Starting Monday, riders on the Port Authority‑operated PATH will pay $3.25 for a one‑way trip, a 25‑cent rise that marks the first step in a three‑year, $4 fare plan. The increase makes PATH pricier than the city subway’s $3 fare and follows a November pledge to fund a $430 million modernization program. The agency aims to complete the phased hikes by early 2029, bolstering cash flow.

Commuters voiced mixed reactions; long‑time rider Carrie Hearns called the hike “disgraceful,” while others accepted it as inevitable. The fare boost funds track extensions, new equipment and upgraded cars already underway, and coincides with service enhancements slated for May 17, when all four lines will run seven days a week, restoring a direct Hoboken‑World Trade Center link after 25 years among riders.

Port Authority executive director Kathryn Garcia framed the changes as a turning point, saying the upgrades position the 118‑year‑old system for “more reliable and robust” service. Investors will watch how the $430 million outlay translates into ridership growth and revenue, but the immediate effect is a higher cost burden for commuters already feeling economic pressure in the region's transit ecosystem.