeth, and throughout the Port District.
In addition, planning consultants will be developing strategies for more operationally efficient parking facilities, road access and potential creation of new ground transportation center facilities to meet current and future needs. Experts hired to conduct the study will also be asked to identify new, cutting-edge technology resources to improve the customer experience and wayfinding capabilities.
“The reimagining and renovation of Newark Liberty International Airport will be a gamechanger for the state and the region’s status as a transportation hub,” said Gov. Phil Murphy. “The Newark Liberty Vision Plan will continue making improvements that build on New Jersey’s strategic location and improve the travel experience for the millions of people who make their way through Newark Airport every year.”
Terminal A Redux
Pre-pandemic, Newark Liberty ranked as the nation’s 12th busiest airport in total passengers, with 33 airlines serving more than 47.5 million customers in 2019 offering non-stop service to more than 160 destinations globally. Overall, about 23,000 people are employed in airport-related jobs.
Newark Liberty is in the midst of an airport-wide transformation with three major projects on the books and underway, totaling about $5.3 billion in public and private investment.
A new Terminal A is scheduled to open later this year. The largest design-build project as well as the largest single investment in New Jersey by the Port Authority in the agency’s 100-year history, the $2.7 billion facility will replacing the outdated current Terminal A and incorporate a new roadway access network and additional terminal-front parking once completed.
Transformation Underway
Additionally, a new privately financed Consolidated Rent-A-Car facility combined with Port Authority-funded public parking is in the final stages of construction with a partial opening scheduled for later this year and a full opening in 2023.
Finally, the Port Authority is moving forward with development of a just-over $2 billion Newark Liberty AirTrain to replace the current outdated AirTrain.
“We continue to move toward a modern, state-of-the-art Newark Liberty Airport that delivers for our travelers at the highest level,” said Port Authority Executive Director Rick Cotton. “With this next phase of the redevelopment of Newark Liberty, we are creating a new vision for the airport to serve air passengers at a world-class level in the decades ahead.”
