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Transportation & Environment
Request by US Bus Depot, LLC., for an Intercity Bus Stop on the North Side of West 37th Street Between 7th Avenue and 8th Avenue, Closer to 7th Avenue
At the regularly scheduled monthly Community Board Five meeting on Thursday, March 14, 2024, the following resolution passed with a vote of 40 in favor; 0 opposed; 1 abstaining:
WHEREAS, US Bus Depot, LLC., Inc. requests an intercity bus stop from the Department of Transportation (“DOT”) on West 37th Street from 7th to 8th Avenues, closer to 7th Avenue, north side of the street in front of 201 West 37th Street, for two daily pickups and two daily drop-offs, Monday through Sunday; and
WHEREAS, The stop would be on West 37th Street from 7th to 8th Avenues, closer to 7th Avenue, north side of the street in front of 201 West 37th Street; and
WHEREAS, There will be two daily pick-ups, Monday-Sunday at 8:00 am and 3:30 pm, and two daily drop-offs, Monday-Sunday 1:00 pm and 7:30 pm; and
WHEREAS, The service will be intercity from Boston to New York City; and
WHEREAS, Port Authority currently operates at or above capacity; 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, The requested location is currently an existing bus stop for Vision Tours, Corp. and the current parking regulation is No Standing; and
WHEREAS, DOT inspected the location and considered the request appropriate stating that the current bus stop’s length can accommodate another bus company and the proposed schedule times do not overlap with the existing bus company's schedules; and
WHEREAS, there was no publicly expressed concern of interference with road traffic and pedestrian congestion, the DOT suggests the proposed location will prove to have a minimal impact on local businesses and traffic; and
WHEREAS, The applicant will provide an on-site dispatcher to manage the pick-up and drop-off operations and provide crowd control; and
WHEREAS, The applicant has indicated the bus will not loiter in between drop-off and pick up, and park off-site; 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, and reiterates its stated position that when the Port Authority’s reconstruction of the Port Authority Bus Terminal is complete, all point-to-point intercity bus service must be taken off the sidewalks of midtown Manhattan and moved into the new intercity terminal; 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 finds no significant concern for the proposed bus stop on the east side of 8th Avenue between West 28th Street and West 29th Street, including the potential for increased congestion, disruption of existing bus services, increased noise levels, and risk to public safety. Community Board Five calls on the DOT to carefully consider these concerns and the community’s feedback before moving forward with the licensing process.