Extending PATH to Newark Airport
- Project Description: Extend PATH 2.4 miles from Newark Penn Station to the Northeast Corridor Airport Station
- Travel Time: 36 minutes from World Trade Center to Newark Airport
- Service: 24 trains an hour
- Annual Ridership: 2.5 million, growing to 3.6 - 4.3 million over 20 years
- Construction Cost: $1.6 billion including extension, station expansion, and new yard costs
- Possible Funding Sources: Port Authority Capital Program, federal funding, airport roadway tolls, and development fees
- Newark Neighborhood Development: Integrate airport rail station with surrounding neighborhoods to benefit community and region
![Newark airport Term C](https://img.imageboss.me/general/cover/300x300/fp-x:0.5,fp-y:0.5,quality:80/work/Reports/2019-Reports/Bad-Landlords/PATH-to-Newark/Newark_airport_Term_C.jpg?bossToken=a0d4762c1274545f300ddd12cfab6eb6aca87bf6fa4fb863d0e8957d0ff4887f 171w, https://img.imageboss.me/general/cover/600x600/fp-x:0.5,fp-y:0.5,quality:80/work/Reports/2019-Reports/Bad-Landlords/PATH-to-Newark/Newark_airport_Term_C.jpg?bossToken=8808573b301075210ae1800182fb529988baa9c4c985c769d4ee8a064bb0f3ff 343w, https://img.imageboss.me/general/cover/900x900/fp-x:0.5,fp-y:0.5,quality:80/work/Reports/2019-Reports/Bad-Landlords/PATH-to-Newark/Newark_airport_Term_C.jpg?bossToken=e56075fea067d25d505517e0f233497193a1182315dab5e7cd69d0e7b019da88 514w, https://img.imageboss.me/general/cover/1200x1200/fp-x:0.5,fp-y:0.5,quality:80/work/Reports/2019-Reports/Bad-Landlords/PATH-to-Newark/Newark_airport_Term_C.jpg?bossToken=d0a503bd187584b89fcc274fb09a3fc7ec0f2928e2b28f73ff516eff3cd8c37c 686w, https://img.imageboss.me/general/cover/1500x1500/fp-x:0.5,fp-y:0.5,quality:80/work/Reports/2019-Reports/Bad-Landlords/PATH-to-Newark/Newark_airport_Term_C.jpg?bossToken=cfc1477bb8f56bc67ac0bec401fa73f20d575ecb7acb070ecdb8a997b2c18c88 857w, https://img.imageboss.me/general/cover/1800x1800/fp-x:0.5,fp-y:0.5,quality:80/work/Reports/2019-Reports/Bad-Landlords/PATH-to-Newark/Newark_airport_Term_C.jpg?bossToken=9422309f96b00f01d1983f8f3a36b2d610910d66558853dfbee31e7efc2ac410 1029w, https://img.imageboss.me/general/cover/2100x2100/fp-x:0.5,fp-y:0.5,quality:80/work/Reports/2019-Reports/Bad-Landlords/PATH-to-Newark/Newark_airport_Term_C.jpg?bossToken=1a773db3ea03ff36ab364c9d787f310c27210971aa53fdf4eacefeb26d631777 1200w, https://img.imageboss.me/general/cover/2400x2400/fp-x:0.5,fp-y:0.5,quality:80/work/Reports/2019-Reports/Bad-Landlords/PATH-to-Newark/Newark_airport_Term_C.jpg?bossToken=847ac428a2f290d9cecf4e51da5bcf5ea473978ad7dde148ef05b12616c18a08 1371w, https://img.imageboss.me/general/cover/2700x2700/fp-x:0.5,fp-y:0.5,quality:80/work/Reports/2019-Reports/Bad-Landlords/PATH-to-Newark/Newark_airport_Term_C.jpg?bossToken=588f7dd49b21f6413fccb1e2137eab3b295416ab28c17d8ea795f5aa6a92d22b 1543w)
Jared and Corin
“Quick, reliable access to Newark Airport is a vitally important asset for businesses in Lower Manhattan to connect with their markets nationally and internationally.”
