<< Back
Transportation & Environment
Request on behalf of Gunther Charters (“Applicant”) to support its application before the New York City Department of Transportation (“DOT”) for an on-street bus stop at 202 W. 36th St. between 7th and 8th Avenues
At the monthly meeting of Community Board Five on Thursday, September 11, 2014, the Board passed the following resolution with a vote of 32 in favor, 3 opposed, 1 abstaining:
WHEREAS, Applicant seeks approval from the DOT of an application to operate an intercity bus service between New York City and Washington DC from 202 W. 36th St. Southside of the Street, between 7th and 8th Aves; and
WHEREAS, The Port Authority Bus Terminal currently operates at or above capacity and is not accepting new buses; and
WHEREAS, In response, over the past 15 years several companies have begun offering low cost intercity bus services from on-street pick-up and drop-off locations without formal authorization from the DOT; and
WHEREAS, Without regulation, a high concentration of intercity bus services has developed in certain areas of midtown Manhattan resulting in increased sidewalk congestion, traffic gridlock, increased on-street bus parking and double parking, and safety concerns for drivers, pedestrians, local business owners, and residents; and
WHEREAS, The State Legislature adopted Vehicle and Traffic Law § 1642-a to address these concerns, empowering the DOT to create a permit system that requires accommodating stops within CB5; and
WHEREAS, CB5 visited the site and found it to be an existing inter-city bus stop in a reasonable location with adequate capacity for more busses; and
WHEREAS, No members of the public commented about this application; and
WHEREAS, the Applicant proposes two pick-ups (2:45pm Fridays, 4:45pm Sundays) and two drop-offs (9:15pm Fridays, 10:15pm Sundays) per week; and
WHEREAS, Applicant would like to work with the surrounding community; and
WHEREAS, Based on complaints and using its discretion, the DOT can revoke these permits in the future for non-compliance and in the case of bad actors; and
WHEREAS, Although Community Board Five recognizes that the management of intercity bus companies requires greater study, it is supportive of the DOT's efforts to decrease road and sidewalk congestion in midtown Manhattan, address safety concerns of drivers, pedestrians, travelers, and residents, and better regulate the increasing number of intercity bus services; therefore be it
RESOLVED, Community Board Five recommends approval of Gunther Charters' application to the New York City Department of Transportation for an on-street bus stop at 202 W. 36th St, between 7th and 8th Aves for two pick-ups (2:45pm Fridays, 4:45pm Sundays) and two drop-offs (9:15pm Fridays, 10:15pm Sundays) per week