BREAKING: PATH to Suspend Hoboken to 33rd Street Train on Weekends from August-December

PATH 2016 WEEKEND SERVICE AND WORK ADVISORY – WEEKEND PATH SERVICE ON THE 33RD STREET LINE TO BE SUSPENDED STARTING IN AUGUST FOR FEDERALLY MANDATED SAFETY AND SERVICE UPGRADES

Date: Jun 09, 2016
Press Release Number: 95-2016

Port Authority adding weekend service to ease impact on affected riders

Weekend PATH service on the 33rd Street line in Manhattan will be suspended starting in early August as part of a comprehensive, federally-mandated safety initiative to install a new computerized signal system designed to improve passenger service and safety.

Service on the 33rd Street line will be suspended from approximately 12:01 a.m. on Saturdays until 5 a.m. on Mondays, a schedule that is set to continue most weekends through December 2016, with the exception of major holidays. Regular weekend service will continue on the Newark-World Trade Center (WTC) line and between Journal Square and Hoboken.

Direct service between Hoboken and WTC, normally not available on weekends, also will be introduced.

PATH riders affected by the closures may travel to the WTC station, which offers easy and accessible New York City subway service to uptown destinations. While service is suspended, shuttle buses will be provided, making stops between the WTC and 29th Street along 6th and 7th avenues. The weekend closures will impact the Christopher, 9th,14th, 23rd and 33rd street stations.

Further updates, bus maps and details will be provided as available through the Port Authority’s website, www.panynj.gov/PATH.

The 33rd Street PATH line upgrade is part of a multi-phased plan to improve the system and provide riders more frequent rush hour service. Additional weekend closures on the system will be necessary next year on a schedule to be announced.

At the center of the project is installation of Positive Train Control (PTC), an updated safety-enhanced system that the federal government has mandated be completed by the end of 2018.

Allotting this work time is vital to upgrading PATH to improve current and future service. In addition to safety enhancements, this work will provide PATH riders increased reliability in the future, as well as lay the groundwork for increased passenger capacity.

As part of the Port Authority’s 10-Year Capital Plan, PATH also will upgrade the signal system with Communications Based Train Control (CBTC), which continuously calculates and communicates a train’s exact position, speed, travel direction and safe braking distance. Trains then will be capable of running more frequently and closer together, leading to a projected increase in rush-hour service on PATH lines of up to 20 percent. Additionally, the CBTC system also will allow for further enhancements such as real time information in PATH stations.

A video explaining PATH’s PTC/CBTC system is now available at http://www.panynj.gov/path/cbtc-ptc-video.html

In the weeks ahead, PATH will continue to provide information on station closures and alternative travel options, with announcements running in stations and on PATHVision alerts. PATH riders also may seek information on alternative service from the Port Authority website, PATHAlerts and Twitter.