The Port Authority of New York and New Jersey will test electric autonomous shuttles at Newark Liberty International Airport (EWR) this spring. The agency announced partnerships with three AV technology firms — Oceaneering, Ohmio, and Glydways — to evaluate self-driving transit options. Each company will conduct two-week trials in a restricted, non-public area of the airport. The tests aim to determine whether autonomous shuttles can eventually connect airport facilities with the new AirTrain Newark system, currently under construction and scheduled to open in 2030.
Highlights
- Three AV companies — Oceaneering, Ohmio, and Glydways — will each conduct two-week autonomous shuttle trials at EWR this spring
- Zero-emission vehicles will operate simultaneously to simulate a high-capacity shuttle network in a complex airport environment
- A formal request for proposals could follow in 2027 if testing results prove favorable
- The Port Authority has tested autonomous vehicles at its facilities since 2022, including trials at JFK and in the Lincoln Tunnel bus lane
Testing Schedule and Structure
Oceaneering will begin its trial in March. Ohmio follows in late March, and Glydways is scheduled for May. Zero-emission vehicles from each company will operate separately during their designated periods. However, multiple vehicles will run simultaneously within each trial to replicate real-world shuttle network demands.
The tests will take place in a restricted area of the airport. As a result, the public will not have access during the demonstrations. The Port Authority designed the trials to assess how autonomous vehicles perform in a complex, high-traffic airport setting.
Connecting to the New AirTrain Newark
The autonomous shuttle program ties directly into a broader redevelopment of Newark Liberty. The Port Authority is building a new $3.5 billion AirTrain Newark system to replace the existing infrastructure, which opened in 1996. At that time, EWR served approximately 30 million passengers annually. In 2024, the airport welcomed nearly 50 million travelers.
AirTrain ridership is forecast to grow by 50 percent by 2040. That growth will exceed the current system’s capacity. The new AirTrain is designed to be expandable, and its route will provide easier access to the new Terminal A. Planning is also underway for a future Terminal B adjacent to a new AirTrain station.
The agency is evaluating autonomous shuttles as potential connectors between existing airport facilities and the new AirTrain stations. Additionally, conventional electric buses remain part of the broader assessment.
Port Authority’s Autonomous Vehicle Track Record
The Newark Liberty tests build on several years of autonomous vehicle demonstrations across Port Authority facilities. In 2022, the agency first tested autonomous platooning and lane-keeping technology on retrofitted buses in the Lincoln Tunnel’s Exclusive Bus Lane.
At John F. Kennedy International Airport, the Port Authority conducted platooning demonstrations at the Aqueduct Parking Lot in 2022 and 2023. JFK became the first North American airport to host a self-driving platoon of three vehicles during those trials. In summer 2024, public rides in autonomous vehicles were offered at JFK’s long-term parking lot.
At Newark Liberty specifically, a self-driving shuttle operated in mixed traffic for the first time in 2023. That test used a 14-passenger GreenPower AV-Star shuttle retrofitted with Perrone Robotics autonomous technology. It navigated arrival roadways, complex merges, and multiple traffic signals. A second mixed-traffic test followed in 2024.
What Comes Next
The spring 2026 trials could qualify participating companies for a formal request for proposals. The Port Authority indicated it may issue that RFP in 2027. Meanwhile, airports in the United Kingdom, the Netherlands, Los Angeles, and Miami are also integrating autonomous bus technology for passenger transit.
Port Authority Chairman Kevin O’Toole stated the agency views autonomous shuttles as a safe and efficient solution for passenger movement during the concurrent AirTrain and Terminal B construction. Executive Director Kathryn Garcia added that autonomous vehicles are part of the modern travel experience worldwide. She emphasized the agency’s commitment to building infrastructure that accommodates multiple transportation modes for the next generation of travelers.
Sign up for our weekly emails to stay up to date on the latest news!
