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November 28 - December 11, 2012
Some hiccups as PATH returns to W.T.C. The Port Authority announced that weekday PATH train service has been restored to the World Trade Center, just weeks after Hurricane Sandy crippled the system. On Mon., Nov. 26, the PATH line resumed service weekdays, 5 a.m to 10 p.m. at Newark, Harrison, Journal Square, Grove Street and Exchange Place in New Jersey as well as to the W.T.C. stop. Disabled access is available at the Newark and W.T.C. stations, only. The line was still plagued by problems when it reopened. A malfunction on Monday morning at 8:30 a.m. stopped cars on the Newark-W.T.C. track for 90 minutes, according to news reports. The Port Authority’s PATH alert’s page listed the cause as a “power problem.” Service was restored at 10 a.m. On Tuesday, the line was running with a 30 minute delay at 11 a.m. because of a malfunction of car equipment, according to the alerts page. By 11:30 a.m., the site said trains would resume their normal schedule. Weekend service on the W.T.C. line is not yet available as crews work to finish the repairs. Floodwater from Sandy’s storm surge
covered the tracks at the W.T.C. station with several feet of water, according to the Port Authority. PATH crews had to remove millions of gallons of water from the tracks and platforms to restore service to the station. The switching and signal systems also needed to be repaired or replaced. The switching equipment at the Hoboken station was so damaged that service to that station remains suspended and is not expected to resume for another several weeks. To fill the gap in transportation, the Port Authority and New Jersey Transit have organized ferry service that is running from the Hoboken Ferry Terminal to Pier 79 at 39th Street in Manhattan. The ferries run on weekdays from 6 a.m. to 10 a.m. and 4 p.m. to 8 p.m. The fare is $5. Additionally, free shuttle buses are available from Pier 79 to Midtown Manhattan. To accommodate the extra commuters, the NJ Transit has also increased the supply of 106 buses that travel from Hoboken to the Port Authority Bus Terminal in both directions. For more information, visit the Port Authority’s website at panynj.gov/path.
Downtown Express photo by Lincoln Anderson
Gas guzzlers to beer guzzlers Houston Hall, a new Bavarian-style beer hall, is getting set to open inside a former garage on West Houston Street between Varick Street and Sixth Avenue. A contractor at the site a few weeks ago said the huge, exposed, wooden ceiling beams were already in place from the space’s previous use, and that they just stripped them of paint. A cobblestone-like, suds splash-ready floor was also being installed when a reporter popped in for a look. Asked if there would be live music, the contractor said no. But a woman — not a contractor, but who looked like she might be a bartender at the place when it opens — said with a broad grin that they’ll definitely be serving beer, “a lot of beer.”
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