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[KevinKorell]

AM New York, 4/7/24:

 

 

 Port Authority plans $430M rehabilitation for PATH train system    

 

 

The Port Authority plans to invest $430 million over two years to rehabilitate the PATH train between New York and New Jersey, the agency announced last week.

 

Full story

[CNJRoss]

PANYNJ news release

PORT AUTHORITY LAUNCHES PATH FORWARD — A COMPREHENSIVE, TWO-YEAR PROGRAM TO DELIVER MORE RELIABLE SERVICE, UPGRADED STATIONS AND REHABILITATED TRAIN CARS FOR PATH CUSTOMERS

 

 

Date: April 5, 2024

 

$430 Million Program Will Bring Extensive Track Repair and Replacement, Alongside Rehabilitation of Hoboken, Grove St., Newport, and Exchange Place Stations

 

Project to Focus on Improving Speed and Service Reliability, with Work Completion Expected in Early 2026

 

PATH to Provide Notice of Anticipated Service Changes Months in Advance, with Alternate Service Provided for Significant Interruptions and Variations

 

Second Phase of Grove St. Station Rehab to Begin Saturday, April 6, with Eastbound Trains Bypassing Station During Weekends Through Late June

 

The Port Authority of New York and New Jersey today announced a comprehensive, $430 million investment in the 116-year-old PATH system to upgrade stations, tracks, and other critical equipment. The two-year PATH Forward program focuses on improving reliability and modernizing stations on the fifth-busiest rapid transit system in the United States. 

 

Critical infrastructure throughout the system, including railcars, bridges, tracks and track switches, will be repaired or replaced. At four PATH stations, major renovation work through PATH Forward will upgrade floors, ceilings, stairways, electrical systems and more. 

 

Work is already underway at the Grove St. stop, where the first phase of station rehabilitation work was completed in March. The second phase will begin on Saturday, April 6, with eastbound trains bypassing the station on weekends to accommodate the ongoing work through approximately late June. 

 

Service impacts at stations undergoing rehabilitation are expected to be limited to weekends in 2024, with some anticipated impact to weekday service expected in 2025. To allow riders to plan ahead, PATH will provide at least five months’ notice ahead of anticipated service impacts. Riders can access that schedule and learn about upcoming community information sessions, including three already scheduled throughout April, on the PATH Forward website. To stay up to date, riders are strongly encouraged to use the free-to-download RidePATH app, which is available from the Apple and Google Play app stores; visit the PATH Forward website; sign up for alerts, or follow PATH on social media.

 

PATH will conduct robust outreach with riders, elected officials, community leaders and other stakeholders ahead of upcoming service changes or disruptions. PATH leadership is planning at least three sets of community information sessions this month, with additional sessions anticipated as work progresses. Information on those sessions is available on the PATH Forward website. 

 

“PATH is critical to the entire region, not because it moves trains – but because it connects people with what matters most, like job and educational opportunities, friends and loved ones,” said Port Authority Chairman Kevin O’Toole. “Through PATH Forward, we’re making investments to ensure that journey is as smooth and stress-free as possible, minimizing delays and maximizing dependability for thousands of daily riders.”

 

“Some portions of the 116-year-old PATH system are showing their age,” said Port Authority Executive Director Rick Cotton. “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.”

 

“This investment in our future is an investment in our customers,” said Clarelle DeGraffe, general manager and director of PATH. “No one likes service disruptions, which is why we’re committed to transparency and direct communication with riders throughout this initiative. At the end, it will mean a much improved, reliable, and resilient PATH system.”

 

Alternate service options will be made available as appropriate for major disruptions. These measures may include cross-honoring by NJ TRANSIT and New York Waterway ferry service, as well as shuttle bus service. Alternate service options will be shared on the PATH Forward service calendar and communicated to customers across digital platforms.

 

 

TRACK, BRIDGE & ELECTRICAL WORK

 

Replacing tracks and switches and upgrading bridges will make the system more reliable, minimize delays, and speed rides. 

