STATEN ISLAND, N.Y. -- The Port Authority is teaming with United Airlines to bring a host of upgrades, including more bathrooms, to Newark Liberty International Airport.

More than $25 million will be put toward new, modern restrooms in Terminal C, while another $19 million has been set aside for bathroom upgrades at the airport’s Terminal B, said the Port Authority in a statement.

The rollout of the new and redesigned restrooms and more rigorous cleaning schedules at Port Authority terminals, including Newark Liberty, is part of initiatives the agency has introduced to improve the customer experience across all of its facilities.

In fact, the Port Authority said it’s investing billions to build new upscale facilities that include free Wi-Fi at the airports, real-time information for air, rail and ground travelers, and other passenger-focused initiatives. The Newark Liberty Terminal B and C upgrades are part of a nearly $80 million investment overall in restroom facilities at Port Authority airports.

“Customer satisfaction surveys have consistently shown that restrooms rate among the top issues for travelers using Port Authority transportation facilities,” said Kevin O’Toole, Port Authority chairman. “Our investments in the new Newark Liberty Airport are raising the quality of service for all of our customers.”

PHASED CONSTRUCTION

The work in Terminal C is being done in two phases. The first phase includes the opening of four new bathrooms, while phase two will add one new restroom and the redesign of two additional locations. New features include a variety of customer-friendly amenities, such as a private nursing room, a separate family restroom, and larger stalls with room for luggage.

“Achieving a higher standard of service and cleanliness for our customers is an integral part of the experience we’re creating in United’s Terminal C at Newark Liberty International Airport,” said Jill Kaplan, United’s president of New York and New Jersey. “This includes the completion of phase one of our $25 million restrooms project to upgrade existing restrooms and creating entirely new locations, which will more than double our restroom capacity in Terminal C by the end of the year."

The Port Authority launched Project Clean in 2018, implementing the agency’s first-ever set of restroom standards for airport terminals. These new standards are based on industry research, best-in-class practices and changing demographics designed to exceed customer expectations.

REAL-TIME FEEDBACK BUTTONS

Real-time feedback buttons have been added to all airport restrooms to track cleanliness and customer satisfaction. This information is reported back to the operators, who can deploy custodial staff accordingly. To date, Port Authority travelers have provided some 10 million ratings. Overall satisfaction, as measured by the results from the feedback buttons, stands at 85%. Additionally, random inspections are made to ensure cleanliness and functionality.

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