path sux survey results september 2009

SURVEY RESULTS: 9/1/09 - 9/30/09, 800 Responses

. PATH Survey - Usage

1. How long have you been using PATH? % of Respondents

Number of Respondents

Less than 1 year 7.38% 59

2 years 13.63% 109

3 years 10.63% 85

4 years 6.13% 49

5 years 5.38% 43

Greater than 5 years 56.88% 455

Number of respondents 800

Number or respondents who skipped this question 0

Page 10. PATH Survey - Weekday Commute

2. Do you use PATH for your weekday commute to work? % of Respondents


Yes 78.94% 611

No 21.06% 163



Page 11. PATH Survey - Weekday Commute YES

3. Which line do you use for your weekday commute? (if you have a multi-leg commute, just select one segment to comment on)

% of Respondents


Newark-WTC 33.13% 54

Journal Square-33rd 48.47% 79

Hoboken-WTC 7.36% 12

Hoboken-33rd St 11.04% 18



Page 12. PATH SURVEY - Weekday Commute - Newark - WTC

4. When you start your weekday morning commute, where do you get on PATH? % of Respondents


Exchange Place 20.22% 36

Grove 31.46% 56

Journal Square 14.61% 26

Harrison 6.74% 12

Newark 26.97% 48



5. When you finish your weekday morning commute, where do you get off PATH? % of Respondents


WTC 79.78% 142


Grove St 10.67% 19



6. How do you feel about the frequency of MORNING rush hour Newark-WTC trains? % of Respondents


They don't run nearly enough trains 27.53% 49

They run slightly not enough trains 38.20% 68

They run the right amount of trains 31.46% 56

They run too many trains 2.81% 5



7. How do you feel about the crowding of MORNING rush hour Newark-WTC trains? % of Respondents


It is so overcrowded that there isn't enough room to fit one more person 32.02% 57

