PATH nears ridership high-water mark

[Editor's note: This story was updated on July 26.]

The Port Authority Trans-Hudson (PATH) rail system is on track to serve a record 80 million passengers in 2017, the Port Authority of New York and New Jersey (PANYNJ) announced late last week.

For the first six months of 2017, PATH logged just over 40 million riders, marking a 3.6 percent increase over the same period last year. Through June's end, the system averaged 277,000 riders each day.

In addition, PATH last month served 7.2 million total passengers, a 4 percent jump over the same month last year, according to preliminary ridership figures. Pending finalization of the data, June would be the busiest month ever for the system, PANYNJ officials said in a press release.

PATH leaders attributed the ridership growth in part to continued regional economic growth, improved employment in the area, the fast pace of residential development in New Jersey and New York, strong tourism, and changes in commuter behaviors.

Meanwhile, PATH registered an on-time performance rating of 98 percent for the first six months of the year, with peak period on-time performance at 96.3 percent.

"PATH has successfully weathered numerous challenges this year, and we expect that will continue during the summer months as PATH adds service for new customers affected by Amtrak’s work at New York Penn Station," said PANYNJ Executive Director Pat Foye.