Harrison station (PATH)

Harrison station

Company type	PATH rapid transit station
Industry	Public transportation
Founded	1911
Headquarters	Harrison, New Jersey , United States
Products	Transit services on Newark–World Trade Center route

Harrison station

Harrison station serves as an important stop within the PATH network, located on Frank E. Rodgers Boulevard (County Route 697), positioned between I-280 and the Passaic River in Harrison, New Jersey. It operates along the Newark–World Trade Center route, offering reliable transit service. The station consists of two side platforms that run alongside the three tracks of the Northeast Corridor.

The station originally commenced operations in 1911 as part of the Hudson and Manhattan Railroad expansion to Newark–Park Place. In 1937, it was moved to a new location. Extensive renovations were carried out from the late 2010s into the early 2020s to modernize the infrastructure and enhance passenger convenience.

History

Service by the Hudson and Manhattan Railroad (H&M) began on November 26, 1911, running from Manhattan Transfer to Newark–Park Place, with Harrison station originally situated near Fourth Street (now Frank E. Rodgers Boulevard South) and New Jersey Railroad Avenue—approximately three blocks north of its present site. The H&M line operated on an elevated track above the Pennsylvania Railroad's Center Street Branch.

The relocation of Harrison station took place on June 20, 1937, coinciding with H&M’s southward realignment connecting Park Place to Newark Penn Station.

Both iterations of Harrison station were jointly managed by PRR and H&M under the "Joint Service Electric Railroad," which entailed an additional fare surcharge. Apart from H&M services, Harrison also functioned as a stop for the PRR-owned New York and Long Branch Railroad line—partially controlled by the Central Railroad of New Jersey south of Perth Amboy—which extended eastward to the Exchange Place Terminal in Jersey City. In 1962, ownership transferred to the Port Authority of New York and New Jersey, which renamed Hudson and Manhattan Railroad as Port Authority Trans-Hudson, while maintaining the station building constructed in 1937.

Reconstruction

Starting in the early 2000s, significant redevelopment has transformed the vicinity surrounding Harrison station. The initial phase of the mixed-use Harrison Station project debuted in December 2011. Simultaneously, the Port Authority initiated a $256 million overhaul in 2009 to address constraints posed by the original facility. Upgrades included lengthened and widened platforms capable of handling 10-car trains, installation of ADA-compliant elevators, and refreshed architectural elements. This initiative was funded through a toll and fare increase approved in March 2008, which expanded Port Authority’s capital resources. Property acquisitions for construction commenced in 2011.

In 2012, a new parking structure opened next to the Newark-bound platform, featuring a contemporary glass-enclosed entrance and an adjacent plaza equipped with bicycle racks. The comprehensive reconstruction plan received approval in March 2012, with construction beginning in January 2013 and an anticipated completion date set for April 2017. The project’s formal launch took place in August 2013, attended by Governor Chris Christie, Mayor Raymond McDonough, and Port Authority Executive Director Bill Baroni. Although completion was postponed until 2018 due to ongoing right-of-way discussions with Amtrak, construction progressed regardless. The redesigned station is intended to efficiently handle large volumes of passengers attending events at nearby Sports Illustrated Stadium, home venue for MLS’s New York Red Bulls.

The westbound platform became operational on October 30, 2018, followed by the opening of the eastbound headhouse and platform on June 15, 2019—marking completion of two out of four reconstruction stages. Plans called for demolition of older entrances along Frank E. Rodgers Boulevard by December 2019 to make space for new headhouses; however, demolition activities only commenced in April 2021 with removal of the Pennsylvania Railroad station headhouse.

On February 21, 2024, the newly constructed eastbound station headhouse was unveiled at a cost of $47.2 million. This facility spans approximately 3,200 square feet and incorporates modern accessibility features such as an elevator, a public plaza furnished with seating areas, parking for 82 bicycles, and a dedicated fare turnstile. Flood mitigation strategies include elevating the structure above floodplain levels and employing water retention tanks for irrigation purposes. The design also enhances pedestrian flow by eliminating street-level crossings.

Station layout

Located on the Northeast Corridor, this station consists of two side platforms alongside five tracks. Third rail power is present only on the side tracks serving the PATH platforms, while the three central tracks are equipped with overhead catenary wires to facilitate the passage of Amtrak and New Jersey Transit trains operating on the Raritan Valley Line, Northeast Corridor Line, and North Jersey Coast Line.

The platforms feature low tubular fencing at their extremities and wooden canopies supported by metal columns in the central sections. Each platform has its own dedicated entrance and exit located on the west side of Frank E. Rogers Boulevard, with no internal connections such as crossovers or crossunders between them. Additionally, the Newark-bound platform includes an entrance on the east side, mirrored by a corresponding entrance for the New York-bound platform.

Access to the Newark-bound platform from the west side is controlled by a roll-up steel gate leading into a modern fare control area equipped with six smart card turnstiles installed in January 2005. Before this upgrade, passengers could travel to Newark without charge due to separate fare control zones at Newark Penn Station. These turnstiles provide entry past Ticket Vending Machines to a covered staircase descending to an intermediate landing, which then leads down to street level or to a small plaza featuring bicycle racks adjacent to the parking garage.

Previously, the New York-bound platform entrance was housed in a 1930s brick structure adorned with a circular awning, an etched Pennsylvania Railroad emblem, and once featured an elaborate clock. Inside, separate banks of turnstiles gave access to enclosed staircases and sheltered waiting areas on the platform. This entrance was closed and later demolished during ongoing renovation efforts.

Between 2018 and 2019, new entrances were constructed on the east side of Frank E. Rodgers Boulevard consisting of individual semicircular glass headhouses for each platform. The Newark-bound headhouse opened on October 30, 2018, followed by the New York-bound facility on June 15, 2019. These headhouses project outward toward street plazas and feature ceilings approximately three stories high, fostering an open and airy environment. Inside each are escalators, wide staircases, and elevators providing access to their respective platforms. Turnstiles are situated at platform level with no free transfer available between directions.