JERSEY CITY | PATH Train Ridership Growing Rapidly

[mrnyc]

it looks like the airport path station design is underway, i guess that will get built first eventually, but post-covid the rest is unfunded. afaik no recent news.

[C.]

Originally Posted by Busy Bee

I'm a big believer in PATH expansion but with NJTransit I don't think extending past EWR makes much sense.

As a counterpoint, PATH and NJ Rail complement each other when one service inevitably has service disruptions. Secondly, NJ Rail is get for servicing midtown Manhattan while PATH also provides services Downtown and the Financial District. It also a easier transfer point for commuters going to/from Brooklyn.

You saw this pre-pandemic when there was a horde of NJ Transit/Amtrak folks getting off at Newark and transferring to PATH to go to the WTC. The demand is there.

[Busy Bee]

Originally Posted by C.

You saw this pre-pandemic when there was a horde of NJ Transit/Amtrak folks getting off at Newark and transferring to PATH to go to the WTC. The demand is there.

If PA wanted to fund it I wouldn't stand in the way. It would be a challenge squeezing it into the NEC r.o.w. but probably doable. Not to let the air out the balloon but considering how long it's taken them to even begin serious steps towards the stupefyingly obvious extension to EWR, unless an Elizabeth extension was packaged together with tremendous political support I don't see them moving on it.

[Nexis4Jersey]

Originally Posted by Busy Bee

I'm a big believer in PATH expansion but with NJTransit I don't think extending past EWR makes much sense.

I think the 1960s proposal which took it past EWR to Midtown Elizabeth then out to Plainfield via the CNJ tracks is a better idea. Given the recent redevelopment boom and the state of local transit being overcrowded, it's needed badly. A Branch to Staten Island should also be built to St. George along the SIRR.

[Nexis4Jersey]

Originally Posted by Busy Bee

If PA wanted to fund it I wouldn't stand in the way. It would be a challenge squeezing it into the NEC r.o.w. but probably doable. Not to let the air out the balloon but considering how long it's taken them to even begin serious steps towards the stupefyingly obvious extension to EWR, unless an Elizabeth extension was packaged together with tremendous political support I don't see them moving on it.

The line would have to go under route 27 or use the shelved Newark - Elizabeth LRT route to get around the NEC.

[C.]

Originally Posted by C.

March 2024 Ridership Numbers Just Released

March 2019
Avg. Weekday: 281,605
Saturday: 106,134
Sunday: 69,640

March 2024
Avg. Weekday: 177,646 (63% Recovered)
Saturday: 86,807 (81.8% Recovered)
Sunday: 72,350 (103.9% Recovered)

PATH should not be considered a commuter railroad! Weekend numbers are rising fast. PATH should have normal service instead of weekend service. Numbers would rise even higher.

On the plus side, NIMBYs have lost a credible claim about PATH overcrowding. Tens of thousands of units coming online and still not close to pre-pandemic ridership levels. Might as well keep adding until back up to 300,000 people a day and resume talks of expansion of service.

April 2024

Weekday 182,180
Saturday 104,486
Sunday 80,190

Sunday is at a new high for the month and Saturday has almost fully recovered. Weekday is pathetic.

I reierate PATH should recognize it's not just a commuter railroad and they should invest in weekend service and frequency. Ridership would soar.

[Nexis4Jersey]

9th Street


9th Street

[C.]

Will there ever be a scenario where weekend ridership matches or exceeds weekday service? The fact that we're seeing all time new highs on weekends, while weekdays continue to lag.

[k1052]

Originally Posted by C.

Will there ever be a scenario where weekend ridership matches or exceeds weekday service? The fact that we're seeing all time new highs on weekends, while weekdays continue to lag.

Take the Newark-WTC service to 10 minute headways from 20 on Saturdays and lets find out.