PANYNJ approves new rent-a-car facility at Newark Liberty Airport

The New York & New Jersey Port Authority (PANYNJ) in the US has approved plans for the construction of a consolidated rent-a-car facility (ConRAC) next to the new Terminal One at Newark Liberty International Airport.

Last year the board authorised the Port Authority to carry out an $8m study to determine the feasibility of building a ConRAC.

The Port Authority will now search for a private developer to build the facility, which will offer passengers easy on-airport access to all rental car choices in one complex.

Additionally, the new ConRAC will help to reduce on-airport congestion by bringing rental-car customers to a single location.

The developer will design, build, finance, operate and maintain a ConRAC, without any financial risk to the agency.

Costs related to the development of the facility would be compensated through the implementation of a customer facility charge of $6 per day added to the price of rental cars.

The Port Authority’s contribution to the project, which would include a public parking garage, would be limited at $130m if the negotiations to build a ConRAC are successful.

However, if a deal cannot not be finalised with the proposed developer before December this year, the Port Authority would plan to build its own separate garage at an investment of $170m.

Port Authority chairman Kevin O’Toole said: “The construction of a consolidated rent-a-car facility at Newark Airport will maximise customer convenience and airport efficiencies.

“Consolidating rental-car agencies with a new parking garage is the perfect complement to the world-class new Terminal One, which will serve travellers as a gateway to New Jersey and the region.”

Designs for a multi-level garage complex features an integrated ConRAC facility with three main structures. These will have six levels of combined public parking and rental car operations. The facility will be able to provide spaces for 3,000 vehicles.

The board’s total $170m allocation is part of the Port Authority’s $2.7bn authorisation for the entire Terminal One redevelopment.

Construction of the proposed integrated facility is expected to begin next year and continue through the end of 2022, with the public parking elements completed by September 2021.

The scope of construction work includes the installation of a solar roof structure and electric vehicle charging stations.