--Jessica Lappin, President, Downtown-Lower Manhattan Association
![Jessica Lappin President Downtown Alliance 2018](https://img.imageboss.me/general/cover/300x300/fp-x:0.49,fp-y:0.38,quality:80/work/Reports/2019-Reports/Bad-Landlords/PATH-to-Newark/Jessica_Lappin_President_DowntownAlliance-2018.jpg?bossToken=0dad6651b3aa28ec01757440d876145ae608a5cf2af3d486ab6565ed2f4a3a3e 171w, https://img.imageboss.me/general/cover/600x600/fp-x:0.49,fp-y:0.38,quality:80/work/Reports/2019-Reports/Bad-Landlords/PATH-to-Newark/Jessica_Lappin_President_DowntownAlliance-2018.jpg?bossToken=84aae3313a10f991a22df9fc701184bf4c1a778fceff38aa8363f279a69e2907 343w, https://img.imageboss.me/general/cover/900x900/fp-x:0.49,fp-y:0.38,quality:80/work/Reports/2019-Reports/Bad-Landlords/PATH-to-Newark/Jessica_Lappin_President_DowntownAlliance-2018.jpg?bossToken=55ad58dac6886d9a971e8c93712ba0c67ba622e3676172f125a3c3744cf206f3 514w, https://img.imageboss.me/general/cover/1200x1200/fp-x:0.49,fp-y:0.38,quality:80/work/Reports/2019-Reports/Bad-Landlords/PATH-to-Newark/Jessica_Lappin_President_DowntownAlliance-2018.jpg?bossToken=fb75e7e30f9ae85d79b30f0b41c575a63bdb24e782e8899a4be2c85a943d395e 686w, https://img.imageboss.me/general/cover/1500x1500/fp-x:0.49,fp-y:0.38,quality:80/work/Reports/2019-Reports/Bad-Landlords/PATH-to-Newark/Jessica_Lappin_President_DowntownAlliance-2018.jpg?bossToken=bcc5f13f0e7c5152ea813815c255df201d439e38f17b57a3eb7079c7c1367a3c 857w, https://img.imageboss.me/general/cover/1800x1800/fp-x:0.49,fp-y:0.38,quality:80/work/Reports/2019-Reports/Bad-Landlords/PATH-to-Newark/Jessica_Lappin_President_DowntownAlliance-2018.jpg?bossToken=a8773c81998ff2446d6356d0f9f8a618109d050697daaeb87854ef00ee643889 1029w, https://img.imageboss.me/general/cover/2100x2100/fp-x:0.49,fp-y:0.38,quality:80/work/Reports/2019-Reports/Bad-Landlords/PATH-to-Newark/Jessica_Lappin_President_DowntownAlliance-2018.jpg?bossToken=02919d3db280938fd7577e53b7ffb5c5663a0f6af2be65b49ec5067d65e3b71b 1200w, https://img.imageboss.me/general/cover/2400x2400/fp-x:0.49,fp-y:0.38,quality:80/work/Reports/2019-Reports/Bad-Landlords/PATH-to-Newark/Jessica_Lappin_President_DowntownAlliance-2018.jpg?bossToken=76f4e61ef41fa16f5412e970f87e00c7ed62eefd0f0693385a3949159c62ecdd 1371w, https://img.imageboss.me/general/cover/2700x2700/fp-x:0.49,fp-y:0.38,quality:80/work/Reports/2019-Reports/Bad-Landlords/PATH-to-Newark/Jessica_Lappin_President_DowntownAlliance-2018.jpg?bossToken=6d84bcaa5a509e71293b6cbb56a941331653e88600bbc73a3f1bf9b89280d7d3 1543w)
Downtown Alliance
Key elements of the Port Authority’s 2019 capital plan update include:
- A $1.6 billion funding increase to completely rebuild the Newark AirTrain system (construction to begin in late 2020 or early 2021)
- Investments in PATH system signals, platforms, and railcars to increase passenger capacity on the Newark-WTC line by 40% by 2022
