In its 116-year history, the Hoboken PATH station has never closed for 25 consecutive days — until now.
Until Feb. 25, PATH regulars will be dependent on other ways to get around while upgrades to infrastructure are being made.
PATH is providing shuttle buses to the PATH stations at Exchange Place and Newport in Jersey City; ticket prices on Manhattan-bound ferries are being discounted from $10 to $3; New Jersey Transit is increasing the number of buses from Hoboken to midtown Manhattan, and light rail service has been expanded.
“There will be short-term pain, but it’s for major improvements in the long term,” said Hoboken Mayor Ravi Bhalla, who is also running for a seat in the state Assembly. “We’re looking forward to seeing a more efficient, reliable and safe service and the upgrades we’ve needed in terms of infrastructure from the PATH that will really pay dividends in the long term.”
The station was heavily damaged by floodwaters during Superstorm Sandy in 2012, and the residual salt wrought havoc on the station’s infrastructure. Clarelle DeGraffe, PATH’s director and general manager, said the almost month-long closure is needed to address problems that have been patched in the intervening years.
“We could have done [repairs] on weekends, but it would have meant closing Hoboken Station for probably up to a year, maybe more, every weekend. So you could imagine the frustration with our customers,” DeGraffe said.
