This past weekend, over 20,000 concertgoers packed into Harrison for the Rüfüs Du Sol show at Sports Illustrated Stadium, only to face dangerously overcrowded platforms and long delays at the PATH station. It’s a scene I’ve witnessed far too many times.
As someone who regularly attends Red Bulls and Gotham FC matches, as well as international soccer friendlies hosted at the stadium, I’ve experienced firsthand how PATH’s weekend and late-night service fails to meet the moment. After every major event, fans pour out into a transit system that simply isn’t prepared, leaving people confused, crammed, and stuck waiting for trains that come too infrequently and don’t run late enough. It’s frustrating, it’s unsafe, and it’s undermining the very events that are bringing life and commerce to the area.
Harrison has become a true destination: not just for sports, but now for concerts, dining, and other large-scale events. The fall’s lineup includes more stadium shows, and without changes, we’re on track for another round of transit meltdowns. PATH has a responsibility to prepare for these surges in demand. Yet again and again, riders are treated like an afterthought.
Other cities regularly scale up transit service for large events. PATH, despite operating in one of the most densely populated and transit-dependent regions in the country, lags behind. And the cost isn’t just inconvenience—it’s lost business, public safety risks, and a dampening effect on the cultural and economic growth happening right here in New Jersey. Promoters will look at the gridlock and decide to book elsewhere for their next big show.
We need more frequent service and bonus trains, especially on nights and weekends when the PATH system is most critical for eventgoers, hospitality workers, and local businesses.
If the Port Authority wants PATH to serve as the backbone of a vibrant, growing metro area, it needs to plan and operate like it. That means prioritizing large events, anticipating surges, and responding to the needs of the communities PATH is meant to connect.
Join me — and a growing coalition of New Jersey businesses and residents — in calling for change. Sign the petition urging the Port Authority to expand off-peak PATH service now:
We shouldn’t have to choose between enjoying this area’s incredible sports & entertainment and getting home safely and efficiently. It’s time for PATH to step up.
One response to “PATH Must Step Up for New Jersey’s Growing Entertainment Scene in Harrison”
The reality is that with advance and better scheduling of “flexibile, but recurring” trains and trips for events, PATH can probably make money. Hidden in their recent service frequency announcement is math that suggests cost per incremental trip is in the area of $400. Even multiplying that 6 fold to account for a permanent yet recurring service on weekends and certain weeknights for concerts and events, the cost is $2,400. A nine car train filled to capacity, which is almost insured by crowd size and advanced marketing means they gather $3,200 in revenue per trip. Even if they have to run an additional train from JSQ to HOB/33rd to those going to Hoboken and uptown, they will likely make money. These are “at full capacity” estimates, so the financial planners at PATH would want to have some latitude to account for downtime and extra trains to run enough trains and trips before and after the event.. But if the venues or organizers of events were to pitch in money, then it would be win/win/win. Crowd size would be higher, people would have an easier time getting to and from Newark/Harrison from the densest areas on the planet, and more people would come to rely on PATH more often and have a much better perception of the service. And of course all the other commercial venues in Newark/Harrison would benefit, so maybe those municipalities pony up some revenue.