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Harrison station (PATH)

Coordinates: 40°44′21″N 74°09′20″W / 40.739187°N 74.155425°W / 40.739187; -74.155425
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Harrison
Port Authority Trans-Hudson PATH rapid transit station
Harrison station in 2024
General information
Location913 Frank E. Rodgers Boulevard South
Harrison, New Jersey
Coordinates40°44′21″N 74°09′20″W / 40.739187°N 74.155425°W / 40.739187; -74.155425
Owned byPort Authority of New York and New Jersey
Line(s)Northeast Corridor
Platforms2 side platforms
Tracks2 (PATH), 3 (Northeast Corridor)
ConnectionsBus transport NJ Transit Bus: 40
Construction
ParkingPaid parking nearby
AccessibleYes
History
Opened1937 (1937)
RebuiltOctober 30, 2018 (westbound)
June 15, 2019 (eastbound)
Passengers
20182,571,340[1] Decrease 0.7%
Rank10 of 13
Services
Preceding station PATH Following station
Newark
Terminus
 NWK–WTC Journal Square
toward World Trade Center
Former services
Preceding station Hudson and Manhattan Railroad Following station
Park Place
Terminus
 Park Place – Hudson Terminal Manhattan Transfer
toward Hudson Terminal
Preceding station Pennsylvania Railroad Following station
Newark Market Street
toward New Brunswick
 New Brunswick Line
Until 1910s
 Manhattan Transfer
toward Exchange Place
Location
Map

Harrison station is a station on the PATH system. Located on Frank E. Rodgers Boulevard (County Route 697) between I-280 and the Passaic River in Harrison, New Jersey, it is served by the Newark–World Trade Center line at all times. The station's two side platforms are on the outside of the Northeast Corridor's three tracks.

The station opened in 1911 as part of the extension of the Hudson and Manhattan Railroad to Newark–Park Place, and was relocated in 1937. It was rebuilt in the late 2010s and early 2020s.

History

[edit]

On November 26, 1911, the Hudson and Manhattan Railroad (H&M) began running from Manhattan Transfer to Newark–Park Place, stopping at Harrison station at the intersection of Fourth Street (now Frank E. Rodgers Boulevard South) and New Jersey Railroad Avenue, three blocks north of the present station.[2][3] The H&M used an elevated right-of-way above the Pennsylvania Railroad's Center Street Branch.[4]

The station moved to a new location on June 20, 1937, when the H&M was realigned southward from Park Place to Newark Penn Station.[5]

Both Harrison stations were part of a joint operation of the PRR and the H&M under the legal name "Joint Service Electric Railroad", which required a separate or surcharge fare.[6] Beside H&M service, Harrison also served the PRR-owned New York and Long Branch Railroad line, which was partially owned by the Central Railroad of New Jersey south of Perth Amboy, and ran as far east as Exchange Place Terminal in Jersey City. Hudson and Manhattan Railroad was bought by the Port Authority of New York and New Jersey in 1962 and renamed Port Authority Trans-Hudson, but the 1937-built H&M/PRR depot remained intact.

Reconstruction

[edit]
New northern (Newark-bound) entrance in March 2023
New southern (WTC-bound) entrance in August 2019

The area around the station has undergone redevelopment since the early 2000s.[7] The first phase of a mixed-use development called Harrison Station opened in December 2011.[8] Meanwhile, the Port Authority began reconstructing the station in 2009. The $256 million project essentially rebuilt the station because the original structure's architecture could not easily be updated.[9] The station has longer and wider platforms to allow 10-car trains; street-level-to-platform elevators within the platform extensions, in compliance with the Americans with Disabilities Act of 1990; and architectural modifications to its appearance.[10] Funding for this project was provided by a portion of the March 2008 toll and fare hike, which increased the overall spending budget of the corporation. In 2011, the Port Authority began acquiring real property in preparation for construction.[11]

In 2012, a parking garage opened adjacent to the Newark-bound platform and the entrance/exit was rebuilt with a modern, glass walled enclosure. A new staircase facing the opposite direction from the original goes down to a small plaza with bike racks outside the garage. The major reconstruction was approved on March 28, 2012, and construction started in January 2013. The Port Authority had originally planned to finish construction by April 2017.[12][13] The start of construction was celebrated by Gov. Chris Christie, Mayor Raymond McDonough and Port Authority Executive Director Bill Baroni on August 16, 2013.[14] The completion target was tentatively moved to 2018, and settling a required right-of-way renewal agreement with Amtrak may delay the completion further.[15] Work on the station continued even in the absence of an agreement.[15] The renovation and expansion of the station will also accommodate large crowds of spectators taking the PATH for sporting events held at nearby Sports Illustrated Stadium, home of Major League Soccer (MLS) club New York Red Bulls.

