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Transportation & Environment
Application by Executive Coach Inc. for an inter-city bus stop for drop-offs and pick-ups on the east side of Madison Avenue between E. 26th and E. 27th Streets and the west side of Park Avenue South between E. 26th & E. 27th Streets
WHEREAS, Executive Coach Inc., seeks approval from the Department of Transportation (“DOT”) of an Application to operate an inter-city bus service between New York City and Pennsylvania in front of 51 Madison Avenue, which is located on the east side of Madison Avenue between East 26th and East 27th Streets, and on the west side of Park Avenue South between East 26th and East 27th Streets; and
WHEREAS, The Applicant proposes one pick-up per day Monday through Friday at 3:20 pm; 1 pick-up per day on Saturday at 2:20 pm and 1 pick-up per day on Sunday at 7:00 pm and 1 drop-off per day Monday through Friday at 10:35 am; and
WHEREAS, The Applicant proposes one drop-off per day on Saturday at 12:30 pm and 1 drop-off per day on Sunday at 5:30 pm; and
WHEREAS, The Port Authority Bus Terminal currently operates at or above capacity; and
WHEREAS, In response, several companies began offering low cost inter-city bus services from on-street pickup and drop off locations without formal authorization from DOT; and
WHEREAS, Without regulation, a high concentration of inter-city bus services developed in certain areas of midtown Manhattan, quickly resulting 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:
1. prohibit inter-city buses from loading or unloading passengers on City streets, except at designated
on-street bus stop locations;
2. require inter-city bus owners and/or operators to submit an application for each proposed on-street
bus stop location;
3. establish criteria for assigning on-street bus stop locations, including traffic considerations and the
applicant's preferences;
4. 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;
5. authorize DOT to issue inter-city bus permits and to charge a fee;
6. 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;
7. 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, The MTA previously used the proposed location on Park Ave. as a bus stop but no longer
does so; and
WHEREAS, The operator would share the proposed Madison Ave. location with an MTA express bus
that makes 16 stops per day on weekdays only; and
WHEREAS, A different intercity bus operator previously shared the proposed Madison Ave. location
with the MTA without interference and without complaints; and
WHEREAS, The Applicant proposes to replace the previous operator, Saddle River Trails, which no
longer uses the Madison Ave. location; and
WHEREAS, These proposed locations are not overly burdened with retail; and
WHEREAS, These proposed locations are not particularly crowded with large numbers of pedestrians;
and
WHEREAS, No members of the public expressed concerns about the proposed locations, therefore be it
RESOLVED, Community Board Five recommends approval of Executive Coach Inc’s application for
an inter-city bus stop for drop-offs and pick-ups on the east side of Madison Avenue between East 26th
and East 27th Streets (in front of 51 Madison Avenue) and the west side of Park Avenue South between
East 26th and East 27th Streets.