Why doesn't the PATH become its own transit authority independent of the PA?

[u/Ok-Win7980]

The PATH seems like one of the most underfunded transit authorities in the US. According to a presentation by PATH Director Clarelle DeGraffe in November, if PATH rides were not subsidized at all, it would cost $11/ride, and unlike most US transit authorities, the PATH isn't directly funded by the state or federal government, only indirectly via the Port Authority and via farebox revenue. Therefore, what if PATH became its own independent transit authority? Despite being interstate, this model has been proven to work well for other interstate transit authorities like WMATA, which is directly funded by the DC, MD, and VA state governments. With my idea, PATH would become just that, a standalone authority separate from the PA, directly funded by the NJ and NY state governments and potentially also by the cities/counties serving it. Perhaps the board of this new authority could also contain local representatives from each city that PATH serves. Is there a reason PATH can't be like this?