The westbound platform of the new station opened to the public on October 30, 2018.[16][17] On June 15, 2019, the eastbound head house and platform of the new station opened to the public completing the first two of the four-phase project of the station reconstruction.[18] Following the new eastbound platform's opening, the older existing entrances on the west side of Frank E. Rodgers Boulevard were expected to be demolished by December 2019 for the third phase to make way for similar new headhouses,[19] but no action was taken until April 12, 2021, when the Pennsylvania Railroad station headhouse to the eastbound platform was closed and subsequently demolished.[20]

On February 21, 2024, the new eastbound station's headhouse was completed and opened to the public, thus completing the project for the modernization of the station. The new 3,200 sq ft (297 m2) station house cost $47.2 million, and includes many modernization and accessibility upgrades, including an elevator, public plaza with seating, 82 bicycle parking spots, and a dedicated turnstile. Additionally, the new facility has enhanced flood protection from the Passaic River, with the house being above the floodplain and water runoff being collected and stored in water retention tanks for irrigation. The new facility allows for pedestrian access without needing to cross the street.[21]

Station layout

[edit]

This station is located on the Northeast Corridor. It has two side platforms and five tracks.[22] Only the side tracks serving the PATH platforms have third rail power; the three center tracks, with overhead catenary wires, are used by passing Amtrak and New Jersey Transit's Raritan Valley Line, Northeast Corridor Line and North Jersey Coast Line trains.

The platforms have low tubular fencing along their extreme ends and a wooden canopy held up by metal posts toward their midsection. Each platform has its own entrance/exit to the west side of Frank E. Rogers Boulevard and there are no crossovers or crossunders. The Newark-bound platform has an additional entrance/exit on the east side of the boulevard, and a similar entrance/exit was built for the New York-bound platform.

The Newark-bound platform entrance on the west side of Frank E. Rodgers Boulevard is under a roll-up steel gate. It leads to a small, modern fare control area with smart card turnstiles, installed here and at all other PATH stations in January 2005. Before then, passengers could take the short ride to Newark for free (trains discharge and pick up passengers at different fare-control areas in Newark Penn Station, so fare beating to New York was not possible).[23] These six turnstiles lead past a Ticket Vending Machine and another machine for two trip PATH MetroCards to a covered staircase. This staircase goes down to an intermediate landing where another staircase turns right and goes down to the street. A new staircase facing the opposite direction from the original goes down to a small plaza with bike racks outside the parking garage.

North (westbound) lobby of Harrison Station

The former entrance to the New York-bound platform was inside a 1930s brick building. It had a circular awning that covers two blue doors. Above this awning was a window to allow natural light in followed by a concrete etching of the Pennsylvania Railroad logo and was a reflection of the Hudson and Manhattan Railroad former joint operated with the Pennsylvania Railroad between Journal Square (then called Summit Avenue) and Newark. Above this was a station's name and ornate clock, although the latter was removed at an unknown point. Inside the building were two more doors at a split. These two areas lead to separate banks of turnstiles that lead to an enclosed staircase up to platform level, where there was a small, enclosed waiting area with benches before doors lead out to the back of the platform. As part of ongoing renovations at the station, the 1930's entrance was closed, demolished and will be replaced.

The 2018–2019 entrances on the east side of Frank E. Rodgers Boulevard contain separate semicircular glass headhouses for each platform. The Newark-bound headhouse opened to passengers on October 30, 2018, and the New York-bound headhouse opened to passengers on June 15, 2019. The headhouses curve outward toward plazas on the street. Each headhouse's ceiling is around three stories above ground level, creating an airy and open effect. Directly inside each headhouse is an escalator, a set of double-wide stairs, and an elevator leading to each respective platform level. The turnstiles are located at platform level, and there is no free transfer between directions.[17]

