Harrison Commuters Face Fare Hike As PATH Train Tickets Increase

Starting Sunday, January 12, 2024, commuters using the PATH train from Harrison to New York City and Newark will need to dig a little deeper into their pockets. A new fare increase will see the price of a single PATH train ticket rise from $2.75 to $3.00, a move that coincides with New York City's new congestion pricing toll in Manhattan and a broader toll hike on bridges and tunnels operated by the Port Authority of NY & NJ (Port Authority).

This PATH fare hike is part of an automatic adjustment mechanism approved in previous years, set to trigger when certain economic indicators reach specified thresholds. That is an interesting way to increase fares without holding a public hearing. This marks the first fare increase for the PATH train since October 2014. It's designed to adjust the fare based on economic conditions and help sustain the operational and maintenance needs of the transit system without requiring frequent manual fare revisions. The automatic adjustment mechanism uses the Consumer Price Index (CPI) in its formula. It has not triggered an increase for over 9 years.

The increase comes at a time, however, when New York’s congestion pricing may increase PATH ridership. Increased PATH ridership may bring more revenue that could alleviate the need for a fare increase.  One wonders if the Port Authority's automatic adjustment mechanism also triggers lower fares.  We think that it does not.  Property taxes haven’t decreased in the Town of Harrison despite a record 14 million dollar increase in revenue coming into Town Hall from Payments in Lieu of Taxes (PILOTs) being paid by developers of new modern apartment buildings. Properties in the Harrison Redevelopment Zone generated 14 million dollars last year.  The rest of the Town of Harrison generated 16 million dollars in revenue in the form of property taxes. Think about that for a second.  Why didn’t the property taxes go down in the Town of Harrison? Like we said we think the Port Authority’s automatic adjustment mechanism is unlikely to lower fares or bridge crossing fees.

Ways to Save

Commuters have multiple payment options available, with the increase affecting all forms of payment including Smart Link, Tapp, and MetroCard. To alleviate some of the financial burden, discounts are available through Smart Link for multi-trip fares: $2.85 per trip for bundles of 10, 20, or 40 trips, offering a savings of 15 cents per trip. Additionally, unlimited travel options are priced at $11.50 per day, $39.25 for seven days, and $120.75 for 30 days, which is beneficial for frequent travelers who make at least four trips per day on the PATH system. However, most commuters typically only require two trips per day—for work or leisure activities in Hoboken, Jersey City, Newark or NYC—making the unlimited passes less attractive.

Senior Discounts

For persons 65 and older, a Senior Smart Card is available, allowing them to travel for half the regular fare or $1.50 per trip. This initiative helps make commuting more affordable for the ou Senior population.

Financial Squeeze

As the region sees simultaneous increases in tolls and fares, commuters are feeling the financial squeeze. Questions are being raised about where all the toll and fare revenue is being allocated, especially as residents face higher costs of living and commuting. The alignment of fare increases with toll hikes on key transportation routes into Manhattan underscores a challenging financial landscape for daily commuters in and out of Harrison.

Does the fact that the Port Authority has not increased its fare for over 9 years make you feel better about this fare increase? Let us know on our Community Discussion Board. If you haven’t signed up yet, it’s free—be part of the discussion today!