Jacobs to Continue Supporting Automated People Mover at Newark Liberty International Airport

With a record 49 million passengers passing through the airport in recent years, growth at Newark Liberty International Airport (EWR) is taking off — and Jacobs is playing a critical role, securing two critical projects alongside the Port Authority of New York & New Jersey (PANYNJ) at EWR.

Both projects will support the Newark AirTrain, an automated people mover (APM) system that has served Newark Liberty International Airport since its opening in 1996. Owned and operated by PANYNJ, the AirTrain system provides seamless passenger connections for 12 million travelers annually between the airport’s airline terminals, parking, hotel shuttle service and rental car facilities as well as the Northeast Corridor — one of the world’s busiest and economically vital transportation systems — linking passengers to five major metropolitan regions: Boston, New York, Philadelphia, Baltimore and Washington, D.C. 

Jacobs has provided Operations & Maintenance (O&M) services on the existing AirTrain, including scheduled overhauls to maintain system reliability and efficiency, since 2021. Now, we’ve been awarded the 2025-2029 O&M Technical Support Services contract, with two additional one-year options, potentially extending support through 2031.

As part of this contract, Jacobs will provide expert engineering and quality inspection support to PANYNJ, ensuring the third-party O&M operator delivers best-in-class services. Our technical support will focus on:

• Vehicle and facilities overhaul and upgrade
• Reviewing system upgrades/replacements in line with industry best practices and innovations
• Life cycle and condition analysis of key subsystems
• Service availability and performance analysis to enhance system reliability

Additionally, Jacobs is supporting PANYNJ on the ongoing Newark AirTrain Replacement Program, which will replace the existing AirTrain with a modern 2.5-mile automated train system, ensuring passengers and airport workers get where they need to go and allow EWR to meet increasing passenger volume and deliver a world-class experience for decades to come. The new AirTrain is expected to be in service by 2030.  

In addition to supporting the existing AirTrain, Jacobs also works directly within the Port Authority’s Construction Management Division (CMD), helping oversee all contractors building the new replacement AirTrain. In this role, Jacobs functions as an extension of CMD, consistent with their separate contract supporting current airport operations, to ensure consistent, unified oversight across both today’s system and the AirTrain that will replace it.

“Handling more than 33 million passengers annually, the Newark AirTrain is a vital link for travelers, connecting them seamlessly between terminals and to regional transit hubs,” says Jacobs Vice President and Director of Operations – U.S. Northeast Transportation Caitlin Johnson. “Working with the Port Authority of New York and New Jersey, we’re supporting continued smooth operations and exploring future options for the AirTrain — providing a reliable and efficient transit solution, while also innovating for the future to enhance passenger experience and connectivity at one of the nation’s busiest airports.”