JERSEY CITY | PATH Train Ridership Growing Rapidly

[TowerDude]

Could PATH service be extended to the Meadowlands?

[mrnyc]

^ oh geez, lets get it to the airport first!

[Nexis4Jersey]

Originally Posted by TowerDude

Could PATH service be extended to the Meadowlands?

1950s proposed path expansions

https://flic.kr/p/SdrxU4

This expansion would have likely saved a few more commuter rail lines

https://flic.kr/p/QYtdWF

[Crawford]

Originally Posted by TowerDude

Could PATH service be extended to the Meadowlands?

Yes, and it should have happened decades ago.

But it's much more likely that HBLR is eventually extended to the Meadowlands. At least this would provide good regional light rail connectivity.

[Busy Bee]

Much of HBLR should be PATH but that's a whole other issue.

[jbermingham123]

My dream (which will never, ever, ever happen) is the merger of NJT, LIRR, and PATH (which is true heavy rail like the others) into a single transit system with through-running at Penn station and the WTC station.

It should be possible to take a LIRR train through Atlantic terminal to the WTC station, and continue on to JC and Newark.

most of the infrastructure for this already exists. The east river tunnel is the only significant missing link, and could potentially be acquired by repurposing one of the 4 (!!!) existing subway tunnels from atlantic terminal which cross the east river

[Nexis4Jersey]

Originally Posted by Busy Bee

Much of HBLR should be PATH but that's a whole other issue.

It overlaps in Downtown Jersey City but it follows the 1930s proposed route down to Bayonne and up to North Bergen.

[mrnyc]

what’s the status on plans to extend the lr up to englewood and beyond?

that seems to be the logical and easiest next steps.

[electricron]

Originally Posted by jbermingham123

My dream (which will never, ever, ever happen) is the merger of NJT, LIRR, and PATH (which is true heavy rail like the others) into a single transit system with through-running at Penn station and the WTC station.

It should be possible to take a LIRR train through Atlantic terminal to the WTC station, and continue on to JC and Newark.

most of the infrastructure for this already exists. The east river tunnel is the only significant missing link, and could potentially be acquired by repurposing one of the 4 (!!!) existing subway tunnels from atlantic terminal which cross the east river

Do all LIRR, NJT, Amtrak, MTA subways, and PATH rails at Penn Station have platforms on the same level vertically? It's difficult to trough run trains with tracks on different levels.
Additionally, I understand that Amtrak, LIRR, and NJT are regulated by the FRA while MTA subway and PATH are regulated by the FTA. Rarely are trains regulated by the FTA and FRA allowed to run on the same tracks, and never at the same time.

[Nexis4Jersey]

Originally Posted by mrnyc

what’s the status on plans to extend the lr up to englewood and beyond?

that seems to be the logical and easiest next steps.

Murphy's appointee screwed things up so badly the feds want a new review...its just one of the many projects hes screwed up...but none of the highway projects been affected..

[Nexis4Jersey]

Originally Posted by electricron

Do all LIRR, NJT, Amtrak, MTA subways, and PATH rails at Penn Station have platforms on the same level vertically? It's difficult to trough run trains with tracks on different levels.
Additionally, I understand that Amtrak, LIRR, and NJT are regulated by the FRA while MTA subway and PATH are regulated by the FTA. Rarely are trains regulated by the FTA and FRA allowed to run on the same tracks, and never at the same time.

Yes , you can see this at Newark Penn. PATH is FRA due to legacy tracks interconnecting to the NEC.. The different electrification systems and the lack of high level platforms on the Morris & Essex are the biggest hurdles to merging and through running.

[Nexis4Jersey]

Originally Posted by mrnyc

^ so nice to see nexis back in action!

I'm back , I had to be sneaky with that platform shot as the PATH has a ban on photography..

[wanderer34]

Originally Posted by Crawford

Yes, and it should have happened decades ago.

But it's much more likely that HBLR is eventually extended to the Meadowlands. At least this would provide good regional light rail connectivity.

Originally Posted by Busy Bee

Much of HBLR should be PATH but that's a whole other issue.

The PATH and HBLR systems are completely different in construction and use. The PATH is an actual railroad which is grade separated and has it's own reporting mark while the HBLR is a newly constructed system which is either at grade, below grade, or above grade depending on the location.

It's best to keep both systems separated anyways since PATH is owned by the PANYNJ, a bi-state agency, while HBLR is owned by NJT, which covers the entire state of NJ.

Originally Posted by jbermingham123

My dream (which will never, ever, ever happen) is the merger of NJT, LIRR, and PATH (which is true heavy rail like the others) into a single transit system with through-running at Penn station and the WTC station.

It should be possible to take a LIRR train through Atlantic terminal to the WTC station, and continue on to JC and Newark.

most of the infrastructure for this already exists. The east river tunnel is the only significant missing link, and could potentially be acquired by repurposing one of the 4 (!!!) existing subway tunnels from atlantic terminal which cross the east river

And that's what it is, nothing more than just a dream!!! It's a possibility of connecting Atlantic Terminal to the WTC station, which will cost a lot of money, but combining the three transit agencies is going to only create a lot of infighting between NY and NJ, plus the fare structures are so different in that PATH operates on a flat rate, while NJT and LIRR have their own fare zones.

It's just best to let each state do it's own thing and not mess with the current structures. Also, NYC is the main destination for a lot of modes of transport, which is why Grand Central is currently a terminus, and Penn Station is the busiest train station in the Americas, if not the world!

If a commuter who lives in LI has a job in either JC, Hoboken, or Newark, then he'd have to transfer either at Penn Station of WTC just to do so, and the reason why it's designed that way is because of the economic strength or Downtown and Midtown Manhattan.

[TowerDude]

I think I'd prefer to see Amtrak take over any Through running at Penn Station.

[Nexis4Jersey]

World Trade Center train at Newark