References

[edit]
  1. ^ "PATH Ridership Report". Port Authority NY NJ. Port Authority of New York and New Jersey. 2018. Retrieved February 22, 2023.
  2. ^ "Hudson & Manhattan Railroad / Hudson Tubes / PATH Trains: Bahnhöfe Stations". www.hudsoncity.net. Archived from the original on September 21, 2016. Retrieved February 10, 2016.
  3. ^ "Hudson & Manhattan Railroad Hudson Tubes PATH: A Short History and Description". www.hudsoncity.net. Retrieved February 10, 2016.
  4. ^ Carleton, Paul (1990). The Hudson & Manhattan Railroad Revisited. Dunnellon, Florida: D. Carleton Railbooks. p. 17. OCLC 22762786.
  5. ^ "NEW STATION OPEN FOR HUDSON TUBES; Newark Terminal Is Shifted From Park Place to the Pennsylvania Depot". The New York Times. June 20, 1937. Retrieved October 1, 2018.
  6. ^ "Hudson & Manhattan Railroad [Hudson Tubes PATH]: A Short History and Description Frameset". www.hudsoncity.net. Retrieved February 10, 2016.
  7. ^ Martin, Antoinette (August 11, 2002). "In the Region/New Jersey; Harrison Planning Billion Mixed-Use Community". The New York Times.
  8. ^ Fedschun, Travis (December 10, 2011). "First building in Harrison Station mixed-use development opens". The Jersey Journal. Retrieved December 18, 2011.
  9. ^ "GOVERNOR CHRISTIE AND THE PORT AUTHORITY MARK ONGOING WORK ON NEW $256 MILLION HARRISON PATH RAIL STATION". www.panynj.gov. Port Authority of NY & NJ. August 16, 2013. Archived from the original on February 23, 2017. Retrieved January 13, 2017.
  10. ^ Duger, Rose (March 12, 2009). "Harrison unveils $75M PATH renovation plan". The Jersey Journal. Archived from the original on June 29, 2011. Retrieved December 18, 2011.
  11. ^ "Port Authority Fulfills Commitment to Replace PATH's Entire 340-Rail Car Fleet" (Press release). Port Authority of New York & New Jersey. October 31, 2011. Retrieved December 18, 2011.
  12. ^ Strunsky, Steve (April 5, 2012). "Harrison hopes upgraded PATH station will help welcome commuters with a grand new view". The Star Ledger. Newark. Retrieved April 5, 2012.
  13. ^ Kusisto, Laura; Firger, Jessica (April 22, 2012). "New Jersey Town Bets Big on PATH". The Wall Street Journal.
  14. ^ Machcinski, Anthony J. (August 16, 2013). "Christie cheers $256M Harrison PATH station, set to open in 2017". Jersey Journal. Retrieved October 16, 2013.
  15. ^ a b Strunsky, Steve (April 21, 2015). "Good and bad news for Harrison PATH riders awaiting new station". NJ Advance Media. Retrieved April 22, 2015.
  16. ^ "New Harrison PATH station opens". News 12 New Jersey. October 30, 2018. Retrieved October 31, 2018.
  17. ^ a b Higgs, Larry (October 31, 2018). "The newest PATH station cost $256M to build. Here's what it offers". NJ.com. Retrieved October 1, 2018.
  18. ^ "Renovated Harrison PATH station set to open to the public". News 12 New Jersey. June 12, 2019. Retrieved June 13, 2019.
  19. ^ "PATH Harrison Station Redevelopment Project". Port Authority of New York and New Jersey. June 13, 2019. Archived from the original on November 15, 2019. Retrieved August 25, 2014.
  20. ^ "PATH Entering New Phase of Harrison Station Redevelopment with Rehab Work and New Construction Starting at the Facility's Southwest Station" (Press release). Port Authority of New York & New Jersey. April 7, 2021.
  21. ^ Fry, Chris (February 23, 2024). "Port Authority Opens New $47 Million Station House in Harrison". Jersey Digs. Retrieved February 24, 2024.
  22. ^ Dougherty, Peter (2006) [2002]. Tracks of the New York City Subway 2006 (3rd ed.). Dougherty. OCLC 49777633 – via Google Books.
  23. ^ McGeehan, Patrick (January 28, 2005). "Metro Briefing – New Jersey: Harrison: Free-Ride Loophole Closed". The New York Times. Retrieved April 4, 2009.
[edit]
Google Maps Street View
image icon Old eastbound entrance
image icon Old westbound entrance
image icon Old platforms
image icon New eastbound half station
image icon New westbound half station
image icon New westbound mezzanine
image icon New platforms

Media related to Harrison (PATH station) at Wikimedia Commons

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