- Increases in AirTrain fares, from $5.50 per trip to
$7.75 per trip - New fees imposed on airport pick-ups and drop-offs made by for-hire vehicles and taxis
![Path Newark](https://img.imageboss.me/general/cover/300x300/fp-x:0.5,fp-y:0.5,quality:80/work/Reports/2019-Reports/Bad-Landlords/PATH-to-Newark/PathNewark.jpg?bossToken=95189cd6731b7b2286cdf88afbd1d0cfd171f6ac35189cde2c569e65004db3ee 171w, https://img.imageboss.me/general/cover/600x600/fp-x:0.5,fp-y:0.5,quality:80/work/Reports/2019-Reports/Bad-Landlords/PATH-to-Newark/PathNewark.jpg?bossToken=eabcff56c1baa8dce6e6199a4b9c861f3396f5c01848125b12ae4478d2802d92 343w, https://img.imageboss.me/general/cover/900x900/fp-x:0.5,fp-y:0.5,quality:80/work/Reports/2019-Reports/Bad-Landlords/PATH-to-Newark/PathNewark.jpg?bossToken=c5aed1c4ddbcac0c8be241611bdcd952e5b484158df3d0712bdb8647eb684e20 514w, https://img.imageboss.me/general/cover/1200x1200/fp-x:0.5,fp-y:0.5,quality:80/work/Reports/2019-Reports/Bad-Landlords/PATH-to-Newark/PathNewark.jpg?bossToken=490aaa9ebd3c0edc7f90668cd7e2c3662623950175715caead51b965de34f441 686w, https://img.imageboss.me/general/cover/1500x1500/fp-x:0.5,fp-y:0.5,quality:80/work/Reports/2019-Reports/Bad-Landlords/PATH-to-Newark/PathNewark.jpg?bossToken=1e495e575126df619a8c44025338b7ee60610a139470fbccdaed4e5de6dd59da 857w, https://img.imageboss.me/general/cover/1800x1800/fp-x:0.5,fp-y:0.5,quality:80/work/Reports/2019-Reports/Bad-Landlords/PATH-to-Newark/PathNewark.jpg?bossToken=9f754fad17bf30b84c8ad74bba3d9c26756a532a9b2dfe9a58b789817691cdfc 1029w, https://img.imageboss.me/general/cover/2100x2100/fp-x:0.5,fp-y:0.5,quality:80/work/Reports/2019-Reports/Bad-Landlords/PATH-to-Newark/PathNewark.jpg?bossToken=8f80f724cb3db812223ea99a273ff52870a3bff482abaf98e9e7cf81763a6a9c 1200w, https://img.imageboss.me/general/cover/2400x2400/fp-x:0.5,fp-y:0.5,quality:80/work/Reports/2019-Reports/Bad-Landlords/PATH-to-Newark/PathNewark.jpg?bossToken=bf529bdc469655b3de1e7ee8758bb16f2f93c8fb3e8a9615ab474a88f485b90e 1371w, https://img.imageboss.me/general/cover/2700x2700/fp-x:0.5,fp-y:0.5,quality:80/work/Reports/2019-Reports/Bad-Landlords/PATH-to-Newark/PathNewark.jpg?bossToken=cc34f5d45baddc93a7dd19ef85e65110792b9fa0573c1671d47f2d033b2ba555 1543w)
Prudential Foundation-supported community planning
With support from the Prudential Foundation, a team led by the New Jersey Innovation Institute (NJII) examined the benefits that a PATH extension could offer to south Newark communities. In 2018 and 2019, the NJII-led team held community meetings with clergy and residents, taught an NJIT design studio, conducted outreach with local government and agency leaders, and published a final report. Prudential’s support will continue into 2020, and will emphasize communicating community development opportunities and community engagement.
