Dear Editor:

My name is Raymond E. Arenas, and I am General Chairman of the United Transportation Union - Local 1413. I represent the Conductors at the PATH Corporation. Recently our organization was advised that PATH would be reducing train service to the general public. PATH claimed it had to reduce spending by 5 percent. However, there would be no loss of jobs for our organization.

The organization could not comprehend how PATH would reduce spending without any job loss. Basically, PATH would be reducing service while maintaining current expenditures, which will not provide any savings. In effect, PATH will be paying conductors to perform less work. It doesn't make any fiscal sense. I am writing to you because in particularly Hoboken riders will be severely affected. PATH will eliminate the direct Hoboken to 33rd Street weekend service. In addition, PATH will eliminate the Hoboken to World Trade Service weekend service. PATH will implement the service it was running when the fare was one dollar. (Do you smell fare increase?) PATH will run Journal Square to 33rd Street via Hoboken service.

PATH has stated that Hoboken riders will get two extra trains an hour. That is true but they failed to mention that those trains would be coming from Journal Square. The train from Journal Square must wait from the connection from Newark, which in turn transfers most of its passengers to the Journal Square train. The Journal Square train will then depart and stop at Grove Street and then at Pavonia/Newport finally arriving at Hoboken with about one thousand passengers already on board. Hoboken riders will never have the opportunity to be seated during their train ride.

Secondly, passengers from Hoboken bound to the World Trade Center will have to take the train arriving from 33rd Street to Grove Street, then transfer to the World Trade Center train adding 20 to 30 minutes to their trip.

This organization is completely bewildered by the PATH Corporation's actions. It is difficult to comprehend how the PATH Corporation could completely eliminate the service to the Hoboken riders. PATH could never justify the non-utilization dollars of taxpayer money.

This organization writes to you in an effort to reach your readers and advise them of the pending reduction of service. We ask your readers to call, email or write the Governor of New Jersey and PATH management to stop this egregious error. Any and all assistance will be appreciated.

We look forward to your response, and we thank you for your support in this matter.

Raymond E. Arenas
General Chairman, Local 1413
United Transportation Union