Boggiano: Jersey City is being treated ‘like a stepchild’ by the Port Authority

Jersey City Ward C Councilman Rich Boggiano says he’s tired of the city being “treated like a stepchild by the Port Authority,” since renovations of the city’s Journal Square PATH station are long overdue. 

By John Heinis/Hudson County View

Boggiano first expressed his displeasure with a Facebook post early this morning:

Speaking with Hudson County View, Boggiano said the Port Authority, a bi-state agency, needs to give New Jersey the same funding opportunities that are available to New York, stressing that the current PATH situation is “ridiculous.”

“The PATH platform is always mobbed, the PATH train itself is always mobbed, even at 11 p.m. at night. This is ridiculous … it’s sickening,” Boggiano said over the phone. “They [the Port Authority] totally exclude New Jersey and it’s a shame”

Boggiano, a frequent critic of Mayor Steven Fulop, also emphasized his belief that the city has to rethink their priorities when it comes to short-term projects in Jersey City.

“All the city is interested in is these damn murals and these damn bike paths. We’re 1,800 units in Journal Square through the KRE project. We’re going to have over 2,000 housing units in the area soon,” adding that more residents equates to more commuter – even more reason to improve the PATH situation.

The retired Jersey City police detective added that in an ideal world, he’d like to see the Journal Square PATH platforms extended in order to add more PATH cars to the station.

“It’s a shame that we’re treated like a stepchild by the Port Authority …I’d like to see all the platforms extended to add two or three more cars. I’d also like to see the white elephant in Journal Square taken down and put up a real terminal.”

A Port Authority spokesman could not immediately be reached for comment, while a Jersey City spokesman did not immediately return an email seeking comment, but this story will be updated in the event comment is given.