Peter Cammarano in the past year has spent some of his time fighting the fare increase by the PATH with his web site"Stop The Path Hike" http://www.stopthepathhike.com/. How much of this is political posturing versus a genuine concern for his constituents I leave to the reader. With that said, I thought it would be good to make some of my own observations about the current state of Mass Transit in Hoboken. Keep in mind that this is from the perspective of someone who commutes into NYC City on a daily basis and uses Mass Transit to get there. Many in Hoboken have my commuting profile as it is well known that Hoboken is a bedroom community of New York City. From my perspective I don't mind the PATH fare going from $1.50 to $2.00 as long as I get good services in exchange. There is nothing wrong with questioning the need for a fare hike or even being against it for the sake of those less able to afford an increase so I see where Peter Cammarano is coming from.
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I too realize that for those on lower incomes this increase could be a big burden but I will point out that the fares collected do not equal the cost to run the PATH system. The PATH, as all Mass Transit is subsidized. This is the way it should be.
Here are some of these observations:
Positives:
- For the most part the M-F rush hour PATH trains seem to be adequate in coverage for 33rd Street and WTC lines. Bad weather can of course affect service.
- There are 4 bus lines that services Hoboken locally. They are 126-Washington, 126-Clinton, 22, and 89. The 126 route goes directly to the Port Authority Bus Terminal where you can link up to the rest of the NJ transit bus system.
- You can go see a NJ Devil's game via the PATH. But then again who wants to see a NJ Devil's game?
- There is a special bus to Giants stadium for games and concerts from the Port Authority.
- There is also a private ferry service to Midtown, WFC and Pier 11 downtown. Tickets are $6 one-way to Pier 11 from Hoboken South though.
- The Light Rail system is a big hit. It addresses somewhat the needs of the West side of Hoboken and links up to the main PATH, NJ train, Bus Terminal, Ferry Terminal at Lackawanna. For people without cars it makes getting to certain part of Jersey City or even Bayonne fairly easy.
- Smart link is a great idea and makes it more convenient for commuters of the PATH and NYC subways.
Negatives:
- Many of NJ transit buses in Hoboken are very old and in bad condition.
- Some of the newer buses are the wrong type for Hoboken. They are the buses that sit higher and have only one exit. Due to that fact, when the bus is crowded it makes it very difficult for people to get on and off which has caused delays in them doing their routes. Also, the high step up is not friendly for Senior Citizens.
- "Bus Bunching" seems to occur often. This is where several buses in a row stop within a minute of each other. Usually happens when there are traffic or weather related delays.
- Many buses are too hot in either the Winter or Summer.
- Bus service (the 126 line) is inadequate for the weekends. Ever since Academy Bus went out of service this has been noticed.
- The PATH service to 33rd Street is too infrequent on weekends. The trains are almost always overcrowded.
- There used to be a Jersey shore express from Hoboken direct to the Jersey Shore points on Saturday morning. That schedule was dropped two years ago.
- NJ transit should accept Metro Cards or Smart link Cards. This change counting is a real drag for me in the morning and it slows down service.
- Private ferry NY Waterway went from $36 for a ten trip to $57 to pier 11 in 3 years. That is a 58% increase in 3 years. There are other options like the PATH but they include 1 15 minute wlak for those who work near South Street Pier 11.
- Cross town bus? Is this needed for Hoboken's Westsiders?
So in conclusion, Hoboken does have many transportation options but as I have pointed out there is always room for improvement. I think campaigns like "Stop the Path Hike" while playing to populist sentiment are over simplistic in their approach. A better perspective would be to say what level of services the Public needs or wants, what does it cost, and is the Public willing to pay for it. Or, the question could be posed to NJ Transit "What have you done for Hoboken Lately".
