The Port Authority of New York and New Jersey (PANYNJ) has launched PATH Forward: a comprehensive two-year programme to provide enhanced services and infrastructure on the PATH rail network in New Jersey.
PATH Forward is a 430 million USD programme that will focus on delivering upgraded stations, enhanced reliability, and rehabilitated train cars for transit riders.
The PATH system dates back 116 years and therefore requires substantial modernisation to meet contemporary standards and demands. To address this need, the programme will allocate resources towards critical infrastructure upgrades including track repairs, station renovations, and the rehabilitation of ageing train cars.
Station Rehabilitation
Four major PATH stations—Hoboken, Grove St., Newport, and Exchange Place—will undergo extensive renovation as part of the programme.
This will involve upgrades to floors, ceilings, stairways and electrical systems to enhance both functionality and aesthetics for passengers.
Track and Bridge Works
The reliability and efficiency of the PATH system will be improved through the replacement of tracks and switches, as well as the upgrading of bridges. These measures will minimise delays and ensure smoother rides for commuters.
For example, track switches on both sides of the PATH Lift bridge over the Hackensack River will be entirely replaced and rebuilt.
PATH is also replacing 6,000 feet of track between Journal Square and Harrison stations and is installing an additional interlocking system.
What’s more, PATH is completing a sea wall along the Passaic River to protect the system from future flooding.
Railcar Rehabilitation
Key components of PATH rail cars will be replaced to reduce the time between mechanical breakdowns and failures. This will improve the reliability of the overall network.
In addition to PATH Forward, the Port Authority continues its commitment to innovation and improvement within the transit system. Recent initiatives, such as the PATH Improvement Plan and the introduction of the TAPP tap-and-go fare payment system, also aim to address the evolving needs of passengers.
