Dear Chairman Kevin O’Toole and Executive Director Rick Cotton:
We write to reiterate our support for the PATH extension to Newark Airport project and its continued inclusion as a priority in the Port Authority of New York and New Jersey (PANYNJ) Capital Plan. We understand that the Port Authority faces deep revenue losses as a result of COVID-19, and with federal funding still uncertain, there is great pressure on the capital program and many competing priorities. We believe that post-pandemic, the PATH extension project takes on an even greater importance in driving the economic recovery of our region.
The PATH extension project, connecting Lower Manhattan to Newark Airport and underserved areas of the city, will improve transportation options, travel time and be a local and regional economic generator. For Newark residents, particularly in the South Ward, the PATH extension would expand their economic opportunity by providing easier access to jobs in Lower Manhattan, Newark Airport, Jersey City, and other transfer points. Providing safe, reliable, and efficient transportation options will be critical to getting people back to work in our region over the long term.
In Newark, the new PATH station at Frelinghuysen Avenue can be a catalyst for local, transit-oriented development, with new housing units and other commercial properties. In neighboring Harrison, a new PATH station has transformed the area with new residential and commercial development, an example of what the PATH extension project can spur in the South Ward.
The PATH extension will provide faster and more reliable access from Lower Manhattan to Newark Liberty Airport to support business and tourism, strengthening the national and international relationships that are so vital to our region’s growth and prosperity. Newark residents will also benefit from this connection to the airport, as currently there is no pedestrian or bus access to the Airport Station.
As our economy recovers, we must not lose focus on expanding transportation options in an equitable way, to create a stronger and fairer region. Investing in the PATH to Newark extension is a smart infrastructure investment that will create jobs and benefit commuters, residents, and visitors for decades to come. We look forward to continued planning for this project as scheduled.
Sincerely,
The Honorable Dan Benson
New Jersey State Assemblyman, Legislative District 14
Aisha Glover
President & CEO, Newark Alliance
Bernel Hall
CEO, Invest Newark
Chip Hallock
President & CEO, Newark Regional Business Partnership
The Honorable John Sharpe James
South Ward Councilman, City of Newark
Jessica Lappin
President, Downtown-Lower Manhattan Association
Thomas K. Wright
President & CEO, Regional Plan Association