![Newark South Ward Community Meeting Airport](https://img.imageboss.me/general/cover/300x300/fp-x:0.5,fp-y:0.5,quality:80/work/Reports/2019-Reports/Bad-Landlords/PATH-to-Newark/Newark-South-Ward-Community-Meeting-Airport.jpg?bossToken=f8c991e5574225a2528f3c23cdbd135a2b7af12bbd6bd8b15d787ddb960ddc61 171w, https://img.imageboss.me/general/cover/600x600/fp-x:0.5,fp-y:0.5,quality:80/work/Reports/2019-Reports/Bad-Landlords/PATH-to-Newark/Newark-South-Ward-Community-Meeting-Airport.jpg?bossToken=16181c334220432dcce106dcfdd2e89e4e0225a22f8a8146c93292fe415f249a 343w, https://img.imageboss.me/general/cover/900x900/fp-x:0.5,fp-y:0.5,quality:80/work/Reports/2019-Reports/Bad-Landlords/PATH-to-Newark/Newark-South-Ward-Community-Meeting-Airport.jpg?bossToken=b18342dbab907eb8bb31e6533fcf2a42f918c7cb2e30518874c1771073e9142e 514w, https://img.imageboss.me/general/cover/1200x1200/fp-x:0.5,fp-y:0.5,quality:80/work/Reports/2019-Reports/Bad-Landlords/PATH-to-Newark/Newark-South-Ward-Community-Meeting-Airport.jpg?bossToken=410e916566615251c6e78ab5a6d613b9abfd73ac757fda2e2dbdf03d2e8349ad 686w, https://img.imageboss.me/general/cover/1500x1500/fp-x:0.5,fp-y:0.5,quality:80/work/Reports/2019-Reports/Bad-Landlords/PATH-to-Newark/Newark-South-Ward-Community-Meeting-Airport.jpg?bossToken=74d67e670f2b168fdf508e9ba9205e7fefc03f38760d71e983328eb24e1651c5 857w, https://img.imageboss.me/general/cover/1800x1800/fp-x:0.5,fp-y:0.5,quality:80/work/Reports/2019-Reports/Bad-Landlords/PATH-to-Newark/Newark-South-Ward-Community-Meeting-Airport.jpg?bossToken=7641079922b3b7afe9ce8c9ce58dbf79aab2892c339c448dba2d0e118e3dd8c3 1029w, https://img.imageboss.me/general/cover/2100x2100/fp-x:0.5,fp-y:0.5,quality:80/work/Reports/2019-Reports/Bad-Landlords/PATH-to-Newark/Newark-South-Ward-Community-Meeting-Airport.jpg?bossToken=050e2c92f95cf961477d17d9377856dd8fcd21b0e3c6e2d845226d0c33661867 1200w, https://img.imageboss.me/general/cover/2400x2400/fp-x:0.5,fp-y:0.5,quality:80/work/Reports/2019-Reports/Bad-Landlords/PATH-to-Newark/Newark-South-Ward-Community-Meeting-Airport.jpg?bossToken=c484f470293595306ca8bee4e0b89ad30a3c88b3ad8a74b5cf64273ee9036cfb 1371w, https://img.imageboss.me/general/cover/2700x2700/fp-x:0.5,fp-y:0.5,quality:80/work/Reports/2019-Reports/Bad-Landlords/PATH-to-Newark/Newark-South-Ward-Community-Meeting-Airport.jpg?bossToken=212e5a1e98c722239eeaca912e3505a5283db19ad3c0811d723885de36c3a88a 1543w)
“The PATH extension enhances Newark’s desirability as a business location and a publicly accessible station would provide increased opportunities in the South Ward’s Dayton community”
--Chip Hallock, President & CEO, Newark Regional Business Partnership
![Chip Hallock Photo](https://img.imageboss.me/general/cover/300x300/fp-x:0.49,fp-y:0.39,quality:80/work/Reports/2019-Reports/Bad-Landlords/PATH-to-Newark/Chip_HallockPhoto.jpg?bossToken=ebc9acdd0f169c0a8c09cce58b95220fe57c57374c277cfcd666930dc907fbe7 171w, https://img.imageboss.me/general/cover/600x600/fp-x:0.49,fp-y:0.39,quality:80/work/Reports/2019-Reports/Bad-Landlords/PATH-to-Newark/Chip_HallockPhoto.jpg?bossToken=aea7062bbd7689a9e1ff13d3ba941b80efc0671a7c842334e0f199d48383c7fe 