It is way too overcrowded 37.64% 67

It is slightly overcrowded 18.54% 33

There is an acceptable amount of room 8.43% 15

There is more than enough room 3.37% 6



8. How do you feel about the frequency of EVENING rush hour WTC-Newark trains? % of Respondents








9. How do you feel about the crowding of EVENING rush hour WTC-Newark trains? % of Respondents









Page 13. PATH SURVEY - Weekday Commute - Hoboken - 33rd St



Hoboken 100.00% 18





Christopher St. 3.66% 10

9th St. 4.76% 13

14th St. 10.99% 30

23rd St. 19.41% 53

33rd St. 61.17% 167



12. How do you feel about the frequency of MORNING rush hour Hob-33rd St. trains? % of Respondents








13. How do you feel about the crowding of MORNING rush hour Hob-33rd St. trains? % of Respondents


It is so overcrowded that there isn't enough room to fit one

more person 20.88% 57







14. How do you feel about the frequency of EVENING rush hour 33rd St.-Hoboken trains? % of Respondents








15. How do you feel about the crowding of EVENING rush hour 33rd St.-Hoboken trains? % of Respondents









Page 14. PATH SURVEY - Weekday Commute - Journal Square - 33rd St



Journal Square 32.88% 24

Grove 49.32% 36

Pavonia/Newport 17.81% 13





Christopher St. 4.11% 3

9th St. 2.74% 2

14th St. 9.59% 7

23rd St. 21.92% 16

33rd St. 61.64% 45



18. How do you feel about the frequency of MORNING rush hour JSQ-33rd trains? % of Respondents








19. How do you feel about the crowding of MORNING rush hour JSQ-33rd trains? % of Respondents









20. How do you feel about the frequency of EVENING rush hour 33rd-JSQ trains? % of Respondents








21. How do you feel about the crowding of EVENING rush hour 33rd-JSQ trains? % of Respondents









Page 15. PATH SURVEY - Weekday Commute - Hoboken - WTC



Hoboken 66.67% 8







WTC 75.00% 9





24. How do you feel about the frequency of MORNING rush hour Hob-WTC trains? % of Respondents








25. How do you feel about the crowding of MORNING rush hour Hob-WTC trains? % of Respondents









26. How do you feel about the frequency of EVENING rush hour WTC-Hob trains? % of Respondents








27. How do you feel about the crowding of EVENING rush hour WTC-Hob trains? % of Respondents









Page 16. PATH Survey - Late Nights

28. Do you ever use PATH for late night (after 11pm) travel? % of Respondents


Yes 83.45% 575

No 16.55% 114



Page 17. PATH Survey - Late Nights YES

29. Which line do you use on late nights? (you can select more than one)

% of Respondents


WTC - Newark 32.19% 235

33rd - Journal Square Via Hoboken 67.81% 495



30. How do you feel about the frequency of late night trains? % of Respondents








31. How do you feel about the crowding of late night trains? % of Respondents









Page 18. PATH Survey - Weekend Travel

32. Do you ever use PATH for weekend travel? % of Respondents


Yes 88.76% 600

No 11.24% 76



Page 19. PATH Survey - Weekend YES

33. Which line do you use on weekends? (you can select more than one)

% of Respondents


WTC - Newark 35.34% 294

33rd - Journal Square Via Hoboken 64.66% 538



34. How do you feel about the frequency of weekend trains? % of Respondents








35. How do you feel about the crowding of weekend trains? % of Respondents









Page 20. PATH Survey - Environment

36. How do you feel about the temperature of the PATH trains in the summer? % of Respondents


Way too hot 19.16% 127

Too warm 37.86% 251

Just right 38.76% 257

Slightly too cold 3.17% 21

Way too cold 1.06% 7



37. How do you feel about the temperature of the PATH stations in the summer? % of Respondents


Way too hot 58.82% 390

Too warm 29.26% 194

Just right 10.41% 69

Slightly too cold 1.06% 7

Way too cold 0.45% 3



Page 21. PATH Survey - Equipment

38. When you walk up to a ticket vending machine... how often is it NOT in service, or it doesn't work for you on the first try?

% of Respondents


0-10% of the time 27.57% 180

10-20% of the time 20.98% 137

20-40% of the time 17.61% 115

40-60% of the time 9.34% 61

60-80% of the time 4.59% 30

80-100% of the time 1.84% 12

I don't use ticket vending machines. 18.07% 118



39. When you walk up to a turnstile to use your quick-card/smart-link card... how often is it NOT in service, or it doesn't work for you on the first try?

% of Respondents


0-10% of the time 37.98% 248

10-20% of the time 28.94% 189

20-40% of the time 18.99% 124

40-60% of the time 8.27% 54

60-80% of the time 4.59% 30

80-100% of the time 1.23% 8



Page 22. PATH Survey - Facilities

40. When you walk up to a PATH Station Escalator... how often is it NOT in service, forcing you to try another?

% of Respondents


0-10% of the time 25.51% 164

10-20% of the time 18.51% 119

20-40% of the time 16.33% 105

40-60% of the time 11.35% 73

60-80% of the time 7.00% 45

80-100% of the time 2.33% 15

The stations I use don't have escalators 18.97% 122



41. When you walk up to a PATH Station Elevator, how often is it NOT in service? % of Respondents


0-10% of the time 33.75% 217

10-20% of the time 10.89% 70

20-40% of the time 5.91% 38

40-60% of the time 6.38% 41

60-80% of the time 4.20% 27

80-100% of the time 3.42% 22

The stations I use don't have elevators 35.46% 228



Page 23. PATH Survey - Resource Allocation

42. PATH is starting to use new train cars. How do you think they should be implemented?

% of Respondents


Add new trains as additions to the schedule, keeping the old 80.35% 499

trains in service (increasing capacity)

Take old trains out of service when each new train becomesavailable (not increasing capacity) 19.65% 122



43. PATH has had professional photographs and videos taken of their new blue train in numerous settings. Instead of getting the new cars online ASAP, they put posters in the old trains and in PATH stations, saying 'coming soon'. How do you feel about PATH spending funds doing this?

% of Respondents


It's a total waste of funds 52.50% 326

It's a slight waste of funds 13.69% 85

It could be put to better use 19.32% 120

It's a fair use of funds 14.49% 90



44. How do you feel about the messages on the PSA (public service announcement) system? PSA's include "don't bring oversize packages", "pick up your belongings", and "buy smartlink cards". PSA's DO NOT include interruption of service notices.

