Tompkins Consolidated Area Transit expects little to no disruption of service at Green St. Station, adjacent to where the county’s intercity bus hub was relocated effective Mon., Oct. 1.
In a plan worked out by the city of Ithaca, intercity bus companies, TCAT and other stakeholders, drop-off, pick-up service for CoachUSA, Greyhound and Trailways is being relocated from the soon-to-close Ithaca Bus Station, which operated for many years at State and Fulton streets.
City of Ithaca officials will evaluate the arrangement in six months to pinpoint any issues, as well as to solidify a plan for the long term.
TCAT buses will continue to use the current stop in front of TCAT’s flagship Green Street Station, but will no longer park east of the mid-block pedestrian crosswalk and in front of Urban Outfitters. If more than two intercity buses are present, they will use spaces farther east to the front of Tompkins County Mental Health Building.
In addition, TCAT buses will use the space previously occupied by the three short-term parking spaces in front of Tompkins County Public Library. Library parking spaces will be moved around the corner to Cayuga Street. A space will be available in front of the nearby Sunoco gas station for TCAT overflow at peak times, but buses will not pick up or drop off passengers at this location.
Short-term parking spaces for intercity pickups and drop-offs will be located on the north side of Green Street. Intercity bus customers are encouraged to take advantage of the intermodal opportunity and use TCAT to easily connect with their regional transportation.
Green Street Station’s indoor waiting area will retain its current hours from 7 a.m. to 7 p.m. Monday through Friday and 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. Saturday. (The station is closed on Sundays.) Green Street Pharmacy, 131 E. Green St., next to Green Street Station, will sell intercity bus tickets, as well as continue to sell TCAT passes.
Questions about parking changes and long-term changes to the streetscape along Green Street can be addressed to the city of Ithaca Planning and Engineering Department.
Ithaca Bus Station’s operators announced they were retiring last July. The last day of service at the former train station on West State Street was Sun., Sept. 30.
