There is a big difference in the way PATH or Hudson and Manhattan Railroad was designed to serve both Manhattan and Hudson/Essex Counties. In Manhattan, PATH was designed as a subway line with stations only blocks apart(there were 7 original stations on the 33rd St. line). In NJ, PATH was designed as a commuter railroad with the stations being miles apart. Times have changed, additional PATH stations should be constructed in NJ, such as Marion Station and possibly a station between Journal Square and Grove St. I know these are pipe dreams but it would make PATH more accessible to people in Jersey City and NJ.
I understand the new Turnpike Newark Bay Extension Bridge must be built to handle the current and anticipated future truck traffic into our ports. Our ports are vital to our economy. The $500 million dollar savings from eliminating the expansion from exit 14A to exit 14C should be redirected to NJ Transit to extend the Hudson Bergen Light Rail from West Side Ave., through Bayfront and South Kearny, to a park and ride facility in the vicinity of Turnpike Exit 15E in Newark. This would eliminate cars from entering Hudson County by enabling commuters to hop on the Light Rail and arrive at Exchange Place PATH Station in 15 minuets. This would be a perfect compromise while sustaining our ports and eliminating cars into Hudson County. Full disclosure, I’m not a transportation expert.