The Port Authority’s Board of Commissioners met Thursday Sept 22 and approved the overhaul of two PATH tunnels between New York’s World Trade Center station and New Jersey’s Exchange Place station.
The press release state the repairs will “upgrade critical rail, electrical and signal systems damaged by Superstorm Sandy nearly four years ago.”
The $400 million project will replace track, rail, signal, electrical and communication infrastructure along the tunnels.
According to the release construction will take place on weekends and will begin in the third quarter of 2017 and wont be completed until 2026 and “will be done on 35 weekends per year.”
The releases added “there will be single-track operation during weekend work to allow for continuous train service, and to minimize passenger inconvenience and disruption.”
“PATH is a critical lifeline between New Jersey and New York, and the investment we approved today is vital to keep it operating safely and efficiently,” said Port Authority Chairman John Degnan. “This project, coupled with one we are doing to install a new computerized signal system, will allow us to accommodate projected growth in mass transit for many years to come.”
“We are laser-focused on making sure the transportation assets we own are properly maintained to ensure their ability to serve the tens of millions of travelers who rely on them every year,” said Port Authority Vice Chairman Steven Cohen. “Hurricane Sandy took a major toll on PATH and on other critical transportation facilities, and this project will aim to not only fix the damage, but mitigate future potential problems from severe flooding.”
Currently, the Port Authority is installing a comprehensive, federally mandated computerized signal system on PATH’s 33rd Street Line to improve passenger service and safety. That work is being done on weekends and will continue through December 2016, excluding holidays. Those upgrades are designed to improve service quality and increase passenger capacity.