Journal Square is a station located in the namesake Journal Square neighborhood of Jersey City, located at the intersections of JFK Boulevard, Pavonia Avenue, Sip Avenue, and Bergen Avenue. The area itself is named after the Jersey Journal newspaper, which used to be headquartered here for about 100 years, before leaving in 2013 (& subsequently ceasing publication entirely earlier in 2025). Also of note is PATH’s headquarters being located here, inside the station house built above the tracks. Let’s look at it.
The platforms are pretty well-lit and, given it’s PATH, are clean. You have countdown clocks, ad displays, benches, wastebaskets, and the usual. The track configuration is a little unusual given it’s PATH, being two island platforms. However, this works out quite well for operational reasons, as trains to Midtown terminate/originate here. There’s, from what I’ve observed, timed connections between trains to Newark (/Lower Manhattan) and Midtown trains that seem to be guaranteed? At least, the transfer is a simple “across the platform” transfer. Per Wikipedia (I forgot in the few months since being here), Midtown trains use the inner tracks, while Newark/Lower Manhattan trains use the outer tracks. Also of note, is there’s a grade crossing with gates here, for whatever reason. Anyways, moving on!
Moving on, the station mezzanine has TAPP-enabled gates, TVMs, among other things. With this being PATH HQ, there’s also a Port Authority PD precinct, and there’s also a bit of a shopping center in the station (albeit not to the same degree as the World Trade Center). Lastly, there’s a busway for NJT buses going out to Newark, Secaucus, Bayonne, Exchange Place, Greenville, and even the PABT. Neat! While it may not be Exchange Place or Newport, as far as density, it’s still pretty well built-up and does have a couple high rises of its own. Overall, though, not a bad station!
The good: It’s accessible! Operationally, cross-platform transfers seem to be a thing here, as well, which is nice. There’s a busway, for bus connections without having to go hunting down the correct stop at street level. PATH’s headquarters are located here, as well. Furthermore, it’s well-lit, and the fact it’s built in a trench makes for some cool-ish train photos.
The bad: I can’t really think of much. I mean, the outside gives the station an identity crisis, kinda? But does that really matter?
Nearby points of interest: There’s a theater across the street! PATH HQ is also here! There’s also a history museum close by, as well as an MVC office. Hudson Co. Community College is also near here! There’s also a Jollibee (not many in the US). And, I turned to Avery for some more guidance on this, and he noted that there’s a Jackie Robinson statue in the area, along with the nearby Four Corners neighborhood being Little Manila, India Square having the highest concentration of Indians in the Western hemisphere, and there’s also a thriving Arab community, as well. And, lastly, there’s also the Newkirk house, which is the oldest building in the city (built in 1690!!!)
Transit connections:
PATH (Orange/JSQ-33, Red/WTC-NWK)
NJ Transit bus (1, 2, 6, 10, 16, 80, 83, 84, 87, 88, 125, 319)
Overall, it’s a pretty nice station. It’s relatively modern, has a decent amount of bus connections, and I do hope the area gets more dense as the years progress. Also, shoutout to Cryorig_Transit05 (on IG)! Nice running into you here.
Rating: 9/10
