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Transportation & Environment
Request by USA Guided Tours, LLC, for a sightseeing bus stop on the west side of 7th Avenue between West 50th Street and West 51st Street
At the regularly scheduled monthly Community Board Five meeting on Thursday, November 9, 2023, the following resolution passed with a vote of 30 in favor; 0 opposed; 1 abstaining:
WHEREAS, USA Guided Tours, LLC, requests a sightseeing bus stop from the Department of Transportation (“DOT”) on the west side of 7th Avenue between West 50th Street and West 51st Street for pick-ups and drop-offs Monday through Sunday with five daily pick-ups from 8:30 a.m. through 10 a.m. with a frequency of 1 pick-up every 15 minutes and five daily drop-offs from 3:00 p.m. to 4:30 p.m. with a frequency of 1 drop-off every 15 minutes; and
WHEREAS, The requested location is currently marked No Standing, is already licensed to Gray Line New York Tours, and according to DOT this site allows for the addition of another bus company; and
WHEREAS, The Applicant posted notices of the Application on the block and delivered notices of the Application to other businesses on the block, as requested by Community Board Five; and
WHEREAS, No significant objections were raised by members of the community at committee; and
WHEREAS, The Times Square Alliance noted the proximity to entry and egress from the Winter Garden Theater, which seats two audiences of 1,500 people a day; and
WHEREAS, The prospect of pick-ups by multiple operators at similar times was raised, to which DOT stressed to operators that they are encouraged to pick up and depart quickly to limit avoidable idling and congestion, and the operator shared a commitment to do so; and
WHEREAS, Community Board Five continues to call on DOT to develop a comprehensive plan for street use in the district in conjunction with the city’s appointed Chief Public Realm Officer, including a comprehensive vision for overall placement and capacity of sightseeing buses; therefore be it
RESOLVED, Community Board Five finds no significant objection to the proposed location for a sightseeing bus stop operated by USA Guided Tours, LLC, on the west side of Seventh Avenue between West 50th and West 51st streets.