The Port Authority Board of Commissioners approved $4.8 billion for Phase 1 of the Midtown Bus Terminal Replacement Project, also hearing from Hudson County commuters who called out poor PATH service and demanded improvements.
By Joe Murray/Hudson County View
The unanimous vote (7-0) came occurred yesterday morning, with the public session also including discussions about ridership levels, facility performance, and key infrastructure initiatives across New York and New Jersey.
Board Chair Kevin O’Toole called the project “probably one of the most single important votes that we will ever face on our tenure on the Port Authority.” He added, “It’s the heart and the core that keeps New York and New Jersey functioning.”
Chief of Major Capital Projects Steven Plate presented the resolution, which includes a $1.871 billion construction contract awarded to Tutor Perini Corporation for Phase One.
Plate noted that a ceremonial groundbreaking for the terminal project was held on May 29th, attended by Govs. Kathy Hochul (D) of New York and Phil Murphy (D) of New Jersey.
The meeting also marked the introduction of new Commissioner Maria Dominguez.
“Commissioner Dominguez is very familiar with transportation issues … She’s a big supporter of the Port Authority,” O’Toole said of the latest addition to the board.
Additionally, the board approved a new agreement with Boingo Wireless for Wi-Fi and cellular upgrades across Port Authority facilities.
Chief Technology Officer Rob Galvin said the plan will provide free, ad-free service with speeds up to 200 Mbps in the first year. The system will be future-ready, supporting technologies such as 6G and Wi-Fi 8, with a target of 99.999% availability.
Jackie McCarthy, Director of Aviation Redevelopment, updated the board on the Newark Liberty International Airport Train Station Access Improvement Project, which broke ground on June 13th.
“This will allow the residents of the South Ward and North Elizabeth to get to the airport directly or alternatively to have a single seat ride to Jersey City or Manhattan,” she stated.
The project is expected to cut travel time from 40 minutes to under 10 minutes and generate over 675 jobs.
Furthermore, Port AuthorityExecutive Director Rick Cotton reported on May 2025 traffic data across Port Authority facilities.
JFK Airport volumes exceeded May 2024 figures by 0.1%, while Newark Liberty’s were down 20% due to FAA flight caps and weather issues.
The Port of New York and New Jersey maintained its position as the busiest in the nation for May, with volumes up 20% over May 2019.
Finally, PATH ridership was up 7% from last year, reaching 75% of pre-pandemic levels, with weekend ridership exceeding 2019 figures by 12%.
During public comment, PATH riders raised concerns about service frequency and infrastructure.
Jack McKee, a Jersey City resident, stated, “Off-peak PATH service remains insufficient for the people it serves.”
A resident from Hoboken described 40-minute late-night headways as “abandonment” and raised the issue of a lack of tunnel cell service.
“Just the modest increase in frequency to 15, 12, or even 10 minutes would make a huge difference,” added Strong Towns West Hudson volunteer Christopher Vasquez.
The board also authorized $138 million for electrical infrastructure upgrades at JFK Airport and $27 million for design planning related to future rehabilitation of airport runways and roadways, while KPMG LLP was retained to conduct the Port Authority’s 2025 audit.