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Transportation & Environment
Application by inter-city bus operator Frank Martz Coach Company for bus stops on the south side of 42nd Street, between 5th and 6th Avenues and on the north side of 42nd Street between 7th and 8th Avenues.
WHEREAS, Frank Martz Coach Company seeks approval from the Department of Transportation ("DOT") of an Application to operate an inter-city bus service between New York City and New Jersey on the south side of 42nd Street, between 5th and 6th Avenues and on the north side of 42nd Street between 7th and 8th Avenues; and
WHEREAS, The Applicant proposes seven (7) daily drop offs between the hours of 7:00 AM and 10:00 AM and seven (7) daily pickups between the hours of 4:00pm and 7:30pm; and
WHEREAS, Without regulation, a high concentration of inter-city bus services have developed in certain areas of midtown Manhattan, which has resulted in increased sidewalk congestion, traffic gridlock, and increased on-street bus parking and double parking, all of which combined to create safety concerns for drivers, pedestrians, local business owners, and residents; and
WHEREAS, The State Legislature adopted Vehicle and Traffic Law § 1642-a in 2013 to address these concerns, empowering DOT to create a permitting system; and
WHEREAS, This law authorizes the City to:
- prohibit inter-city buses from loading or unloading passengers on City streets, except at designated on-street bus stop locations;
- require inter-city bus owners and/or operators to submit an application for each proposed on-street bus stop location;
- establish criteria for assigning on-street bus stop locations, including traffic considerations and the applicant's preferences;
- provide for consultation with the local Community Board and, where appropriate, the Metropolitan Transportation Authority and the Port Authority of New York and New Jersey;
- authorize DOT to issue inter-city bus permits and to charge a fee;
- provide for the relocation of an existing permitted on-street bus stop, upon 90-day notice to the permit holder and the local Community Board;
- grandfather existing inter-city bus services that currently have designated on-street bus stop locations, by granting a permit to continue to use those locations for up to three years; and
WHEREAS, The number of curbside bus companies operating within community district 5 has increased dramatically over the past 5 years; and
WHEREAS, In this case, the Applicant currently operates in the Port Authority Bus Terminal and does not need to operate outside of the bus terminal, but is choosing to do so; and
WHEREAS, The proposed locations on 42nd Street would interfere with existing public bus lanes; and
WHEREAS, The proposed locations are in the heart of one of the busiest sections of Manhattan, which already is over-crowded with motor vehicles, bicycles, commuters, and tourists visiting Times Square; and
WHEREAS, The proposed locations are within the Theater District, which is particularly crowded with high numbers of pedestrians spilling into the street; and
WHEREAS, The proposed locations are over-saturated with similar services, as several inter-city bus operators and tour bus operators already operate in the immediate vicinity; and
WHEREAS, Numerous members of the public expressed concerns regarding the inevitable increase in street traffic, pedestrian congestion, and air pollution that would accompany these new bus stops; and
WHEREAS, The Times Square Alliance expressed major concerns regarding the placement of these proposed bus stops;
WHEREAS, CB5 believes it is safer and more efficient for bus services to operate out of the Port Authority Bus Terminal, where this applicant is already located; therefore be it
RESOLVED, Community Board Five recommends denial of Frank Martz Coach Company's Application for bus stops on the south side of 42nd Street, between 5th and 6th Avenues and on the north side of 42nd Street between 7th and 8th Avenues.