 

Hackensack Bridge: Track switches on both sides of the PATH Lift bridge over the Hackensack River will be entirely replaced and rebuilt. In addition, the lift control system for this movable bridge will be rehabilitated, improving reliability for a major point of failure that impacts the entire PATH system. 

 

Track stabilization: A variety of projects targeting the most critical, deteriorated segments of the track system will replace and rebuild track, improving reliability system-wide. This critical work will be greatly accelerated under PATH Forward. 

 

Railcar rehabilitation: Key components of PATH rail cars will be replaced to reduce the time between mechanical breakdowns and failures, improving the reliability of the system.  

 

Hoboken track work: The existing track switching network outside Hoboken station will be rebuilt and improved. 

 

 

STATIONS

 

Grove St.: Rehabilitation is underway, with half of the 20-weekend project now complete. The remainder of the work begins Saturday, April 6, which will require World Trade Center-bound and Hoboken/33 St.-bound trains to bypass the Grove St. station on weekends through approximately June 30. Newark-bound trains will not bypass the station during this phase of work. The project includes replacing floor tiles, patching and repainting work, refinishing platform columns and installing LED lighting and electrical wiring.

 

Hoboken: Rehabilitation will address lingering Superstorm Sandy damage from corrosive seawater. The work includes floor reconstruction, wall tiling, upgrades to LED lighting and other finishes, as well as waterproofing and installation of a new fire alarm system. Five entry stairwells and six platform-to-mezzanine stairs will be rebuilt or refurbished, one at a time. Mezzanine stairs will be wider and safer, with improved visibility to the platform below.

 

The Hoboken rehabilitation was coordinated with and approved by the New Jersey Historic Preservation Office to ensure it preserves the historic character of the station, including restoring the station to the earliest color scheme that could be identified. The Hoboken Historic Preservation Commission was also consulted during design.   

 

Exchange Place: Rehabilitation and reconstruction work will focus on the restoration of architectural, structural, electrical, and other support systems damaged by flood waters during Superstorm Sandy.

 

Newport: Work such as track, station, and platform reconstruction will address the impacts of damage by flood waters from Superstorm Sandy to architectural, structural, electrical, and other support systems. The renovation will help prevent and mitigate persistent leakage issues at the station.

 

 

ACCOMMODATING REGIONAL TRANSPORTATION WORK

 

Construction on other elements of the larger regional transportation network will affect PATH service as well. Through Amtrak and the Gateway Project, new power lines will be installed across PATH tracks, and the Sawtooth Bridge carrying Amtrak and NJ TRANSIT trains between Newark and New York will be replaced adjacent to PATH tracks. In addition, Conrail will demolish and rebuild one of its freight bridges above PATH tracks. Impacts related to these regional network projects are included in the PATH Forward service calendar. 

 

 

BUILDING TOWARDS PATH FORWARD

 

The Port Authority of New York and New Jersey is committed to improving and maintaining the critical PATH system, and PATH Forward builds on that momentum. In 2019, the Port Authority undertook the $1 billion PATH Improvement Plan, which addressed some of the most pressing issues facing PATH, including outdated signals, switch failures and outdated railcar equipment. The results of the plan allowed nine-car trains to debut on the Newark-World Trade Center line in March 2023. Additionally, PATH built a new accessible station house at the Harrison station that opened in February 2024.

 

PATH launched its pilot of the TAPP tap-and-go fare payment system in December 2023. In March, the TAPP pilot expanded to select turnstiles at all terminal stations in the PATH system – Newark-Penn Station, Journal Square, Hoboken, 33 St. and World Trade Center – as well as the Harrison stop, with over 1 million passengers TAPPing into the new fare payment system. 

 

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[CNJRoss]

Railway-News, 4/11/24

PATH Forward to Enhance Rail Network in New Jersey

 

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.  . . .

 

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