When the trains stopped
Hurricane Sandy stranded millions for days. It will take billions to fully recover from the monster storm’s windy, watery wallop.
Hurricane Sandy, the worst storm of its type to hit the New York-New Jersey metropolitan area in generations, had a devastating impact upon the region’s passenger rail systems, the busiest in the nation.
Years after rejecting recommendations from New Jersey rail advocates to extend PATH service directly to Newark Liberty International Airport, the Port Authority of New York & New Jersey Thursday announced its intent to study the idea of getting part of the way there, extending PATH service beyond its current terminus at Newark-Penn Station along Amtrak’s Northeast Corridor to Newark Airport/Rail Station, connecting with the airport monorail system there.
The Port Authority of New York & New Jersey says PATH ridership through the first six months of 2012 was 4% ahead of last year and “on pace to set a new record for the second consecutive year.”
The Port Authority of New York & New Jersey said Wednesday the 76-year-old Harrison PATH rail station is on a faster track to replacement after Port Authority commissioners last week authorized key steps to move the project forward.
The bistate, trans-Hudson PATH rail system rolled to a record ridership 76.6 million trips in 2011, an achievement that the Port Authority of New York & New Jersey notes followed the investment of more than $1 billion in PATH during the past four years for new cars, station upgrades, and a new signal system.
The Port Authority of New York & New Jersey on Wednesday unveiled a preliminary 2012 capital investment program totaling $3.659 billion—“enough to keep priority capital programs moving forward and to maintain facilities in a state of good repair.”
Another New York Metropolitan Area transit agency has embarked on resignaling its rail rapid transit system with CBTC (communications-based train control), with Siemens as the prime supplier.