The Port Authority of New York and New Jersey announced it will partner with three autonomous vehicle technology companies to test electric self-driving shuttles at Newark Liberty International Airport during spring 2026. These tests are part of the agency’s ongoing review of transportation options for moving passengers between existing airport facilities and the new AirTrain Newark system, which is under construction and scheduled to open in 2030.
Each company’s zero-emissions shuttle will be tested in a non-public area of the airport over two-week periods. The goal is to simulate a high-capacity shuttle network with several vehicles operating at once in a complex airport setting. Oceaneering will conduct its test in March, Ohmio in late March, and Glydways in May. The results will help determine which firms may qualify for a formal request for proposals from the Port Authority, expected as early as 2027.
“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. “We have been working with self-driving technology successfully for many years, particularly at the airports, 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. 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.”
This initiative follows an October 2024 call by the Port Authority inviting companies to propose electric autonomous transportation networks capable of servicing two locations about 2,500 feet apart over five years. Three firms were chosen after submissions were evaluated through scoring and interviews. Each participated in winter testing focused on performance under adverse weather conditions.
The upcoming tests expand on previous autonomous vehicle demonstrations at Port Authority airports. For example, John F. Kennedy International Airport hosted public rides with autonomous vehicles in its parking lot during summer 2024. Earlier pilot programs included platooned vehicles at JFK’s Aqueduct Parking Lot between 2022-2023—making JFK the first North American airport to showcase such technology—and mixed-traffic shuttle trials at Newark Liberty since 2023.
Since July 2022, when lane-keeping technology was first trialed on retrofitted buses using exclusive lanes into Manhattan’s Lincoln Tunnel during rush hour, self-driving technologies have played an increasing role across agency operations.
While evaluating these automated options for Newark Liberty’s redevelopment phase—including both conventional electric buses and driverless alternatives—the Port Authority continues work on its $3.5 billion AirTrain replacement project begun in October 2025. The current AirTrain system cannot be upgraded or expanded; ridership is expected to grow by half by 2040 as annual passenger volume has increased from roughly 30 million (in 1996) to nearly 50 million (in 2024). The new route aims for easier access between terminals while reducing walking distances.
Redevelopment efforts also include building new international terminals alongside enhancements to Terminal C—complementing Terminal A’s opening in January 2023—as well as improvements across airside operations like taxiways, deicing facilities, safety standards compliance, landside traffic flow simplification, improved amenities for cyclists and pedestrians, streamlined roadways separating terminal flows, and better connectivity via mass transit.
A notable addition underway is direct local access from Newark and Elizabeth residents into Amtrak/NJ TRANSIT’s Northeast Corridor rail station serving Newark Liberty International Airport—enabling more convenient connections not only within New Jersey but also toward Manhattan via NJ TRANSIT or PATH service from Newark-Penn Station.
The Port Authority funds these initiatives primarily through its own revenues and credit rather than taxpayer support (source). Its mission includes supporting regional economic growth by investing in key transportation infrastructure (source), overseeing assets such as John F. Kennedy International Airport, LaGuardia Airport, PATH rail service (source), within a port district spanning about 1,500 square miles across New York and New Jersey (source). Through these projects, it seeks to facilitate efficient movement of people by air, land, rail or sea while bolstering economic development with advanced infrastructure (source).
