PATH riders will lose weekend service on the World Trade Center line on weekends sometime next year, so tunnels between New York and New Jersey can be shut down to permanently replace rails and equipment damaged by Hurricane Sandy.

First, some good news. PATH riders and drivers using the Port Authority's bridges and Tunnels will not be hit with a fare or toll fare increase in 2019, said Steve Coleman, a spokesman for the bi-state agency.

Now the bad. Riders of PATH trains that use tunnels between the World Trade Center and Exchange Place will lose weekend service. Seven projects are planned in 2019 to replace rails, third rail and other wiring, cables and equipment that supply power in the tunnels that were damaged by Hurricane Sandy in October 2012.

"More specifics on the PATH shutdowns will be announced soon," Coleman said. "The schedule is still being finalized."

Countdown clocks similar to this one will be installed in all PATH stations next year.

Temporary work was done to reopen the line, after millions of gallons of brackish salt water driven by after Sandy were pumped out of the tunnel, officials said. These seven projects are the permanent fix.

PATH just reopened the 33rd Street line after it had been shut down on weekends between July 14 and Oct. 28 to complete installing and testing Positive Train Control, a federally mandatory safety system.

During that shut down, two-ride MetroCards were given to PATH riders at World Trade Center to reach midtown Manhattan by subway. That effort was praised by transit experts as being more effective than substitute busing.

While the Port Authority's 2019 budget includes "accommodate passengers during upcoming weekend PATH shutdowns" in a $23 million line item, officials did not say if that will fund MetroCards for displaced riders this time.

"All the details are still being worked out as to how passengers will be accommodated," Coleman said.

Two improvements will help PATH riders cope.

The tantalizing video clocks that countdown the time until trains arrive, seen in the new Harrison station, will finally come to the rest of PATH in 2019. The clocks are similar to those used in the NYC subway system and are funded by the 2019 budget.

A project started this year will be completed so cell phones will get a signal in all underground PATH stations. Passengers with Verizon and Sprint phones are scheduled to get service in stations next year.

Larry Higgs may be reached at lhiggs@njadvancemedia.com. Follow him on Twitter @commutinglarry. Find NJ.com on Facebook.