PATH’s $1B investment to increase Newark-WTC train lines by 40 percent

The Port Authority of New York and New Jersey unveiled the PATH Improvement Plan to convert the Newark to World Trade Center train lines from eight-car trains to nine-car trains running every three minutes during peak periods.

The plan outlines a detailed, six-point delay reduction initiative to be implemented over the next 30-months, a new fare payment system to be introduced by 2022, and a set of customer service initiatives, according to PATH.

The capacity increases rely on more than $1 billion in capital investment.

“The PATH Improvement Plan is a comprehensive and forward-thinking approach to fixing the biggest problems facing PATH,” Port Authority Chairman Kevin O’Toole said in a statement. “By adding cars and trains, hitting back at the root cause of delays, and focusing on the customer experience, PATH will make monumental changes that affect the lives of the nearly 300,000 customers who rely on PATH each day.”

“PATH is committed to increasing capacity and meeting the needs of our growing ridership,” Director of PATH Clarelle DeGraffe said in a statement. “This plan addresses some of our PATH riders’ biggest concerns, especially with the attention to platform safety, better communication, and a user-friendly fare payment system, while ensuring that we intensify the repair and maintenance of our existing system.”