Port Authority Considers 3 Options To Replace Bus Terminal

MIDTOWN MANHATTAN, NY — The Port Authority of New York and New Jersey launched an environmental review process Thursday to replace its much-maligned Midtown Manhattan bus terminal.

The Port Authority is currently considering three distinct proposals to either completely reconstruct its Eighth Avenue bus terminal or to relocate some or all of its bus operations to a brand-new location, according to a scoping document released Thursday. The transit agency will conduct a public outreach process over the next four months, holding public scoping meetings in both New York and New Jersey.

"Today’s kickoff of the formal public outreach process for the new bus terminal is a critical milestone for what will be one of the largest and most important transit infrastructure projects in the country," Port Authority Chairman Kevin O’Toole said in a statement. "We are strongly committed to replacing this legacy, over-capacity facility, and look forward to a spirited dialogue with all stakeholders on how the project will proceed."

Port Authority officials outlined three possible directions the agency could take in replacing the busiest bus terminal in the United States, according to the agency's scoping documents.

The first proposal calls for rebuilding the Eighth Avenue terminal at its current location on Eighth and Ninth avenues between West 40th and 42nd streets. The rebuilt terminal would be supplemented by a new underpass connecting it to the Lincoln Tunnel via Ninth Avenue. The Port Authority estimates that the current terminal could still be used while construction is being done.

The build-in-place option would also allow for the private development of an office tower on the portion of the terminal between West 41st and 42nd streets, according to the scoping document.

Alternative proposals include relocating some or all of the bus terminal's operations to the lower levels of the Jacob K Javits Convention Center near Hudson Yards.

Moving all of the bus terminal's operations to the lower levels of the Javits Center would allow the Port Authority to completely redevelop the existing Eighth Avenue site, but could prove difficult from a logistical standpoint. Constructing extensions from the Javits Center's underground to the Lincoln Tunnel network would require disruptive work and shutdowns of tunnel lanes, the West Side Highway would need to be raised and development would need to occur on nearby Pier 76, which requires difficult in-water construction, according to scoping documents.

The third alternative proposes creating an intercity bus terminal underneath the Javits Center while keeping commuter buses at the existing Port Authority Bust Terminal site following rehabilitation work. The proposal, which was included in the Regional Plan Association's 2017 report, comes with challenges but could also "optimize PABT commuter operations," according to scoping documents.

Dates for future scoping meetings were not announced by the Port Authority of New York and New Jersey. The environmental review process must be completed in order to obtain funding from the Federal Transit Administration, according to agency officials.

Commuters who want a say in matters at the Port Authority Bus Terminal can also apply to be part of a new advisory council. The Port Authority Bus Terminal Advisory Council will launch in June as a 12-month pilot with members meeting every two months to discuss issues such as bus terminal operations, customer service and the impact of the terminal on neighboring communities. Applications for the council will be accepted until June 7 and can be downloaded or picked up at bus terminal information booths.