The wheels on the bus will still go round and round, but Port Authority is issuing a warning to riders: Those wheels may be moving a bit slower starting Thursday.
That’s because construction is moving forward on a new midtown bus terminal, part of an $11 billion revamp that will force a number of buses to be re-routed as they come into the city.
“The new Midtown Bus Terminal will deliver a modern terminal with faster, more reliable commutes, including new ramps that give buses an extra lane to get around a breakdown. As construction advances, we need to remove existing ramps and temporarily reroute buses,” a Port Authority spokesperson said.
The old bus ramps going into Port Authority Bus Terminal are being taken out, with new temporary ramps going into place. Those new ramps will bring buses onto 39th Street — which will be closed to most traffic — before ultimately heading into the terminal.
Confused? Take a look at a map (below) showing the construction zones in yellow. Buses emerging from the Lincoln Tunnel will have to take a new, longer loop (shown in a blue line) onto West 39th Street to get into the terminal. That added loop could add minutes to any commute.
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Port Authority urged riders to be patient and allow more time for their commutes.
“To minimize potential delays outside the morning rush, we’re restricting general traffic on West 39th Street between Ninth and Tenth Avenue. We are closely coordinating with New York City DOT and bus carriers, including New Jersey Transit, making adjustments as needed to keep buses moving,” a spokesperson said. “We know changes to a daily commute can be disruptive and we appreciate commuters’ patience as we work to keep buses moving while building a better bus terminal.”
One important note for riders: Port Authority said the change for bus routes into the terminal won’t impact morning rush hour service for buses that use the express bus lane. So riders coming into the city during the morning rush in the bus-only lane in the Lincoln Tunnel won’t see changes to their route, as those buses can continue using the ramp on the west side of Dyer Avenue after exiting the tunnel. However, delays can still be expected during rush hour.
Port Authority of New York and New Jersey, which owns the world’s largest bus terminal, said the 76-year-old structure has outlived its usefulness. In a video released earlier in the week, Port Authority showed renderings of the new bus terminal — which won’t be completed until 2035. The designs are intended to match neighboring buildings.
Nine years of possible commuter delays begin this Thursday for NJ Transit commuters. News 4’s Checkey Beckford reports.
Most of what will be new is along 39th Street between Ninth and Tenth avenues.
The work starting Thursday is part of phase one of the $11 billion overhaul, focusing on bus storage. That includes new ramps and a deck over Dyer Avenue. Port Authority said one critical new change will be a staging area for buses, so they don’t have to clog Manhattan streets just to get to a gate at the terminal.
Port Authority stated in its video that the “new, more convenient structure” will allow buses to change levels in the terminal without having to exit onto city streets.
Phase one of the project is expected to last into 2030.