% of Respondents


Totally useless 43.32% 269

Slightly useless 25.44% 158

No opinion 20.29% 126

Slightly useful 8.37% 52

Very useful 2.58% 16



45. How do you feel about the frequency of the PSAs (public service announcements)? % of Respondents


It repeats way too often 42.35% 263

It repeats slightly too often 29.15% 181

It repeats at a good frequency 25.93% 161

It doesn't repeat often enough 2.58% 16



46. PATH had functioning PSA's (public service announcements). Then they re-recorded them all. Twice, in two different voices. How do you feel about PATH spending funds to do this?

% of Respondents








47. PATH regularly pays employees to hand out card-holders & smartlink brochures at the stations. They often pay 2, 3, even 4 employees to do this at each booth. How do you feel about PATH spending funds doing this?

% of Respondents








48. What do you think PATH's top priorities should be? (you can select more than one)

% of Respondents


Add new switches so that more trains can run closer together (increasing ridership capacity) 17.05% 388

Add new trains to the schedule (increasing ridership capacity) 18.89% 430

Lengthen platforms in stations to accommodate longer trains (increasing ridership capacity) 7.25% 165

Add/Increase ventilation in the PATH stations 15.51% 353

Upgrade escalators/elevators/turnstiles so they function 24/7 5.01% 114

Resume direct service overnight & weekends (eliminate Hoboken layover) 14.19% 323

Inform users in stations about train delays & outages 13.88% 316

Add bike/stroller turnstiles to all stations 4.57% 104

Please reduce the volume on recorded (useless) PSAs 0.04% 1

Digital Timetable at stations of when trains arrive/depart!!!!!! 0.04% 1

Remove cars with little or no Air conditioning 0.04% 1

Smoother ride; less start/stop! 0.04% 1

Improve weekend service greatly 0.04% 1

lower the fucking temperature at 23rd street befored someone dies 0.04% 1

show "next train arriving in X minutes" notification 0.04% 1

cut employees pay they make way too much 0.04% 1

Keep back door of JSQ station open after 11PM 0.04% 1

give the hoboken to 33rd service on weekends back 0.04% 1

Add cell phone reception to check status of PATH trains as well as MTA train delays, etc. 0.04% 1

transit system

put real information on the millions of LCD screens they just installed instead of pointless NBC promos 0.04% 1

Sticking to the printed schedule 0.04% 1

Use the TVs for something other than ads for NBC 0.04% 1

Freaking Trash CANS 0.04% 1

EXtend to Newark Airport 0.04% 1

Add More Seats In Station 0.04% 1

Clean the cars. The bums sleep on the seats and piss all over them selves. The seats are wet and the cars smell 0.04% 1

Upgrade SIGNALS (not switches) so trains can run closer together 0.04% 1

more elevators (Grove specifically) 0.04% 1

Coordinate with NJ Transit schedules 0.04% 1

Build New Tunnel 0.04% 1

Same as NY subway system 0.04% 1

fix WTC exit and entrance on vescey st 0.04% 1

24/7 full size bike access (increased capacity to compensate space) 0.04% 1

Fix the frequency and capacity now! 0.04% 1

Notify people BEFORE they pay their fare of problems on the lines that could cause disruptions 0.04% 1

get rid of PSAs please! 0.04% 1

Send PATH alerts out immediately, as soon as an incident occurs. Information in PATH Alerts is almost always

stale/useless. 0.04% 1

Make new handicapp/disable signs. 0.04% 1

tailor service to event like the subway does. If there is a rangers or yankees mets game getting out late, plan to

have servcie so those people aren't waiting forever on the platform

0.04% 1

add in poles to new trains and handrails. there is nothing to hold onto once all seats are taken 0.04% 1

Direct JSQ-33 on Weekends!!! 0.04% 1

bike capacity in trains 0.04% 1

Add a timing mechanism so we know how long we have to wait for the next train 0.04% 1

anything that increases ridership capacity somethings gotta give 0.04% 1

ADD GARBAGE CANS TO STATIONS!!! 0.04% 1

Increased trains on the weekends and late night. They are always packed! 0.04% 1

Resume direct weekend service Hoboken-WTC 0.04% 1

ticket machines on platforms, show maps w NYT sys connections, 0.04% 1

get the conductors to pull up to the station at the appropriate place for the COMMUTER and not the

beginning of the platform in effect shoving a bunch of ppl into the last train (ppl that should've been spread out

through the last 2-3 cabs)

0.04% 1

Ventilation in Station. Presently harmful to ones health! 0.04% 1

Fix the A/C on all trains so I don't walk off the train like I took a shower. Get rid of the useless train conductor

space and modernize the trains like the NYC subways. RUN MORE TRAINS!!!

