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PATH is the NYC area's 2nd, less-known rapid transit system. In the 1970s, it nearly became NY's answer to hybrid subway/commuter transit systems (like the Paris RER, Tokyo Metro, various S-Bahns). The story of maybe one of the most consequential NYC-area transit near-misses 
Shortly after the Port Authority took control of the H&M, they proposed a fairly ambitious expansion, to Newark Airport (being constructed today), but more boldly, on to Elizabeth and Plainfield, taking over the CNJ's local commuter service. https://www.nytimes.com/1973/01/15/archives/path-aims-to-grow-into-new-commuter-line-path-is-planning-to-expand.html
From 1973: "the PATH plan is to take over the two westbound tracks of the Jersey Central between Elizabeth and Plainfield and convert them to thirdârail operation." The possibility of going as far as Raritan (~40mi from NYC) was also considered. https://www.nytimes.com/1973/09/30/archives/path-is-changing-link-to-airport-plan-for-airport-pa-th-changing-pa.html
The plan for operations called for a 3-7 minute peak and 30 minute off-peak headway between NYC and Plainfieldâboth radical changes for suburban rail in 1973 (or 2020, unfortunately). Fares would be flat to EWR, increasing beyond EWR by distance at the same rates as the CNJ.
PATH applied to the fed gov't for $322m, but the feds asked a question still relevant to transit planning, maybe *especially* PATH's own airport extension: why spend $ on a rapid transit extension when existing commuter rail could just be better? https://www.nytimes.com/1975/05/18/archives/us-cool-to-path-plainfield-extension-us-cool-to-path-proposal.html
Several alternatives were presented to the FTA: the PATH extension, a busway on the CNJ ROW, electrification, orâthe chosen alternativeâupgrades to the diesel service, including new equipment, a 3rd track between Newark & Aldene.
The smart move here would've been realizing the PATH extension was probably more $ than was necessary, and opting instead for electrification of the CNJ main line, and the 3rd track btwn NWK & Aldene (which is still a bottleneck). But few substantive upgrades ever took place...
...so today, a rail line that nearly became full-fledged suburban rapid transit has only hourly off-peak service, is not electrified, and lacks a peak-hour one-seat ride to NYC.
(an aside: the then-new terminal at the World Trade Center was described as "[resembling] newer stations on the Paris Metro." this is likely referring to the RER, though, which had just opened; had PATH been extended, this station could have drawn RER-level crowding as well...)
![(an aside: the then-new terminal at the World Trade Center was described as "[resembling] newer stations on the Paris Metro." this is likely referring to the RER, though, which had just opened; had PATH been extended, this station could have drawn RER-level crowding as well...)](https://pbs.twimg.com/media/Ed4W7jhWkAEptKB.jpg "(an aside: the then-new terminal at the World Trade Center was described as \"[resembling] newer stations on the Paris Metro.\" this is likely referring to the RER, though, which had just opened; had PATH been extended, this station could have drawn RER-level crowding as well...)")
![(an aside: the then-new terminal at the World Trade Center was described as "[resembling] newer stations on the Paris Metro." this is likely referring to the RER, though, which had just opened; had PATH been extended, this station could have drawn RER-level crowding as well...)](https://pbs.twimg.com/media/Ed4W8VWWoAAPwsH.jpg "(an aside: the then-new terminal at the World Trade Center was described as \"[resembling] newer stations on the Paris Metro.\" this is likely referring to the RER, though, which had just opened; had PATH been extended, this station could have drawn RER-level crowding as well...)")
![(an aside: the then-new terminal at the World Trade Center was described as "[resembling] newer stations on the Paris Metro." this is likely referring to the RER, though, which had just opened; had PATH been extended, this station could have drawn RER-level crowding as well...)](https://pbs.twimg.com/media/Ed4W9NBXYAAPCLR.jpg "(an aside: the then-new terminal at the World Trade Center was described as \"[resembling] newer stations on the Paris Metro.\" this is likely referring to the RER, though, which had just opened; had PATH been extended, this station could have drawn RER-level crowding as well...)")
The ramifications of having *all this* (essentially) part of the subway system are far too many to nameâsuffice to say Union County suburbs would look *very* differentâlots more housing and jobs in downtowns, and no less accessible from Manhattan than parts of the outer boros.
