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Transportation & Environment
Application by Carl R. Bieber Inc. for an inter-city bus stop for drop-offs and pick-ups on the east side of 8th Avenue between West 38th and West 39th Streets (in front of 590 8th Avenue).
WHEREAS, Carl R. Bieber, Inc., seeks approval from the Department of Transportation (“DOT”) of an Application to operate an inter-city bus service between New York City and Hellertown, Wescosville, Kutztown and Reading, Pennsylvania in front of 590 8th Ave., which is located on the east side of 8th Avenue between West 38th and West 39th Streets; and
WHEREAS, The Applicant proposes 12 pick-ups from 8:00 AM to 10:45 PM Monday through Friday and eight pick-ups from 12:15 AM to 10:30 PM Saturday and Sunday; and
WHEREAS, The Applicant proposes two drop-offs from 6:15 AM to 10:15 PM Monday through Friday and eight drop-offs from 8:00 AM to 10:00 PM Saturday and Sunday; and
WHEREAS, The number of curbside bus companies operating within community district 5 has increased dramatically over the past 5 years; and
WHEREAS, The Applicant previously has operated in the Port Authority Bus Terminal (“PABT”) and is now seeking to leave the bus terminal to operate a curbside bus stop; and WHEREAS, The proposed location is 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, This particular stretch of 8th Avenue, located one block away from the PABT is already a major traffic bottleneck, with only three moving vehicle lanes instead of four, as a parking lane and a moving lane currently are reserved for taxis from W 39th to W 42nd Streets; and
WHEREAS, To access the proposed location, each bus would have to cross three lanes of traffic as well as the bike lane on 8th Ave., thereby competing with thousands of pedestrians and bicyclists; and
WHEREAS, The existing gridlock and the large size of these buses would force these vehicles into the
bike lane and the intersections, putting pedestrians and bicyclists in danger; and
WHEREAS, The M20 bus currently uses this location; and
WHEREAS, The Applicant’s proposed bus stop would likely directly impact the existing MTA bus
service at this location, as intercity buses regularly take as much as 15 minutes or more to load and unload
passengers and often wait in the designated space for longer periods; and
WHEREAS, The Applicant’s proposed bus stop would likely force buses to double park, requiring
passengers of either/both services to wait for the other bus to move, or even board/disembark in the street;
WHEREAS, The Applicant’s buses would use W 38th and W 39th Streets, which are already extremely
congested in the mornings and afternoons with Lincoln Tunnel-bound traffic; and
WHEREAS, West 39th Street already has an unprotected bike lane and a Citibike docking station; and
WHEREAS, The Applicant’s buses would have to compete with the cyclists as well as with the loading
and unloading for six hotels on that block; and
WHEREAS, The proposed location is adjacent to a sidewalk grate; and
WHEREAS, The proposed location is adjacent to the Theater District, which is particularly crowded with
high numbers of pedestrians spilling into the streets; and
WHEREAS, With 24 proposed pick-ups and drop-offs per day, the cues of waiting customers will
inevitably lead to even more pedestrians spilling into the streets during the morning and evening rushes;
and
WHEREAS, The Garment District Alliance, normally agnostic regarding curbside bus stop locations, has
expressed a strong objection to this particular location, as the sidewalk already is crowded with existing
ground floor retailers on the block who have outdoor display racks, newsstands, and other street furniture;
and
WHEREAS, The Alliance notes that the Applicant’s proposed operation would likely lead to even further
decrease in ridership of the M20 bus, which already has shown the second largest decline in ridership
(10.7%) in recent years; and
WHEREAS, CB5 believes it is more practical, safer, and much more efficient for bus services to operate
out of the PABT, where this applicant has been located; therefore be it
RESOLVED, Community Board Five recommends denial of the application by Carl R. Bieber Inc. for
an inter-city bus stop for drop-offs and pick-ups on the east side of 8th Avenue between West 38th and
West 39th Streets (in front of 590 8th Avenue).