Policy makers and public officials have partnered with the Port Authority of New York and New Jersey (PANYNJ) to support the replacement and expansion of the 73-year-old Port Authority Bus Terminal in Midtown Manhattan. New York Gov. Kathy Hochul and New York City Mayor Eric Adams announced their commitment to this project on March 12.
The city has committed to supporting this project with 40 years worth of tax revenue which will help PANYNJ to raise $2 billion, 20 percent of the project's cost.
"Anyone entering New York City should be greeted by a world-class travel hub and now we are one step closer to a revitalized Port Authority Bus Terminal," said Gov. Hochul. "We are modernizing New York's infrastructure to prioritize public space, thriving businesses and the safety and wellbeing of all New Yorkers. Replacing and expanding the Bus Terminal will spur economic development for decades to come and rebuild an important gateway into New York City."
Tom Wright, president and CEO of the Regional Plan Association commented on the importance of team efforts between law makers and transit agencies in support of the community.
“Solving our region’s most challenging infrastructure problems requires leadership, collaboration and creativity," said Wright. "I want to congratulate Governor Hochul and Mayor Adams for demonstrating these qualities as they advance the Port Authority Bus Terminal replacement project. This project will build capacity for future generations, create a new amenity for the local community and provide riders and commuters with the safe, reliable and customer-oriented service they deserve. We call on all our leaders at the city, state and federal level to support the project, which will sustain the economic competitiveness and vitality of our city and region.”
The Port Authority Bus Terminal project will utilize the future tax revenue from three commercial developments on three sites, two of which will be positioned atop the new bus terminal and the third to be built at a nearby site owned by the port authority and private owners.
The new 2.1 million-square-foot main terminal will include a separate storage and staging building and new ramps leading directly into and out of the Lincoln Tunnel. The structure will replace the current functionally obsolete and rundown terminal. It will help the agency to meet projected 2040-2050 commuter growth, provide a improved customer experience that serves the region’s 21st century public transportation needs and enhance the surrounding community.
The revised project plan also includes a proposal for the permanent closure of a portion of 41st Street between Eighth and Ninth Avenues, a central main entrance, more street-level retail and a multi-story indoor atrium and new public open space. The plan is expected to be constructed in phases which will require a temporary terminal and new ramps completed in 2028 and the new main terminal completed in 2032.
Plans for the Port Authority Bus Terminal project came together to address public feedback from extensive community outreach, including input from New York City, commuters, local community boards, neighborhood coalitions and elected officials.
The project will:
- Create added capacity to allow curbside inter-city buses that currently pick up and drop off on city streets surrounding the bus terminal to move their operations inside the bus terminal and off the streets
- The addition of nearly 3.5 acres of publicly-accessible open space on port authority property on Dyler Avenue, restoring and improving connectivity for pedestrians and the community
- New street-facing concessions and retail amenities for the community, as well as concessions and retail inside the bus terminal
“For decades, New Yorkers have watched the Port Authority Bus Terminal deteriorate from the world-class facility it was in the 1950s to the stain it is on Midtown today," said New York City Mayor Eric Adams. "The days of watching are over and the days of acting are here. Our investment over the course of the coming years and our partnership with the port authority, will help develop a new crown jewel for Midtown — a state-of-the-art bus terminal that will add acres of new public space and storefronts, decrease congestion in Hell’s Kitchen and improve the commuter and community experience in and around the terminal for both New Yorkers and visitors to the greatest city in the world.”
