the staff of the Ridgewood blog
Fort Lee NJ, the Port Authority of New York and New Jersey announced that nearly 5.5 million travelers are expected to use its airports and vehicular crossings during the 5-day peak travel period from Thursday, May 22, to Monday, May 26. To view this advisory online, click here.
The agency anticipates nearly 2.1 million passengers will travel through John F. Kennedy International, Newark Liberty International, LaGuardia and New York-Stewart International airports from Thursday through Monday, a decrease of about 1 percent from the all-time high seen during same period in 2024. Friday and Monday are anticipated to be the busiest days at the airports. International seat capacity is expected to be 1 percent higher than the same period in 2024, reflecting a continued resurgence and interest in international travel.
The Port Authority strongly encourages all travelers to plan ahead and allow for additional travel time. Travelers should expect longer wait times due to higher passenger volume and ongoing construction. All passengers on domestic flights should arrive to the airport at least two hours in advance of their departure time and passengers on international flights should arrive at the airports at least three hours in advance of their departure times. Travelers are strongly advised to check the Port Authority’s air travel tips for information on preparing for their trips, including how to find real-time wait time information for TSA security lines, information on parking lot availability, AirTrain maps and schedules, directions for public transit and for-hire vehicle information.
On the roads, the agency estimates that approximately 3.4 million vehicles will use its bridges and tunnels over the holiday period, similar to volume from the same period in 2024. To accommodate anticipated significant volume, all non-emergency repairs and construction projects at its crossings will be suspended from 5 a.m. Friday, May 23, to 5 a.m. Tuesday, May 27. A separate travel advisory for any lane closures or service changes for the remainder of that week will be issued next week.
All travelers, whether by air or road, are strongly encouraged to allow for additional travel time or take public transit whenever possible. Travelers who plan to use the Port Authority’s facilities should note the following service changes that will be in effect from Thursday, May 22, to Monday, May 26, and allow for additional travel time:
AIRPORTS AND AIRTRAIN:
- As a reminder, TSA no longer accepts state-issued identifications that are not REAL ID compliant at security checkpoints. Acceptable alternative forms of ID are listed on the TSA website for all airline passengers 18 years and older who do not have a compliant REAL ID at the time of travel. Passengers who do not yet have their REAL ID or another TSA acceptable form of ID can expect additional screening. Passports and Global Entry program cards are also accepted. For more information, click here.
- To manage on-airport parking demand at Newark Liberty International Airport, LaGuardia Airport and John F. Kennedy International Airport, the Port Authority is urgently calling on air travelers to use mass transit and to pre-book parking spaces if they plan to travel to the airport by private car. Travelers who do not pre-book will be charged a peak period drive-up surcharge and may not be able to find a parking spot at the airport. To avoid paying a higher parking rate and guarantee a parking spot, travelers parking for longer than three hours are strongly encouraged to pre-book parking at least 24 hours in advance. For more information on the updated rates and how to guarantee a parking spot, click here.
John F. Kennedy International Airport:
- Due to construction underway for the $19 billion redevelopment of John F. Kennedy International Airport (JFK), motorists and anyone using for-hire vehicle services should plan ahead for delays or reroutes due to detours or closures of parts of the airport roadway network. Customers are strongly advised to use mass transit to and from the airport, such as MTA New York City Transit subway or buses, or MTA Long Island Rail Road — with 20-minute trains from Grand Central Terminal or Penn Station to the AirTrain JFK station at Jamaica.
- To avoid potential construction-related congestion at John F. Kennedy International Airport’s terminal frontages, motorists are encouraged to use the free drop-off and pickup lot at the on-airport AirTrain JFK’s Lefferts Boulevard station. There, passengers can easily connect to the free AirTrain for an eight-minute ride to airport terminals
- Terminal 1:
o Until further notice, JFK Expressway is closed for customers traveling to/from Terminal 1. Drivers will be detoured with signage via local on-airport roads and should allow 10-15 minutes of additional travel time.
- Terminal 4:
o Until further notice, from 12 p.m. each afternoon to 2 a.m. the following morning, for-hire vehicle pickup at Terminal 4 has been relocated to the Lot 66 Ride App & Car Services Pickup location due to airport redevelopment construction. Passengers seeking for-hire vehicle service from Terminal 4 should take a free shuttle bus departing from the Terminal 4 arrivals level every 1-2 minutes to Lot 66 Ride App & Car Services Pickup. Passengers should order their for-hire vehicle ride no more than 5 minutes prior to arriving at the lot. An announcement will be made on the shuttle bus when the bus is 5 minutes from the lot. Passengers departing from Terminal 4 will continue to be dropped off at the Terminal 4 frontage. Signage is available to direct passengers to pick-up locations.
o Until further notice, the ramp from the inbound JFK Expressway to JFK Terminal 4 is modified due to construction. Motorists arriving to Terminal 4 from the JFK Expressway will be rerouted to the Van Wyck Expressway for terminal access. Motorists should follow roadway signage and allow for 10-15 minutes of additional travel time. More details can be found here.
o Until further notice, the ramp from the inbound Van Wyck Expressway to Terminal 4 arrivals is modified due to construction. Motorists arriving to Terminal 4 from the inbound Van Wyck Expressway will be directed to a dedicated exit immediately after the Terminal 4 departures exit. Motorists should follow roadway signage and should allow for 10-15 minutes of additional travel time. More details can be found here.
