Every few weeks I vary my morning NJ Transit commute, and ride into Hoboken–either having overslept and missed the early express straight to Penn Station/NYC–or last week, to an 8 a.m. appointment to my longtime dentist on Washington Street.

 

Since I have a monthly pass to NYC, my occasional commuting option to Hoboken and the PATH seems destined for mere nostalgic diversion–I’m just not ready to fork over my Berzerk budget–on account of the recent March PATH increase to $1.75 each way. After 14 years, I may need to find a new dentist!

 

With the price of gas and Cheerios bobbing to new levels each week, I initially didn’t pay much heed to the PATH increase, figuring that Hoboken’s youth brigade would shoulder most of the daily burden. To further cloud my fuzzy math budgeting, I’ve been using my Metrocard in the PATH turnstiles (which I applaud–very convenient for the infrequent PATH and subway rider like myself), but this extra $0.25, speedily created an inchoate mess of my subway swiping balance. This makes for mayhem–given the general rule of thumb: if you are on the subway, you are in a hurry!

 

In the days of yore, before the Midtown Direct (pre-1998), when ALL Jersey rail riders had to funnel through Hoboken and descend to the PATH tunnels, it was a commuter-crowded workhorse with a “burgh”-like oppression. Today, with increased rail fares and a gentrified Hoboken, the platform is still a poorly lit metal/concrete echo cavity–but you just pay more to escape to New York.

 

–jerseyjim