Partnering to transform the John. F Kennedy International Airport into a 21st century, modernized and unified facility, HNTB is currently overseeing the JFK Redevelopment Program for the Port Authority of New York and New Jersey (PANYNJ).
In addition to providing full-service program management support, HNTB’s project team is assisting PANYNJ in the development of design-build documents for roads, utilities, the airport’s ground transportation center and an additional substation. This includes working with the Port Authority in managing reviews of developers design and construction planning, overseeing technical portions of the developer leases and managing compliance of the leases during construction.
HNTB is also managing community outreach activities to help identify and leverage opportunities for local, small and minority businesses to maximize their participation in the Redevelopment Program.
Key components of the program include:
- Development of New Terminal One and Terminal 6
- Expansion of Terminals 4 and 8 for Delta and American Airlines
- New Central Terminal roads and ground transportation center
- New and improved entrances into the airport from the Van Wyck and JFK Expressways and other landside and airside improvements
- New central substation that provides power to New Terminal One & Terminal 6 and the airport’s ground transportation center
The Westbound Connector
The Westbound Connector (WBC) is a key element of the JFK Redevelopment Program, delivering a new, direct connection between the JFK Expressway and the Van Wyck Expressway. By streamlining access to New Terminal One and Terminal 4, the WBC reduces travel times by approximately 10–15 minutes while improving overall traffic flow. The separation of access routes to the central terminal area significantly alleviates congestion and enhances safety at one of the nation’s busiest airports.
Delivered on schedule and on budget, the WBC represents a major achievement in modernizing JFK’s landside infrastructure. Construction required innovative solutions, including overnight steel erection over the six-lane Van Wyck Expressway using a highly coordinated contraflow traffic plan to maintain airport operations during peak travel periods.
Central Substation 2
As a critical power backbone for the JFK Redevelopment Program, Central Substation 2 (CS2) delivers the resilient, high‑capacity electrical infrastructure needed to support the airport’s New Terminal One, Terminal 6 and the Ground Transportation Center. Designed and constructed on an accelerated schedule, the 40‑MVA facility is the first 15‑kV distribution substation at JFK and provides robust system redundancy through six coordinated switchgear lineups. The project’s design‑build approach enabled early procurement of long‑lead equipment and introduced an innovative two‑in‑one energization strategy—an industry‑first adopted by the utility provider—which allowed the PANYNJ  to meet critical contractual power‑delivery milestones.
CS2’s architectural and operational features reinforce the redevelopment program’s commitment to resiliency, sustainability and cohesive airport aesthetics. The substation is housed within a two‑story structure with metal panels and a green roof, targeting LEED Silver performance through measures such as optimized energy use, heat‑island reduction and responsible site development. CS2 was delivered through extensive coordination with airport operations, adjacent redevelopment projects and utility stakeholders.
Photos courtesy of PANYNJ
Location: New York, New York
Client: Port Authority of New York and New Jersey (PANYNJ)
Services: program management, master planning, environmental, program controls and program management information systems, procurement, contracting and delivery planning, configuration and change management, scheduling and budget, preliminary and final engineering