- Terminal 5:
o Until further notice, pickups for for-hire vehicles at John F. Kennedy International Airport’s terminal 5 has been relocated to the Howard Beach Ride App & Car Services Lot due to airport redevelopment construction. Passengers leaving Terminal 5 or Terminal 7 who will be seeking for-hire vehicle service to their final destinations should take AirTrain JFK to the Howard Beach station to the Howard Beach Ride App & Car Services Lot. The AirTrain is free for passengers exiting to the pickup lot. Passengers should order their ride when they arrive at the lot. Passengers whose flights will be departing from Terminal 5 or Terminal 7 will continue to be dropped off at the terminal frontage. Signage has been installed to direct passengers to pickup locations.
o Until further notice, the taxi stand at John F. Kennedy International Airport’s Terminal 5 has been relocated to the ground level of Terminal 5’s Yellow Parking Garage. Passengers seeking taxi transportation from Terminal 5 are directed to the Yellow Garage via the skywalk on the fifth floor, where passengers may access the new taxi stand using elevators or stairs. Wayfinding signage has been installed along the pedestrian route.
o Until further notice, parking on level 1 of John F. Kennedy International Airport’s Yellow Parking Lot at Terminal 5 is now dedicated for individuals with special needs or disabilities. For customer assistance, parking attendants are available on level 1. All other vehicles must park on levels 2 to 6. Premium reserved parking is available on level 5, which is easily accessible to Terminal 5 via the pedestrian skywalk. Electric vehicle charging is available on level 2. Plan ahead by checking parking availability and booking a parking spot in advance.
- Terminals 7 and 8:
o Until further notice, pickups for for-hire vehicles at John F. Kennedy International Airport’s terminal 7 has been relocated to the Howard Beach Ride App & Car Services Lot due to airport redevelopment construction. Passengers leaving Terminal 7 who will be seeking for-hire vehicle service to their final destinations should take AirTrain JFK to the Howard Beach station to the Howard Beach Ride App & Car Services Lot. The AirTrain is free for passengers exiting to the pickup lot. Passengers should order their ride when they arrive at the lot. Passengers whose flights will be departing from Terminal 7 will continue to be dropped off at the terminal frontage. Signage has been installed to direct passengers to pickup locations.
o Until further notice, the ramp from the inbound Van Wyck Expressway to terminals 7 and 8 at John F. Kennedy International Airport is closed for construction. Motorists arriving to terminals 7 and 8 should follow detour signage to JFK Expressway via Federal Circle exit C. Customers should allow for 10-15 minutes of additional travel time. More details can be found here.
o Until further notice, the taxi stand at Terminal 7 has been relocated to the departures level of the terminal. Passengers should follow signage to the exit leading to the departures level.
LaGuardia Airport:
- LaGuardia Link Q70 bus service is fare free year-round to encourage the use of public transit to and from LaGuardia Airport, as announced in April 2022 by New York Gov. Kathy Hochul. For information on how to get to the airport via public transit, visit the MTA’s page on travel to LaGuardia Airport.
Newark Liberty International Airport:
- Passengers traveling through Newark Liberty should review their flight status before departing for the airport. For information on delays and cancellations, please visit FlightAware or the FAA’s website for details.
- Through Friday, May 23, from 10 p.m. each night to 4 a.m. the following morning, portions of the pedestrian overpass and platform at the Airport Train Station will be closed due to construction. Customers should follow posted signs.
- As a reminder, all rental car companies serving Newark Liberty International Airport now operate out of the new consolidated rental car center that is co-located within the Parking A garage on levels 1 through 3. All rental transactions, including returns, take place at the new center. The facility is connected to Newark Liberty’s terminals B and C via AirTrain Newark, with a direct connection to Terminal A via a pedestrian bridge. Passengers exiting Terminal A can walk across the bridge to arrive on level two of the rental car facility. Drivers should follow “Rental Car Return” roadway signage. For more information, click here.
PATH
- From 12:01 a.m. Saturday, May 24, to 11:59 p.m. Sunday, May 25, trains on the Journal Square-33 St via Hoboken line will operate every 20 minutes in both directions due to track work. During this time, PATH will run temporary supplemental service every 10 minutes between Hoboken and 33 St in both directions. Customers using that service who are traveling to Journal Square, Grove St, or Newport stations will need to transfer at Hoboken to a Journal Square-bound train.
- On Memorial Day, Monday, May 26, trains will operate on a Saturday schedule. For more information, including real-time train information, trip planning and PATH alerts, please visit www.panynj.gov/PATH.
- The 9 St and 23 St stations, normally closed from midnight to 5 a.m. for maintenance, will remain open during the overnight hours for the holiday weekend. The stations will resume overnight closures at 12:01 a.m. Tuesday, May 27.
- Customers who use the PATH World Trade Center station during overnights should use the street level entrances at Fulton Street or Vesey Street via the North Concourse in the 2 World Trade Center transit lobby. Oculus access is limited overnight from 1 a.m. to 5 a.m. to allow for enhanced cleaning and the safety and security of customers due to reduced traffic volumes. All other entrances will be closed. For updates on the WTC campus, click here.
- For information on PATH service and train schedules, click here or download the PATH mobile app, RidePath.
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