Groundbreaking held for $10B Midtown Bus Terminal in New York City
NEW YORK (WABC) -- Officials from New York and New Jersey celebrated the groundbreaking for a new Midtown Bus Terminal.
Governors Kathy Hochul and Phil Murphy were both on hand for the celebration.
"The new Midtown Bus Terminal will offer our riders and commuters a more reliable, accessible and enjoyable public transit experience. Period," Gov. Murphy said. "And crucially, it will help transform our vision for creating a world-class transportation system."
The long-overdue project received final approval earlier this year for a $10-billion makeover to replace the current 74-year-old bus hub.
The overhaul will include a 2.1 million square-foot main terminal to accommodate more buses and people. There will also be a separate staging and storing facility, and a 3.5 acre public open space covering the road that leads to the Lincoln Tunnel.
"The new ramp system to and from the Lincoln Tunnel will eliminate the need for buses coming from or going to the tunnel to ever touch city streets, a key concern within the community," said Port Authority Executive Director Rick Cotton.
New concessions and retail amenities will be accessible from the streets in the community as well as from inside the bus terminal.
With traffic being a big concern, Gov. Hochul says the state will work to mitigate that as much as possible.
"The last thing I want... in my position, is cause disruption to a neighborhood," Hochul said. "But this has to happen. This is one of the reasons why people have walked away from this in the past."
Commuters say it may all be worth the headache.
"I travel through here every day... would love to see it maybe in five years... excited though in general," said commuter Eric Wefer.
Officials say the new terminal is designed to meet projected 2040-2050 commuter growth, provide a best-in-class customer experience that serves the region's 21st-century public transportation needs, and enhance the surrounding community.
The project is expected to be constructed in phases, with a temporary terminal and new ramps completed in 2028 and the new main terminal completed in 2032.
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