NEW JERSEY – In an effort to assist commuters who have been stranded since Hurricane Sandy flooded the PATH system on two weeks ago, the Port Authority of New York and New Jersey announced that it is offering a special Newark to 33 Street route beginning at 5 a.m. on Monday, Nov. 12. This train will operate daily from 5 a.m. to 10 p.m. until the full PATH system returns to its normal operations, according to information posted on the agency’s website.
This route will service PATH’s Newark, Harrison, Journal Square, Newport, 14th Street, 23rd Street, and 33rd Street stations. This line will not service the Christopher Street or 9th Street stops in New York.
This special Newark to 33 Street route is not one of usual ones offered by the PATH system, but is being provided to assist riders who have seen their typical commutes disrupted since Hurricane Sandy hit the area.
The Port Authority offered this same route for several months after 9/11 when the World Trade Center Station was destroyed. This route was discontinued after PATH’s World Trade Center station was rebuilt and reopened for service.
Last week, the Port Authority began offering limited service between Journal Square and 33rd Street. This route also runs from 5 a.m. to 10 p.m. and does not make stops at Christopher Street and 9th Street.
PATH’s usual Newark to World Trade Center line; Hoboken to 33rd Street; and Hoboken to the World Trade Center route remain suspended for the time being.
According to the agency, the PATH system suffered unprecedented and widespread flooding in the tunnels and at multiple stations, as well as power outages that shut down signals and switches. Crews continue to work to restore power and to pump water that remains in some of the tunnels. PATH engineers, safety officials, and third-party contractors are working to restore the system to full service.
Last year, there were nearly 77 million paid commuter trips documented on PATH, according to the Port Authority. – E. Assata Wright