33rd st path trains are delayed, impossible to get on WTC because it’s so packed. Take the ferry or walk to Newport if you can.hayflicklimit t1_itznrsb wrote
Reply to comment by jersey385 in 33rd st path trains are delayed, impossible to get on WTC because it’s so packed. Take the ferry or walk to Newport if you can. by elbowe51317
This situation is all too frequent.
el_tigrox t1_itzokbr wrote
This will come off rude, but it’s not intended that way - are you relatively new to riding PATH? It’s FAR better than it was, but definitely has moments like this. 2016-2019 was a major period of bad situations and small improvements. The signal updates sped trains up substantially, so we have less situations like this overall - but they happen.
But, appeals to elected officials will do very little since Port Authority is a multi state mess.
On Election Day, we’re getting the opportunity to put one of the port authority’s executives into power - Menendez Jr is directly responsible for a lot of these issues, and now he’s being rewarded for it.
doglywolf t1_itzqze2 wrote
The ONLY reason it got better since 2016 is Covid. IT was nearly at a breaking point , then covid hit no more demand, coming out of covid 20% of the workforce is still WFH - huge relief on the transit system . However endless growth and buildings DTJC are putting it right back to where it was along with more and more companies going back to office. .
They used the signal issue to say they couldn't handle more trains in the system . Now they got the new signal system but they have not put more trains in still the same time gap / amount of trains - actually 2 less an hour then at former pre covid peak IIRC . I think with the new system they can at 4 more trains per hour (6 more total then currently ). They lost a ton of money during covid so they are trying to make it up with reduced service now
Beautiful-Living-671 t1_itzsq37 wrote
It's actually closer to 40% fewer riders than pre-Covid, at least according to PATH stats posted for August. I doubt it's over 70% pre-pandemic numbers even now.
doglywolf t1_itzvg14 wrote
maybe its an economy thing or something then all the jobs reports i see put WFH at 20-30% . Or maybe that many people and businesses moved out of NYC
el_tigrox t1_itzt2zl wrote
No doubt. They caught a break. I'll hate on PATH all day long, but I'm going to wait a bit to see this 10 car improvement they have coming online by the end of the year. That may just be enough to make things a BIT easier in places like Grove Street.
hayflicklimit t1_itztzg8 wrote
No, I’m not. And “it’s been worse” isn’t a great defense here, especially with all of the investment and develop of this area projected in the next 5 years. It’s on track to be far worse than before.
el_tigrox t1_itzuksd wrote
You're not wrong. There's plenty of blame to go around - but the cities should have fought harder to ensure developers paid into a transportation improvement fund. They didn't want to hurt development, so it's never been a thing... but development is the #1 cause of this problem. And I think Jersey City in the next few years will be less to blame than what's happening in Harrison. Have you seen that place lately? Whoh boy... once all that land is developed near the station in the next few years, the trains will ARRIVE full into Journal Square.
hayflicklimit t1_itzv31h wrote
So we’re just supposed to sit on our hands and swallow this shitty service?
el_tigrox t1_itzvuw9 wrote
There are avenues for recourse, but you have to actually do them:
Have you attended any of the public hearings, board meetings, or contacted anyone on at the Port Authority to discuss your concerns? If you have, that's the process.
Have you contacted the Governor's office or the transportation secretary? https://www.state.nj.us/transportation/about/commissioner/
If you haven't - complaining on Reddit or Twitter is the equivalent of sitting on your hands.
hayflicklimit t1_itzwodd wrote
I’m not suggesting about simply complaint on social media. I’m suggesting we use it as a tool to organize. I can call all these offices everyday, but I’m just one person. Collective action is the only way to see this change.
el_tigrox t1_itzxqvo wrote
You're absolutely right. I genuinely don't know what the answer is... financial boycott or protest. We're all stuck in this system because we can't get across the fucking river with alternate systems - you can't get to the ferry without the damn PATH, and the tunnels are also controlled by PATH, so you're financially rewarding them by seeking alternatives. It feels helpless at times, absolutely.
Our Mayor used to be much more active and angry with the PATH, but he has been pretty quiet and cozying up to the state powers that be lately.
hayflicklimit t1_itzutfa wrote
Additionally, Robert Menedez being up for an election is an excellent reason to take my stated course of action.
jersey385 t1_itzvfwc wrote
I agree with that. Today however there was decent communication (at least there was at Grove St), and the resolution was relatively swift. This does happen too often though, it’s not always resolved quickly and it always seems to be at the height of rush hour 7:50-9:00 am.
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