NEW YORK — The Port Authority of New York and New Jersey has launched a two-year project to upgrade infrastructure of the PATH (Port Authority Trans-Hudson) system, the 13.8-mile rail rapid transit system connecting Newark, Harrison, Jersey City, and Hoboken, N.J., to two lines in Manhattan.
The $430 million “PATH Forward” project announced Friday will include major renovation of four stations — Grove Street, Hoboken, Exchange Place, and Newport — as well as repair or replacement of track, switches, bridges, and railcars. Work on the second phase of the Grove Street station project began Saturday, April 6. Work at the other three stations will address flood damage from 2012’s Hurricane Sandy. The Hoboken Terminal work has been coordinated with and approved by the New Jersey Historic Preservation Office to ensure it preserves the character of the structure dating to 1907, including restoring the station to the earliest color scheme that could be identified.
Service at stations is expected to be affected only on weekends in 2024; some weekday impacts are anticipated in 2025, but PATH plans to provide at least five months notice before that occurs. Information on such scheduling, as well as on upcoming community information meetings, is available at the Port Authority’s PATH Forward website.
“Some portions of the 116-year-old PATH system are showing their age,” said Port Authority Executive Director Rick Cotton as part of Friday’s announcement. “With ‘PATH Forward,’ we’re fast-tracking our efforts to modernize the system and make sure riders have a smooth trip as we renew our infrastructure, refurbish our trains, and refresh our stations.”
Should have included the extension to Newark Airport, instead of the half-a$$ed “access” project for the Amtrak /NJT station.