New York State and New Jersey State will jointly provide half-price discounts for disabled passengers of PATH, and applications for the program could start as early as spring 2025, along with the introduction of the contactless payment system “TAPP”.
Governor Kathy Hochul of New York, Governor Phil Murphy of New Jersey, and the Port Authority of New York and New Jersey (PANYNJ) jointly announced the fare discount proposal on November 14. This marks the first time the Port Authority has offered PATH fare discounts for disabled individuals.
Following the approval of the proposal by the Port Authority commission for disabled individuals to ride PATH at half price, passengers can start applying from spring next year, with the discount set to take effect in the summer of next year. Currently, PATH only offers half-price fare services for passengers aged 65 and above through the “Senior SmartLink”.
Governor Hochul stated in a press release, “Easy access to convenient, reliable, and affordable public transportation is a fundamental right that everyone should enjoy.”
Governor Murphy of New Jersey mentioned, “Public transportation is crucial for our disabled community – it enables countless individuals who may not be able to drive to go to work, attend school, keep medical appointments, participate in social services, and social gatherings.”
The discounted fares can be paid in two ways: with the physical TAPP card issued by PATH, or through contactless credit/debit cards, transit accounts, and the TAPP electronic wallet.