PANYNJ news release:
PATH ADDING MORNING AND EVENING RUSH HOUR TRAIN SERVICE TO ACCOMMODATE RIDERSHIP INCREASE DURING AMTRAK SUMMER WORK AT NEW YORK PENN STATIONDate: Jun 19, 2017
PATH Will Cross-honor Affected NJTransit Customers Starting July 10 at Hoboken, 33RD Street and WTC PATH Stations
With a significant increase in ridership expected this summer as a result of Amtrak’s infrastructure renewal project at New York Penn Station, PATH is responding with a comprehensive plan to increase train frequency between the Hoboken-33rd Street stations during the morning and evening rush hours and to cross-honor affected NJTransit passengers at three of the largest PATH stations.
The enhanced service and deployment of extra PATH personnel is scheduled to go into effect with the start of the New York Penn Station project on Monday, July 10, and remain in place for the duration of the project, which is expected to run into September.
NJT has announced that its Midtown Direct service will be reduced for thousands of passengers, with affected riders diverted primarily to the Hoboken Terminal. More than 7,000 additional NJT riders are expected to use the PATH system in Hoboken each weekday during the morning and evening rush hours.
“We understand that this will be a difficult and challenging summer for our customers,” said PATH General Manager/Director Mike Marino. “We’re working not only with our customers, but our regional transportation partners to minimize the impact of the Penn Station repair work beginning next month.”
PATH intends to cross-honor affected NJT customers at the Hoboken, 33rd Street and World Trade Center PATH stations. Riders will need to produce their NJT rail tickets to be cross-honored at these PATH facilities. Cross-honoring will not be in place at the Newark Penn Station facility, where NJT is maintaining normal service. NJT has agreed to reimburse PATH for cross-honoring during this period.
To accommodate the increased ridership demand, PATH is reducing the time between trains from seven to five minutes on the Hoboken-33rd Street line during the morning rush hour, from 7-10 a.m., and during the evening rush between 4 p.m. and 8 p.m., in both directions during the two rush hours.
Extra PATH customer service personnel and Port Authority Police are scheduled to be on hand at the three stations where cross-honoring is taking place, and maintenance staff will remain at PATH facilities for longer periods during the morning and afternoon commutes. The Port Authority’s Office of Emergency Management is working with PATH and its regional railroad partners to develop additional contingency plans.
The 33rd Street PATH station is not physically a part of New York Penn Station. PATH has embarked on a thorough review of its own tracks, rolling stock, equipment and air conditioning systems as part of its preparation for the coming service adjustments. PATH’s on-time performance average during peak periods this year is more than 96 percent.
For additional information on adjusted PATH service and schedules, and any updates during the New York train service outages, go to www.panynj.gov/PATH.