There have been six previous Bloustein School studios that addressed the proposed 2023 PATH station addition to the EWR airport in Newark, NJ.

In February 2017, the Port Authority of NY and NJ approved a $1.7 billion PATH extension to the Newark Liberty International Airport (EWR). The extension was part of a $32 billion 10-year capital plan.

Bloustein School graduate planning studios began the initial plans for the proposed PATH station location to serve Liberty International Airport (EWR). To date, more than 100 graduate students from Rutgers, UPenn, and NJIT have contributed to research and planning efforts connected to this PATH extension and the surrounding community. Several studios were included in the series, including neighborhood plans for South Ward’s Dayton and Weequahic neighborhoods, a master plan for the airport, and a corridor study of Frelinghuysen Avenue. 

The Graduate Planning Studio of Spring 2025 is essential because it marks a significant shift in how Dayton and the South Ward of Newark are recognized within the broader regional transit network. Historically, these areas were invisible regarding transit access and public investment.