PANYNJ’s $45 Billion Capital Plan to Enhance PATH Rail Services

The Port Authority of New York and New Jersey (PANYNJ) has released a proposed 45 billion USD capital plan for 2026–2035, outlining long-term investment across its rail, transit and airport networks.

The proposal progresses ongoing projects from the current capital plan and introduces a new decade of works aimed at improving regional connectivity, reliability and resilience.

The authority, which operates without state or local tax funding, said the plan is shaped by continued demand growth, climate pressures and the need for modernised infrastructure across the bi-state region.

PATH Rail: Expanded Services and Infrastructure Upgrades

A central component of the plan is a significant uplift in PATH rail operations. The proposal sets out one of the most extensive service increases since the late 1990s, with all four PATH lines scheduled to operate seven days a week from 2026.

The plan provides for:

• Increased weekend frequencies to 33rd Street from 2026, with further enhancements in 2027
• The reinstatement of direct weekend services between Journal Square–33rd Street and Hoboken–World Trade Center
• Additional morning peak services on the Hoboken–World Trade Center line in 2026
• Increased late-night services on Fridays from mid-2026
• Higher frequencies on the Newark–World Trade Center line during peak periods and weekends in 2027

Infrastructure investment includes new uptown tracks to support faster and more reliable operations, upgrades to stations and signalling, and new fare gates supported by CCTV and AI tools to reduce fare evasion.

To help fund operations and these enhancements, PATH fares are proposed to rise by 25 cents from summer 2026, with additional annual increases through 2029. PATH currently covers around 25 per cent of its operating cost through fares.

Airport Rail Connectivity

The capital plan also contains several major rail-linked airport projects:

John F. Kennedy International Airport

A redesigned AirTrain JFK is planned, featuring higher-capacity rolling stock and upgraded stations. The authority expects the first gates of the new Terminal 1 and Terminal 6 to open in 2026, alongside further stages of the airport’s reconstructed internal road network.

Newark Liberty International Airport

Work continues on the new 3.5 billion USD AirTrain Newark, designed to improve reliability and passenger transfer capacity. A new community access point to the Newark Airport Rail Station is scheduled to open in 2026, improving local connectivity for Newark and Elizabeth residents.

The plan also supports the development of a new Terminal B through a public–private partnership and future expansion of Terminal A.

LaGuardia Airport

While LaGuardia does not have a rail connection, the proposal includes measures to improve mass transit access, including enhancements to the Q70 bus service that links to nearby rail lines.

Gateway Programme Contribution

The proposed plan retains the authority’s 2.7 billion USD contribution to the Gateway Program, a project central to long-term rail capacity on the Northeast Corridor between New Jersey and New York.

The plan also provides funding to continue the development of the World Trade Center site, including the build-out of Towers 2 and 5. Investment will support the area’s role as a multi-modal transport hub and commercial district, ensuring continued integration with PATH and other transit services.

2026 Budget Proposal

Alongside the capital plan, the authority released its 2026 budget proposal, totalling 10.1 billion USD. This includes 4.1 billion USD in capital spending, covering early works for the new capital plan, the ongoing reconstruction of JFK, progress on the new AirTrain Newark programme and continued state-of-good-repair works across PATH and other facilities.

Passenger volumes across the authority’s rail and aviation assets are expected to remain strong in 2026, with the PATH system projected to reach around 62 million annual riders — approximately 75 percent of pre-pandemic levels.