343w, https://img.imageboss.me/general/cover/900x900/fp-x:0.49,fp-y:0.39,quality:80/work/Reports/2019-Reports/Bad-Landlords/PATH-to-Newark/Chip_HallockPhoto.jpg?bossToken=3db75de0cda948f09c3862011df6750ee44faa5a63f845a50d2c801332172f75 514w, https://img.imageboss.me/general/cover/1200x1200/fp-x:0.49,fp-y:0.39,quality:80/work/Reports/2019-Reports/Bad-Landlords/PATH-to-Newark/Chip_HallockPhoto.jpg?bossToken=d8cf21189867919ed965cfce24df6aa9c7ccd0e0062390983df7973584443dde 686w, https://img.imageboss.me/general/cover/1500x1500/fp-x:0.49,fp-y:0.39,quality:80/work/Reports/2019-Reports/Bad-Landlords/PATH-to-Newark/Chip_HallockPhoto.jpg?bossToken=496e3db9211da3c7921cccc63d61fe19d8276d1d56fecb6a777d03811997cf31 857w, https://img.imageboss.me/general/cover/1800x1800/fp-x:0.49,fp-y:0.39,quality:80/work/Reports/2019-Reports/Bad-Landlords/PATH-to-Newark/Chip_HallockPhoto.jpg?bossToken=8ebf9483997ae09d48d4aba023d3117590e99fc0ad2ce4bd45940d29bb275936 1029w, https://img.imageboss.me/general/cover/2100x2100/fp-x:0.49,fp-y:0.39,quality:80/work/Reports/2019-Reports/Bad-Landlords/PATH-to-Newark/Chip_HallockPhoto.jpg?bossToken=9cee5f4bcea360ad3aeb6da1546ecd539d808cb53855f3ec63ff72d763e510b7 1200w, https://img.imageboss.me/general/cover/2400x2400/fp-x:0.49,fp-y:0.39,quality:80/work/Reports/2019-Reports/Bad-Landlords/PATH-to-Newark/Chip_HallockPhoto.jpg?bossToken=7a2bea9a0c6c0eb4c8b3022a00645867bc2e17a2c02c7428d32583decbe48200 1371w, https://img.imageboss.me/general/cover/2700x2700/fp-x:0.49,fp-y:0.39,quality:80/work/Reports/2019-Reports/Bad-Landlords/PATH-to-Newark/Chip_HallockPhoto.jpg?bossToken=63a743f711979e7dc8570ccc13d8fa173d23203ea8ed55ac0ce7ca76a6ff479a 1543w)
newarkbp.org
![PATH to Newark Daniel M Silva shutterstock 81638641](https://img.imageboss.me/general/width/300/quality:80/work/Reports/2019-Reports/Bad-Landlords/PATH-to-Newark/PATH-to-Newark-Daniel-M.-Silva_shutterstock_81638641.jpg?bossToken=8091f3d0721604f98045f24b57bb5285fa2df824822f2aa60f56dcc6b1ef683a 171w, https://img.imageboss.me/general/width/600/quality:80/work/Reports/2019-Reports/Bad-Landlords/PATH-to-Newark/PATH-to-Newark-Daniel-M.-Silva_shutterstock_81638641.jpg?bossToken=94a330a7ba5949c53c0885ac98e70424e3237d031dca83bfb6c78a55e250e476 343w, https://img.imageboss.me/general/width/900/quality:80/work/Reports/2019-Reports/Bad-Landlords/PATH-to-Newark/PATH-to-Newark-Daniel-M.-Silva_shutterstock_81638641.jpg?bossToken=14103390ab740868db81b00f89fc40cbc5a72ce715c5041652a689ac995836ad 514w, https://img.imageboss.me/general/width/1200/quality:80/work/Reports/2019-Reports/Bad-Landlords/PATH-to-Newark/PATH-to-Newark-Daniel-M.-Silva_shutterstock_81638641.jpg?bossToken=2161c16f3ed9415b1d020df5d2aefd10a1bac8437e767fefea0f19517f2c395f 686w, https://img.imageboss.me/general/width/1500/quality:80/work/Reports/2019-Reports/Bad-Landlords/PATH-to-Newark/PATH-to-Newark-Daniel-M.-Silva_shutterstock_81638641.jpg?bossToken=ee10fc0f4cc358314f6484e6d2d0deb06cb25e202200fec0c23f34846e146324 857w, https://img.imageboss.me/general/width/1800/quality:80/work/Reports/2019-Reports/Bad-Landlords/PATH-to-Newark/PATH-to-Newark-Daniel-M.-Silva_shutterstock_81638641.jpg?bossToken=647f99ad856fbd0a2a384975e35b8df560b3ad9e9648a32d543bf5cf007b1194 1029w, https://img.imageboss.me/general/width/2100/quality:80/work/Reports/2019-Reports/Bad-Landlords/PATH-to-Newark/PATH-to-Newark-Daniel-M.