The Port Authority of New York and New Jersey (PANYNJ) plans to invest $430 million to improve its 116-year-old PATH system. Upgrades include stations, tracks, and other critical equipment. The two-year PATH Forward program focuses on improving the reliability and modernizing stations of the nation's fifth-busiest rapid transit system.
Critical infrastructure throughout the system will be repaired or replaced, including rolling stock, bridges, tracks, and switchgear. PATH Forward's extensive renovations at four PATH stations will include upgrades to floors, ceilings, staircases, electrical systems and more.
Work has already begun on the Grove Street stop, with the first phase of station renovations completed in March. The second phase, he said, began April 6 and will see eastbound trains bypass the station on weekends to accommodate ongoing construction until about late June.
PANYNJ anticipates that the impact on service at stations undergoing renovation is expected to be limited to weekends in 2024, with some impact on weekday service expected in 2025. To help passengers plan ahead, PATH says it will provide at least five months' notice of any expected service impact. .
PATH will conduct intensive outreach with riders, elected officials, community leaders, and other stakeholders in preparation for any upcoming service changes or disruptions. PATH leaders are planning at least three sets of community information sessions in April, with additional information sessions scheduled as work progresses.
“PATH is critical to the entire region, not just because it moves trains, but because it connects people to what matters most: jobs, educational opportunities, friends and loved ones,” said PANYNJ President Kevin O'Toole. Ta. “Through PATH Forward, we are investing to ensure the smoothest and stress-free journey possible, minimizing delays and maximizing reliability for our thousands of passengers every day. ”
“Parts of the 116-year-old PATH system are showing signs of age,” said PANYNJ Executive Director Rick Cotton. “At PATH Forward, we are moving quickly to modernize our systems and ensure a smooth journey for our passengers as we update our infrastructure, renovate our trains, and update our stations.”
PANYNJ says that in the event of a major disruption, alternative service options will be available as needed, including interoperability between New Jersey Transit (NJ Transit) and New York Waterway ferry services and shuttle bus services. There is.
“This investment in our future is an investment in our customers,” said Clarelle DeGraffe, general manager and director of PATH. “No one likes service interruptions, which is why we are committed to transparency and direct communication with passengers through this initiative. That means some PATH system.”
Railways, bridges, electrical work
Replacing tracks and switches and upgrading bridges increases system reliability, minimizes delays, and increases ridership speeds.
- Hackensack Bridge: The track switches on both sides of the Passlift Bridge over the Hackensack River will be completely replaced and rebuilt. In addition, the movable bridge lift control system will also be repaired to improve reliability at key failure points affecting the entire PATH system.
- Truck stabilization: Various projects target the most critical and degraded parts of the track system to replace and rebuild tracks and improve overall system reliability.
- Railway vehicle rehabilitation: Key components of PATH rail vehicles will be replaced to reduce time-to-failure between mechanical failures and improve system reliability.
- Hoboken truck work: The existing track exchange network outside Hoboken Station will be rebuilt and improved.
station
- Grove Street: Rehabilitation is underway, with half of the 20-week project completed. Remaining work will begin on April 6th, allowing World Trade Center-bound and Hoboken/33rd Street-bound trains to bypass Grove Street Station on weekends through approximately June 30th. During this period, Newark-bound trains will not bypass the station. stage of work. The project includes replacing floor tiles, repair and repainting work, refinishing home columns, and installing LED lighting and electrical wiring.
- Hoboken: The restoration will address lingering Superstorm Sandy damage from corrosive seawater. Work will include rebuilding floors, tiling walls, upgrading LED lighting and other finishes, waterproofing and installing new fire alarms. One each of the five entrance staircases and six platform-to-mezzanine staircases will be rebuilt or renovated. The mezzanine staircase is wider, safer and provides better visibility of the platform below. The Hoboken restoration was coordinated with and approved by the New Jersey State Historic Preservation Office to ensure the preservation of the station's historic features, including restoring the station to its earliest known color scheme, PANYNJ said. The Hoboken Historic Preservation Commission was also consulted during the design process.
- Exchange location: Restoration and reconstruction efforts will focus on repairing architectural, structural, electrical and other support systems damaged by flooding during Superstorm Sandy.
- Newport: Work such as track, station and platform reconstruction will address the effects of Superstorm Sandy's flooding damage to architectural, structural, electrical and other support systems. This renovation will help prevent and reduce persistent water leakage issues at the station.
Also available for local transportation operations
PANYNJ says construction of other elements of the larger regional transportation network will also impact PATH service. Through the Amtrak and Gateway project, new power transmission lines will be installed across the PATH tracks and the Sawtooth Bridge, which carries Amtrak and New Jersey Transit trains between Newark and New York, will be replaced adjacent to the PATH tracks.
Building for PATH Forward
In 2019, PANYNJ embarked on a $1 billion PATH improvement plan to address some of the most pressing issues facing PATH, including outdated signals, faulty switches, and outdated vehicle equipment. As a result of this plan, he was able to debut a nine-car train on the Newark-World Trade Center line in March 2023. In addition, PATH constructed a new accessible station building at Harrison Station, scheduled to open in February 2024.
PATH began piloting the TAPP tap-and-go fare payment system in December 2023. In March, we expanded the TAPP pilot to select turnstiles at all terminal stations in the PATH system: Newark Penn Station, Journal Square, Hoboken, and 33 Street. . More than 1 million passengers are using the new fare payment system at the World Trade Center and Harrison stops.