0.04% 1

Test and improve air quality. 0.04% 1

make smart cards out of better quality material. i have gone through 3 in about a year, at $5 each. they stay

stiffly between other cards in my wallet and done't move, but somehow get "damaged" after a few months of use.

totally unaccepttable. at least replace them free of charge.

0.04% 1

Allow for a direct train from 33rd to JSQ on weekend days (removing the need to go to Hoboken first) 0.04% 1

Stop running AHEAD of schedule. Trains are often 3 MINUTES ahead of schedule on the NWK to WTC line

during weekends. So that, when I arrive in the station 2 min ahead of schedule, I won't miss my train and have to

wait 17 MINUTES for the next one!

0.04% 1

clean the cars more frequently - they always smell like urine 0.04% 1

Safely speed up train movement through Hoboken / Newport caisson. 0.04% 1

Signs 0.04% 1

less of a wait for overnight service 0.04% 1

PLEASE INSTALL FANS AT THE 9TH ST STOP. PLEEEEASE 0.04% 1

TV's at station should tell you when the next trains are arriving. 0.04% 1

improve the quality of voiced announcements and or put them on the over amount of tv screens in the stations 0.04% 1

the agent that help are in most case useless. I try to look for a path worker they seem to know what is going on. 0.04% 1

Provide arrival/departure times at stations 0.04% 1

install garbage cans in stations 0.04% 1

It is imperative that there should be no layover for Journal Square riders. Make all stations handicap

accessible (isn't this the law? (no money? - They spent $12 million to build a set of STAIRS at Grove Street!)

0.04% 1

Add new SIGNALs -- new SWITCHES won't do a damn

thing. 0.04% 1

Add new PATH entrance at Newport 0.04% 1

use video monitors to track delays/schedule of next arriving train 0.04% 1

STOP those annoying PSAs. 0.04% 1

Cars are filthy! Clean them! 0.04% 1

more wheelchair access!!!! 0.04% 1

MOVE THE TRAINS OUT AS FAST AS THE WORLD TRADE TRAINS JOURNAL SQUARE JSUT SITTS THERE

WAITITNG AND GETTING MORE AND MORE CROWDED 0.04% 1

stay on schedule 0.04% 1

more security 0.04% 1

up grade entire system 0.04% 1

Clean the trains and stations 0.04% 1

New Trains 0.04% 1

Put an indicator on platforms for when the next train is arriving in Hoboken 0.04% 1

The new PATH trains SUCK 0.04% 1

increase service in newark 0.04% 1

provide a smoother ride 0.04% 1

fix the train speakers... can never understand what the conductor says 0.04% 1

announce times for next arriving trains 0.04% 1

None 0.04% 1

Increase frequency of trains at night and weeknds period. There is no excuse to run trains every 25 minutes that

are overcrowded. Every 15 min TOPS... 0.04% 1



Page 24. PATH Survey - Service 49. What do you feel is the current level of PATH service? Respondents Respondents

Unacceptable 8.63% 53

Poor 19.06% 117

Below Average 25.90% 159

Average 27.20% 167

Above Average 8.31% 51

Good 7.65% 47

Great 3.26% 20



50. What do you see as the current trend in PATH service? % of Respondents


Getting much worse 21.34% 131

Getting a little worse 28.34% 174

About the same 39.25% 241

Getting a little better 8.47% 52

Getting much better 2.61% 16



path sux survey results september 2009

News & Politics

weekday morning commute

public service announcements

increasing ridership capacity

path spending funds

late night trains

respondents respondents wtc

weekday commute

journal square