-Silva_shutterstock_81638641.jpg?bossToken=6b01efabacc1f90c7f9a311a37e1afcfc34abd54b16b9be9d7fb9e8b86efbf1a 1200w, https://img.imageboss.me/general/width/2400/quality:80/work/Reports/2019-Reports/Bad-Landlords/PATH-to-Newark/PATH-to-Newark-Daniel-M.-Silva_shutterstock_81638641.jpg?bossToken=8783ef514165f54e96ec99aaaf1677d92fdd03bd6f1372528c7c84dbed612da6 1371w, https://img.imageboss.me/general/width/2700/quality:80/work/Reports/2019-Reports/Bad-Landlords/PATH-to-Newark/PATH-to-Newark-Daniel-M.-Silva_shutterstock_81638641.jpg?bossToken=0efa2df7b8aaf484a9d96fbb5612426d9440af5de5969de2f8c27c7a83b62e34 1543w)
RPA’s Extending PATH to Newark Airport report aimed to stimulate regional interest in the feasibility, impact, and benefits of extending the PATH system from Newark Penn station south to a direct connection with Newark Airport.
Specifically, the 2013 report recommended a route along the west side of the existing Northeast Corridor south from Newark Penn Station.
The 2013 study showed Newark Airport lagging peer airports internationally in terms of transit accessibility, as well as its competitors in the tri-state region. The study described a potential PATH extension as a solution to this problem.
Regionally, business activity, employment, and population have continued to grow, with significant concentrations of growth along the PATH system in Lower Manhattan, Hoboken, Jersey City, and Harrison.
For these reasons, DLMA has partnered with RPA to produce an update to RPA’s 2013 report. This report summarizes recent market trends and policy initiatives relevant to the 2013 study’s findings and recommendations, and assesses the implications of these developments for the PATH extension.
The east-west axis defined by the PATH system has been a center of economic growth in the New York metropolitan region since 2013. We have seen strong growth in employment, housing, transit ridership, and aviation activity along PATH east and west of the Hudson River, and in the catchment areas just beyond the system’s termini.
WTC has greatest ridership growth
The PATH station with the highest rate of ridership growth over the past five years is the World Trade Center Station, which added 16,000 trips per day between 2013 and 2018.
Source: PATH Ridership Report (2012 – 2018)
The region's airports are all busier
Flights at Newark Airport grew at a slightly lower rate than Kennedy. However, the number of passengers served at Newark’s grew more than 31% during the same period — a rate far outstripping growth at both Kennedy and LaGuardia Airports.
Source: PANYNJ Airport Traffic report 2013 – 2018
Since 2013, shared ride services such as Lyft and Uber have disrupted personal transportation in the New York metropolitan region, including for airport access.
As passenger growth at Newark increased by more than 30% from 2013-2018, the share of passengers using Transportation Network Companies (TNCs) grew from zero to more than 10%. During that same period, airport access by private automobile declined and rail and bus trips remained unchanged. The explosion of demand for these services has demonstrated the value travelers place on comfort and certainty of getting a ride at prices above what they would pay for comparable trips on transit or taxi.
