Local organizers and Port Authority officials met with the Hudson County community Thursday night to answer questions about how a new service plan could affect PATH train riders.

Dozens gathered at Hudson County Community College Thursday night to learn more about the Port Authority’s 2026-2035 proposed Capital Plan.

"We started a dialogue, and we did this because the PATH train is incredibly important for Hudson County," said Jack Mckee, a campaign organizer for local advocacy group Hudson County Complete Streets.

Under the proposed $45 billion plan, all four major PATH lines would operate seven days a week, meaning more direct trains on weekends.

"I'm not sure if it's going to fix it, but I know it's going to bring for a much better PATH system in the future with more direct service. A lot of people complain about stopping at Hoboken on the weekends," said passenger Elijah Otero.

The plan would also include significant decreases in times between trains and less late-night service operating hours.

For riders, the extended service means less time spent waiting on the platform.

"I've been a PATH rider for almost 20 years at this point. I've always taken the train from Newport into the city. I've seen the service quality go down over the last few years, and I wanted to see what PATH is doing and hear firsthand," said passenger Puneet Sood.

Riders were able to pre submit their questions as well as ask them in real time.

Several commuters wanted to know whether PATH service would ever be extended to Newark airport.

The Port Authority's COO said PATH would do the project if they had the funds, but that was unlikely at this time.

Others asked about the fare hikes included in the Capital Plan, which would bring the fare up to $4 by 2029. According to the plan, increases would be implemented increments of 25 cents.

PATH's director said the hikes are necessary to fund the increased services, explaining that fares only cover about 25% of PATH's operating costs as is.

Many of the proposed changes were spurred by Hudson County Complete Streets' year-long advocacy campaign for a better PATH experience.

"They all want to know that they can promise a certain commute from New York, to and from Newark. In our conversations with the community, they did not have that confidence," Mckee said. "Even though the service expansions haven't hit yet, just the promise that they will and specific dates of when those expansions will happen...People have a little more hope, faith."

If the Port Authority's Capital Plan is approved, passengers will start to see service expansions in action beginning in March 2026.