The Port Authority said this week that unlimited ride NYC Transit Metrocards would not be compatible with fare collection at stations along the rebuilt downtown PATH line. PATH service to lower Manhattan is scheduled to reopen on November 23^th and the MTA and Port Authority have said that the new PATH turnstiles would accept Metrocard fare payment.

About 50% of NYC Transit riders now use unlimited ride cards, and the number is rising. But it may not be terrible if these riders aren’t able to swipe at PATH stations yet — PATH riders are generally NJ residents, and it’s unclear how many of them use weekly or monthly NYC Transit cards. The good news is that the Port Authority and NYC Transit are working on a system to permit the unlimited ride cards to pay PATH fares in the future. The balkanized state of the regional mass transit and transportation system, with many agencies that appear not to like dealing with one another, means any move toward inter-operability and seamlessness is a welcome step. But until further notice, only riders with cash values on their MetroCards can use them on the downtown PATH line. No word yet on when the agencies will begin working on a system providing free transfers…

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