Newark Liberty’s New World-Class, 21st Century AirTrain Project Advances

On May 5, 2021

The Port Authority of New York and New Jersey announced the agency has issued a Request for Proposals (RFP) to four industry-leading teams that have been shortlisted to compete for a contract to design, build, operate and maintain a new 21st century, world-class AirTrain at Newark Liberty International Airport.

Following a Request for Qualifications issued last year, the four shortlisted teams are:

• Liberty AirTrain Partners
  (Skanska USA Civil Northeast Inc., SNC-Lavalin Project Services Inc., COWI North America, Inc. and Mitsubishi Heavy Industries America, Inc.)
• Liberty Integrated Connectors
  (Dragados USA Inc., Halmar International LLC, Schiavone Construction Co. LLC, HDR Engineering, Inc., and BYD Transit Solutions LLC)
• Liberty Mobility Express
  (Kiewit Infrastructure Co., Tully Construction Co. Inc., AECOM USA Inc., and Alstom Bombardier Transportation (Holdings) USA Inc.
• Tutor Perini/Parsons JV
  (Tutor-Perini Corporation, Parsons Construction Group, Inc., and DCCCA1 Inc. (Doppelmayr)

The four teams were deemed qualified after a thorough technical review of Statements of Qualifications (SOQs) that included financial capability, past project experience and team approach and structure, and approach to customer experience, among other factors. The shortlisted candidates will now advance to the RFP phase, with groundbreaking on the project expected in mid-2022.

Issuance of the RFP this week marks an important step toward the construction of the new AirTrain Newark, which will replace a system that debuted in 1996 but has become outmoded and unreliable over the years. The new system will be designed to provide best-in-class standards for reliability, comfort, convenience and 21st century technology to enhance the customer experience for passengers at Newark Liberty.

“My administration has focused on the AirTrain project as a key step to modernize and improve efficiency at Newark Liberty International Airport, and I am pleased that the Port Authority is moving forward with this critical development,” said Governor Phil Murphy. “This Request for Proposals is one of the initial milestones for this project to become a reality and begin benefiting air travelers as well as those in the local communities who will work on the project and use the new AirTrain as a reliable way to reach their jobs at the airport.”

“The existing AirTrain Newark has outlived its useful life and is desperately in need of replacement,” said Port Authority Chairman Kevin O’Toole. “Once completed, this new system will provide a state-of-the-art travel experience and a high level of service that our airport customers and employees deserve.”

“A best-in-class airport needs a best-in-class rail link that will enhance the travel experience and provide completely reliable, appealing, comfortable and quick access to the airport,” said Port Authority Executive Director Rick Cotton. “The new AirTrain will be a perfect complement to the new world-class Terminal A, which will open next year.”

The new rail link will be a 2.5-mile elevated guideway that makes up a critical component of the modernization of Newark Liberty. In addition, the new system will be designed to maximize customer convenience with seamless connections to other forms of transportation and provide modern wayfinding, digital tools and amenities in stations and in vehicles. It will connect to the new 1 million-square-foot terminal replacing the existing Terminal A, as well as the new consolidated rental car facility.

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