Miss This? Port Authority Reports Strong October Across Multiple Transit Modes
PATH Ridership Reaches 76% of Pre-Pandemic Levels, Sets New Post-COVID Record
Port Authority logged its busiest post-pandemic day in November as commuter rail ridership climbed 3.1% year over year.
January 6, 2026
The Port Authority plans to make major service increases across the PATH rail system beginning in 2026. This photo shows track replacement work between the Journal Square and Harrison stations in October 2025.
Photo: The Port Authority of New York and New Jersey
2 min to read
The Port Authority of New York and New Jersey announced that its PATH commuter rail in November reached 76% of pre-pandemic ridership and recorded its busiest single day since the pandemic.
In November 2025, PATH continued to regain ridership lost during the COVID-19 pandemic. On Thursday, Nov. 20, the system welcomed 246,594 passengers, which was a new single-day post-pandemic ridership record. It surpassed the previous record of 243,848 passengers set just two months prior.
Throughout the month, PATH welcomed approximately 5 million passengers. This was a 3.1% increase from November 2024 and was 76.2% of pre-pandemic November 2019 levels.
Average weekday ridership in November 2025 was 210,325 passengers, the fourth-highest for any month since the pandemic. It was 6.5% higher than average weekday ridership in November 2024.
Weekend ridership in November 2025 surpassed pre-pandemic levels. The month’s average Saturday ridership of 117,658 was 9.6% above November 2019. Average Sunday ridership of 84,149 was up 9.2% from November 2019.
PATH welcomed 55.6 million riders over the first 11 months of the year. The total surpassed the same period of 2024 by 6.1%.
Air, Port, and Crossing Traffic Reflect Shifting Demand
Other transportation modes also saw increases in volume. According to a release, commercial airports welcomed 11.2 million passengers during the airports’ third-busiest November, buoyed by the agency’s busiest Thanksgiving travel period ever.
This was the agency’s third-busiest November ever, down 3.7% from the record for the month set in November 2023. November 2025 volume declined 2.6% from November 2024. The year-over-year decline was largely due to Federal Aviation Administration staffing challenges amidst the most recent government shutdown.
The Port of New York and New Jersey maintained its status as the nation’s second-busiest port for loaded containers both during November and over the first 11 months of the year. It handled 509,124 loaded twenty-ft. equivalent units through the month and a total of 5,520,444 units from January through November.
Volume at the agency’s vehicular crossings in November decreased 0.01% from 2024 and decreased 0.6% from pre-pandemic 2019 levels. From January through November, 111.3 million eastbound vehicles used the agency’s six vehicular crossings.
More Management
FIFA World Cup Matches Are Driving Record Transit Ridership Nationwide
See how World Cup matches are generating record transit demand across North America, with ridership surpassing Super Bowls, concerts, and Olympic-era events.
Read More →
The Hidden Cost of Fuel Data Inaccuracy in Public Transit Fleets
In today's transit environment, accurate fuel and mileage data are critical to reducing costs, minimizing downtime, and improving fleet performance.
Read More →
Virginia's $28.5B Transportation Plan Targets Transit and Rail
Approved by the Commonwealth Transportation Board, the program supports ongoing infrastructure projects while providing new investments in transit, state of good repair and transportation alternatives.
Read More →
Latinos In Transit Seeks Host Organization for 2027 Leadership Summit
The selected host organization will showcase its transit system, projects, and community while welcoming hundreds of industry leaders and emerging professionals during Hispanic Heritage Month.
Read More →
Bipartisan BUSES Act Seeks Changes to New York City's Bus Idling Enforcement Program
Backed by motorcoach operators, the legislation seeks to balance emissions goals with passenger safety by allowing limited idling for inspections, accessibility needs and extreme weather conditions.
Read More →
DOT: Brightline Corridor Incidents Fall 30% Following Federal Safety Upgrades
Safety improvements funded through a $25 million federal investment are credited with reducing trespassing and train-vehicle collisions along the Brightline Florida corridor.
Read More →
D Line Expansion Fuels Growth Across LA Metro's Rail System
Weekend rail ridership was especially strong, soaring 18% as riders embraced expanded access to jobs, entertainment, dining, and cultural destinations, said the agency. Total system ridership for May, including bus and rail, was 26,966,657.
Read More →
Q4 Travel Data Reveals Drop in Vehicle Traffic to Manhattan Congestion Zone
NYMTC’s quarterly Travel Patterns Report provides a snapshot of travel activity throughout New York City, Long Island, the Lower Hudson Valley, and northern New Jersey using data collected from the agencies operating the region’s bridges, tunnels, and public transit systems.
Read More →
Southern California's Metrolink Debuts Contactless Fare Payment Pilot
Customers traveling between Redlands and Los Angeles can now tap their preferred payment method, including a credit or debit card, mobile wallet, or wearable device, at station validators before boarding and again while exiting.
Read More →
California's BART Approves FY27 Budget While Maintaining Service Levels
The budget covers July 1, 2026, through June 30, 2027, a period when pandemic emergency funds run out, the District faces a structural deficit of $375 million, and a regional transit funding measure may appear on the November ballot.
Read More →