Increasing TNC use also means increased uncertainty for airport planners about the extent of demand for future parking needs, as passengers transition from parking private cars at airports to TNC trips. One floor of a parking deck recently constructed at LaGuardia Airport has already been converted from the passenger parking it was originally designed for to TNC pick up/drop off.
Trends in contemporary airport design continue to emphasize seamless connection between rail service and terminal access.
In the last six years, airports in Miami, San Francisco and Shanghai Hongqiao have either built, funded, or adopted plans for new airport-rail system connections.
Airports like the Manchester, England International Airport are increasingly the focus of “airport city” growth initiatives. In Manchester, a partnership of Manchester Airport Holdings Ltd, Beijing Construction Engineering Group, and Argent Services LLP are developing five million square feet of commercial development as part of an airport expansion that will double passenger capacity and passengers served to 36 million annually by 2030.
Private residential and commercial development on airport land
Manchester, England International Airport partnered with private construction companies to create private residential and commercial development on airport land, generating resources for airport investment, and building in business. This model for development could be instructive for future growth at and around Newark Airport and the regional rail transportation network.
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Recommendations
The Port Authority’s updated 2026 capital plan offers the prospect of greatly improved facilities at Newark Airport, in the transportation systems that will connect the Airport and its neighbors, and in intermediate communities with destinations and ridership based in Lower Manhattan.
DLMA and RPA look forward to working with PANYNJ and with New York and New Jersey’s executive and legislative leadership to bring these improvements to fruition, and to ensure that they deliver the greatest possible benefit to the region.
- Keep PATH extension funding and planning on track, and keep the public informed and engaged
Much has occurred in the past three years to advance the PATH extension to Newark Airport, and the inclusion of project funding in the current capital plan is a strong step.
To continue progress, PANYNJ officials should strengthen its partnerships with the public, especially Newark officials and neighborhood groups, and empower stakeholders to advocate for investment in the PATH extension in a way that benefits and supports local residents and businesses. - Closely coordinate PATH extension planning with Newark community members
PANYNJ’s 2017 project scoping document spoke clearly about the need for a PATH extension to connect directly with properties and public access points on either side of the airport rail station. It was similarly clear about the need to extinguish public access restrictions tied to the use of Passenger Facility Charges for construction of the original airport rail station.
As part of a robust community engagement process, PANYNJ should develop design options to allow pedestrian access for community members and new business tenants to PATH and Airtrain stations at Newark Airport. The agency should also work with local stakeholders to address different station area uses, such as PATH railcar storage, bus lanes and bus stops, and auto pick-up and drop-off. - Ensure public access to PATH/AirTrain station
Providing public access to a future PATH/AirTrain Station at Newark Airport is an element of the project’s stated purpose. It will help provide equitable transit system access for, and a new economic opportunity in the heart of at-risk communities, benefitting Newark Airport as a hub and destination airport, and contributing to facility funding and financing through land value increases created by direct transit system and airport access.
PANYNJ planners should share as early as possible their plans for how a new PATH/AirTrain station would be accessible to the public and provide the system-wide benefits such access would enable. - Use PATH extension to improve balance between inbound and outbound travel
Ridership on the PATH system today is heavily weighted towards inbound travel in the morning peak and outbound travel in the evening peak. PANYNJ should use PATH extension planning and construction to support transit-oriented commercial development around new or refurbished PATH stations to increase reverse travel in peak periods.
By supporting economic development in the Newark Airport rail station area and downtown Newark, the PATH extension could increase travel on PATH in the reverse travel direction and fill seats that are empty today. This would generate new revenue for PATH operations, and reduce the PATH system’s subsidy burden on the Port Authority Capital Program. - Coordinate PATH extension planning and AirTrain reconstruction
Announced progress on the Newark AirTrain rebuilding project — under construction by early 2021 at the latest — means that the PATH extension and Newark AirTrain projects must be well-coordinated. The AirTrain technology selected, AirTrain alignment and terminal connections, and the ultimate location of a rebuilt Terminal B all will affect PATH extension planning.
