PATH commuter rail ridership reached 5.12 million passengers in September, according to the Port Authority of New York and New Jersey, the highest level since pre-pandemic February 2020.
Weekday ridership averaged 206,543 passengers, the highest mark for average weekday ridership since February 2020 and the first post-pandemic month during which the metric surpassed 200,000 riders.
Weekend ridership also experienced growth. Saturday ridership averaged 117,930 passengers while Sunday ridership averaged 87,805. Both days were approximately 25 percent higher than September 2023’s averages.
“We’re encouraged to see the vote of confidence from PATH riders that these robust numbers represent,” Port Authority Executive Director Rick Cotton said. “We hope the comprehensive modernization work that’s underway across stations, tracks, and other vital infrastructure will keep us on track for even stronger growth in the months and years ahead, as we strive to make the system even more reliable and convenient.”
PATH has put into place a number of service and schedule enhancements as ridership returns closer to pre-pandemic levels. The enhancements are intended to make travel easier, safer, and more comfortable.
A ninth car was added to the Newark-World Trade Center line, increasing capacity by 12.5 percent per train.
The wait times for trains running during the morning peak hours on the Journal Square-33 St. line decreased from five to four minutes.
During the first nine months of the year, ridership reached 42 million passengers, 13 percent higher than 2023.
Officials noted the ridership increase comes as the Port Authority advances its two-year $430 million PATH Forward program. The program aims to upgrade the 116-year-old PATH system in several areas, including track repair and replacement, modernization of bridges, railcars and other critical infrastructure, and rehabilitation of four major stations.