Dear Editor:
A plan being considered by the Port Authority of New York and New Jersey to possibly eliminate overnight PATH train service is a bad idea that could have a devastating impact on thousands of commuters. Many of the 244,000 riders who use the PATH every week are hardworking residents from my district in Hudson County. Cutting this rail service would cut their livelihood because many of these working class citizens with limited resources would have no affordable alternative to get to and from work in the middle of the night. White collar workers, revelers, and tourists would also be left scrambling trying to find a way back across the Hudson River.
Reducing PATH service could also impact the state and local economy. Transit hubs like Hoboken, where more than 50 percent of residents rely on public transportation, owe much of their growth to rail service like the PATH. The 24/7 public transit access to New York City sets these communities apart from the rest. And the state has made an investment in promoting transit hubs to help ease congestion and negative impacts to the environment.
As the sole member of the Assembly Transportation Committee whose district is home to multiple PATH stations in several municipalities, I know firsthand how vital this service is to our residents. Over the past several months I have been working with a variety of neighborhood groups and constituents to try to expand our transportation options. I concur with Senator and Union City Mayor Brian Stack and the mayors of Jersey City and Hoboken who believe that cutting service would be counterproductive. While some say it’s merely a recommendation, it’s definitely an off track one that will hurt riders in both Hudson and Essex Counties. So let’s get on the right track and work together to increase public transit not decrease it.
Please visit www.carmelogarcia.com to sign our online petition or send an email to asmgarcia@njleg.org to express your thoughts or concerns about this plan.
Sincerely,
Carmelo G. Garcia
Assemblyman, 33rd Legislative District