WATCH: Port Authority New York and New Jersey Complete $47.2MM Harrison Station

Courtesy of PANYNJ

HARRISON, N.J. – Port Authority New York and New Jersey reports the Harrison Station on the PATH commuter rail is now open after renovations.

Port Authority New York and New Jersey has completed the $47.2 million station house at the Harrison stop. Located on the PATH commuter rail, the new station house is the latest step toward PANYNJ’s multi-facility modernization of the regional transit hub. Below shows a video of the Harrison Southwest Head House opening. The station house is 3,200 square feet and is now open to the public. New features include an elevator, a public plaza with seating, 82 bicycle parking spots, a 17,800-square-foot concourse, and a dedicated turnstile that takes TAPP. According to the Port Authority, other turnstiles in the station will continue to take existing PATH fare payment systems, including SmartLink and MetroCard. 

The project was partly funded from an FTA grant of $40.7 million. Originally built in 1936, the original station house was outdated and “was razed to make way for a more modern and accessible replacement.” PATH reportedly retained the original building’s rich history by “preserving and showcasing the original signage and numerous artifacts from the previous building.” This includes installing an interpretative display and a black-and-white aerial map inside the entrance. There are also bronze station signage letters, a Pennsylvania Railroad keystone, and a directional mosaic tile sign in the new station. The new station house was built with resiliency and sustainability in mind. The building boasts enhanced flood protection in that the first level is located above the flood plain. PANYNJ says water runoff will be collected and stored for landscape irrigation.

This is the latest in the Port Authority’s $256 million transformation “of the sprawling PATH Harrison station complex as a vital transportation hub in the region.” Located in the southwest corner of the Harrison station complex, it allows for safer pedestrian access without riders having to cross Frank E. Rodgers Boulevard. Another station in the northeast station was completed in 2018 with a second completed in 2019 in the southeast section. The station also provides connection to NJ TRANSIT buses along with commuter vehicle and bicycle parking. The $256 million investment at Harrison includes renovations, three new station houses “to improve egress,” and construction of a new substation that powers the entire complex. The new substation has been operational for a year and “ensures a dedicated power sources for the large complex and was built to the agency’s stringent sustainability standards.”

New Jersey Governor Phil Murphy says the announcement “marks yet another milestone in the comprehensive modernization of our regional transportation system. . . I applaud the Port Authority for the forward-thinking lens through which this project was conceived. Combining state-of-the-art technology with sustainable and resilient practices will ensure New Jersey commuters have a first-rate mode of transportation to get where they need to go while benefiting our regional economy as a whole.”

“The PATH commuter rail has fueled the economic growth and development of Harrison and its nearby communities into a desirable residential area and a hub of activity by providing easy access to businesses and cultural landmarks. . . The port Authority’s $256 million investment in Harrison is yielding benefits far and wide for this community as more people discover this not-so-hidden gem as a destination and a great place to live,” said Port Authority Chairman Kevin O’Toole.

Port Authority Executive Director Rick Cotton said the “$256 million investment in the PATH Harrison station complex has turned an outmoded nearly-century old facility into an ultra-modern 21^st century transit hub accessible to everyone. . . This expansion of the Harrison station that we are opening today advances our commitment to providing a modern 21^st century customer experience at Port Authority facilities.”

Harrison Mayor James Fife said, “Since the Port Authority built the new state-of-the-art PATH station in Harrison, we have seen firsthand its great success as a complement to the massive redevelopment that has transformed this once-industrial zone. . . We commend the Port Authority for its commitment to Harrison and to PATH riders who rely on this station. Partnerships like the one we have with the Port Authority to improve this area are vital to our continued redevelopment, and we look forward to many more years of collaboration.”