PATH -- Pathetic Association of Transportation Hell

[GreenPlanet]

I know the topic of PATH service has been discussed here previously, but I thought I'd start a new thread considering the recent change of weekend service. I got my first taste of it today, as I took the train from 33rd to Pav/Newp via Hoboken. There are no longer ANY direct JSQ trains, all trains on Sat/Sun are now routed through Hoboken first. There is also no direct WTC service on Sat/Sun, you have to transfer at Grove. :Tara.badi

Needless to say, I find this very inconvenient for our community. Granted, I understand there is construction at WTC that they claim is affecting service. But why would that affect the 33rd->JSQ route? It acts as a deterrent for us to go downtown knowing that it's likely to take upwards of 40 minutes each way (when you take into account the waiting time, which can be absurd). And of course it's even more of a deterrent now for all our NY friends that already have enough of an issue crossing the Hudson to visit.

It amazes me that PATH does not do a better job getting people in and out of the city. The weekday service is at least frequent, but the weekends are when the vast majority of us have days off and hence the time to explore the city at our leisure. I just cannot understand why it should take so long to get from here (Pav/Newp) to Manhattan when I can literally see the city right out my window.

I spoke with one of the PATH information attendants at Pavonia today (she was there to inform people of the change in service). I asked when full weekend service would be restored and she said it was indefinite at this point due to the ongoing WTC construction. I have a bad feeling we could be experiencing this transportation drought for years to come.

GP

[Stinky]

I agree that the cancellation of the HOB->WTC service on weekends is a terrible idea. The trains from PAV->GRO run every 10 minutes (not bad) but the trains from WTC->NWK run every 15 minutes so there's no good connection! You can wait for 15 mintes at Grove.

We used to be able to get from PAV->WTC in six minutes but it took me 25 minutes yesterday.

The 33RD->HOB->JSQ is not so bad. It does take 4 minutes longer but trains leave every 10 minutes, instead of every 15 minutes, so there's less waiting for a train and they are not quite so crowded.

If they can't put back the HOB->WTC line then I can see two ways to help the situation:

- Change the WTC<->NWK trains so that they run every 10 minutes and CONNECT properly with the 33RD<->JSQ trains
- Restore the HOB<->EXPL line (as it was from Jun-Nov 2003) and have those CONNECT PROPERLY to the WTC<->NWK trains.

Does anyone know a good pressure point in the PATH that we can talk to?

[Floridian]

We already discussed this. There is NOTHING we can do and NWA didn't bother to join in the discussion and try to help the residents on this matter. They are too busy discussing what a great paint job they just got for their apartment and how wonderful it is that Newport is 20 years old. neither of which helps the majority of the residents here. Maybe they should concentrate more on the things that matter to us rather then just being a spokesperson for Lefrak.

[Stinky]

Floridian, don't be so defeatist, there probably is something we can do. The trick is to find the right person in the Port Authority or PATH organization who can help us. I've been trying to get a response from the PA head office (212-435-7000) but I'm having trouble identifying the right person, hence my question to this board. Who have you tried calling?

And the NWA is doing something for us. The first thing that jumps to mind is the NWA's response to Fulop/Lefrak's proposal to bar us from resident parking zones. Look how that's blossomed into the stand Sonia took at the Town Hall last week demanding a lot more parking for residents along Washington.

Be a bit more positive and help. We can get more done if we pull together.

[Floridian]

Okay Stinky. I'll give NWA a chance to help the residents. I have called PATH and the response I got was..."It's only a couple of minutes." I couldn't get anywhere. For those of us who work in the city on the weekends, this is a real pain.

As I see it, transportation is one of the main issues here. That was one of Newport's selling points. In the last few months we have lost the ferry service and PATH is horrible service on the weekends. I'll be anxiously waiting to see how NWA fixes one or both of these issues.

[Smurfy]

Now if only the NWA can get the jerk on the morning commute to keep his hands to himself ... :mad:

Sorry, off topic vent ...

[Stinky]

Okay Stinky. I'll give NWA a chance to help the residents.You might be willing to sit back and wait but I'm not waiting for the NWA to get involved. I called the PA main office twice today trying to work out who is responsible for this. Didn't get too far so I'll try again tomorrow.

If you can get the NWA involved then so much the better, save me time and effort.

[Floridian]

Stinky,

I'm sure NWA is monitoring this threat, but chooses not to get involved. They are too busy admiring the paint job to thier apartment and celebrating Newport's 20th Anniversary. This is a MAJOR issue with concern to the residents and they seem like they can't be bothered.

[GreenPlanet]

One would think the NWA and our local businesses would be more concerned with this issue. For example, the 10,000 or so residents (correct me if that # is wrong, I read it somewhere) that live immediately in the Newport area will still find a way into NYC on the weekends despite the hassle. And, we are probably more likely to spend a bit extra time (and $$$) in the city to validate the extended travel time. If anything, this would seemingly hurt local market share for goods & sevices (maybe it's not significant, but it certainly isn't going to help matters).

Now, add to that the fact that New Yorkers, many of whom have a "Jersey phobia" already, will be even less willing to make the trip here. And even if they come to this side of the river, it's so much easier for them to get out and explore Hoboken (which offers more than JC already) rather than Newport.

Anyway, just some more points I felt were valid to this discussion...

GP

[Stinky]

Well let's be fair, the weekend service to/from midtown is better now than it used to be. Yes, I know that it takes four minutes longer because of the "bounce" in Hoboken but we get more frequent trains, six each hour rather than four each hour. A pretty good tradeoff I think.

It's the run to downtown that's the problem. It used to be seven minutes from Pavonia to the WTC, straight run, one stop. Now that one has to connect at Grove Street the trip ranges from twelve minutes to twenty-two minutes depending on the time that you leave Pavonia. That's over three times as long as it used to take and no improvement in the number of trains.

[Floridian]

Well, I am still waiting for NWA's response to both the PATH and the ferry situations. Hellllllooooooooooooo?????? :Tara.feed