Port Authority officials should share details about how AirTrain and PATH extension projects are being coordinated to achieve the greatest possible economic and transit benefits. - Consider land value funding strategies if Port Authority Capital Plan is too constrained
PANYNJ has allocated $1.6 billion for the PATH extension project and $2 billion for Newark Airtrain in its latest capital program. To the extent that project costs exceed available resources, new sources of funding may be needed.
One potential source of funding is land value increases that could result from adjacent land having new direct access to PATH, NJ TRANSIT, and AirTrain systems.
PANYNJ should explore with partner agencies like New Jersey Economic Development Authority and discuss with adjacent land owners how direct connections with PATH and AirTrain systems would increase the value of station area land, and how to leverage economic value created to support and accelerate project development. - Develop a federal funding strategy
Though highly competitive, federal transit funds are available for transit projects across the country. Project planners should consider other transit projects in the region, and consider whether federal funding request might be appropriate for this project. Locally-generated revenues such as airport access charges, sales taxes, benefit assessments, impact fees, or property tax surcharges would need to be raised to qualify for the required local match.
PANYNJ should work together with local government partners to explore what combination of local fund sources would be most appropriate to document the strength of local funding commitment for federal reviewers. - Prioritize transit access to Newark Airport
The rapid growth of rideshare services like Lyft and Uber, and their side-effects on congestion and transit use, have been amply demonstrated in New York and other cities around the country since 2013. Shared ride services to Newark Airport have grown rapidly, auto travel times have become slower and less reliable, and transit use has remained constant or even declined even while air travel has grown sharply.
Improving transit access to Newark Airport is necessary for time-sensitive air travelers to have a reliable travel option to the airport. To realize this goal, all elements of the transit trip must be given priority and quality at least comparable to access enjoyed by auto-based passengers. To do this, Port Authority officials should provide frequent service, transit fares that are competitive with driving, and easy access to terminals for transit passengers. - Equalize auto and transit costs to Newark Airport
PANYNJ’s capital plan includes a 50% increase in the AirTrain fare to $7.75 to pay for transit system rebuilding costs, and new fees for for-hire vehicles and taxis accessing regional airports. However, no fee has been proposed for personal vehicle trips to and from the airport.
Failure to apply fees to personal vehicle trips neglects the substantial costs necessary to make auto access available to the airports. Applying airport access fees to transit users and not to private cars creates a strong and inequitable disincentive to arrival by transit.
RPA estimates that applying a $4.00 fee on pick-ups and drop-offs at Newark Airport would generate about $100 million annually for PANYNJ’s capital program. These revenues would be free of the use restrictions attached to many aviation activity-based funding sources and could be used to fund transit access improvements for PATH and improved connections with AirTrain.
PANYNJ should document the annual costs of making roadway access available to automobiles in order to quantify the cost per trip of providing auto access to Newark Airport terminals. PANYNJ should also apply pick-up and drop-off fees to all personal vehicles at Newark and other regional airports, and assure that access charges set are consistent with prioritized access for transit. - Comprehensively examine system-level PATH needs
The PATH system serves multiple traveling communities in areas with growing populations. Growth expected over the coming decade is expected to absorb much of the new capacity being added in PANYNJ’s updated capital plan. Pressure on the system is growing.
Recent Port Authority Capital Plans take important steps to address growth in PATH rail ridership, but a more comprehensive PATH system plan is required to ensure that the proposed extension to Newark Airport will contribute to the broadest and most cost-effective system-wide and user benefits possible. Such a comprehensive strategic review could examine system-wide state-of-good-repair needs, investments needed for operational efficiency and flexibility (e.g., tail-tracks, pocket tracks, interlockings, etc.), railcar fleet expansion needs, demand for new stations, maintenance and railcar storage facility needs, and best practices in rail system technology adoption, including operations, customer communication, last-mile travel needs, fares and fare payment, and performance measurement.
Funded By
- Downtown-Lower Manhattan Association
Produced With
- Downtown-Lower Manhattan Association
Other Reports in this Series
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