The Port Authority of New York and New Jersey has approved the first phase of a $200 million modernization program for Terminal B at Newark Liberty International Airport, authorizing an initial $75 million investment aimed at improving passenger experience at the aging facility while long-term redevelopment plans continue.

The funding, approved today by the agency’s Board of Commissioners, is part of a broader three-year capital program intended to maintain and modernize the 53-year-old terminal until a new Terminal B is constructed as part of the airport’s long-term redevelopment plan.

Opened in 1973, Terminal B was originally designed to handle approximately 6.8 million passengers annually. According to the Port Authority, the terminal served roughly 11.5 million passengers in 2025.

The initial phase of work, expected to begin later this year, will focus on upgrades to gate areas, restrooms, elevators, escalators, lighting, and other high-traffic passenger spaces. Additional improvements planned under the larger $200 million program include replacing aging passenger boarding bridges, upgrading HVAC systems, refurbishing baggage handling systems, and improving ADA accessibility throughout the terminal.

Port Authority Executive Director Kathryn Garcia said the agency is prioritizing upgrades that travelers encounter most frequently, including waiting areas, restrooms, and vertical transportation systems.

The terminal improvements are part of the Port Authority’s broader EWR Vision Plan, a sweeping redevelopment initiative intended to transform Newark Liberty into a modern international gateway.

The airport overhaul began with the opening of the award-winning Terminal A in 2023 and includes plans for a new Terminal B, upgrades to Terminal C, redesigned roadways and taxiways, and replacement of the airport’s aging AirTrain Newark system.

The new 2.5-mile AirTrain Newark system is expected to accommodate a projected 50 percent increase in ridership by 2040. The current system serves approximately 33,000 passengers and employees daily, according to the Port Authority.

Additional projects include expanded roadway access, improved pedestrian and cyclist connectivity, and construction of a new access point to the airport’s rail station that will provide easier connections for residents of Newark and Elizabeth traveling to the airport and New York City via NJ TRANSIT and Amtrak.