Newark Airport Begins Real-World Trials of Driverless Shuttle Buses Ahead of Major Transit Upgrade
Passengers at Newark Liberty International Airport may soon encounter unmanned electric vehicles. The Port Authority of New York and New Jersey has begun testing autonomous shuttle buses at Newark Airport, taking another step toward upgrading ground transportation at one of the nation’s biggest travel hubs.
Three manufacturers will test self-driving shuttles at the airport next month. During this phase, vehicles will undergo rigorous real-world testing to assess safety, reliability, and performance without passengers.
A newly designed course in an empty airport parking lot will host the testing. Port Authority officials said the location recreates harsh northern winters. Icy pavement can be created by snow-making devices and emergency vehicles spraying water. The purpose is to test how well autonomous systems handle snow, freezing temperatures, and abrupt obstructions, prevalent in New Jersey winters.
Shuttles will be tested for object detection and reaction accuracy in addition to weather simulations. Airport officials will throw unexpected objects in vehicles’ paths to test sensors and software for risks. Safety is the program’s priority.
This trial occurs as Newark Airport prepares for substantial infrastructure changes. In 2030, a new AirTrain Newark monorail will replace the old one. The Port Authority is considering ways to connect airport terminals, parking lots, and other facilities during and after construction. To alleviate airport campus congestion and increase passenger circulation, autonomous shuttles are being considered.
According to Port Authority Board of Commissioners Chairman Kevin O’Toole, the organization has been working with self-driving technology for years, primarily in airports. He stressed that autonomous shuttles might provide safe and efficient transportation during larger redevelopment projects.
Testing will involve three firms. March will see Oceaneering and Ohmio trials. Glydways will test its cars in May. Some shuttles look like miniature electric automobiles, while others seem futuristic.
These trials will assist decide whether companies can compete in a 2027 Port Authority RFP. The agency is reviewing conventional electric buses and autonomous vehicles as part of its Newark Airport redevelopment mobility evaluation.
Newark isn’t alone in testing autonomous ground transit. Airports nationwide are testing similar systems. Atlanta’s $20 million Glydways pilot project connected Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International Airport to the Georgia World Congress Center. In dedicated lanes, such two-year pilot could handle 10,000 passengers each hour.
In April 2024, the Hawaii Department of Transportation launched an autonomous shuttle pilot program at Daniel K. Inouye International Airport to transport passengers between terminals. The FAA reports that airports countrywide are testing autonomous systems for maintenance, snow removal, baggage handling, and security patrols. However, federal regulations restrict self-driving vehicles to aircraft-staging facilities.
The Port Authority has tested driverless vehicles several times. Autonomous vehicles were allowed at John F. Kennedy International Airport’s long-term parking area in summer 2024. Earlier JFK trials featured platooning, where numerous cars ride together utilizing automation. Both 2023 and 2024 saw mixed-traffic autonomous shuttle testing at Newark Liberty.
In addition to airports, the Port Authority tried autonomous bus platooning and lane-keeping in the Lincoln Tunnel’s Exclusive Bus Lane during morning rush hours. Similar automation might boost capacity and efficiency in high-traffic corridors, say officials.
Transportation experts say driverless shuttles might solve the “first mile” or “last mile” problem—short excursions between transport hubs, terminals, and parking lots. Such systems could minimize road congestion, electrify pollutants, and provide predictable service in regulated locations like airports if reliable.
Port Authority Executive Director Kathryn Garcia said autonomous vehicles are already used in private cars, ride-hailing services, and public transit systems worldwide. Airports provide a regulated environment for testing new transportation systems, she said.
Newark Airport passengers won’t board these vehicles yet. Safety validation and operational testing dominate this phase. If the technology performs well and wins regulatory approval, autonomous shuttles may become a regular feature at Newark Liberty International Airport.
Airport officials say the future of airport transit may be quieter, electric, and automated as significant renovation unfolds and the new AirTrain system launches in 2030.
Sources:
Port Authority of New York and New Jersey
Federal Aviation Administration
Hawaii Department of Transportation
