Sixers arena plans move Greyhound terminal to new location in Center City

PHILADELPHIA (CBS) -- There is a big change if you're taking the bus out of Philadelphia. Greyhound is on the move, opening a new terminal at 7th and Market Streets in Center City Wednesday. 

This is all part of developers' plans to build a new Sixers arena in Market East.

It's only day 1, but passengers said things aren't going so well. Some of their biggest concerns are that they have nowhere to sit, have nowhere to use the restroom and they aren't getting a lot of information.

Now, this is a major change for Greyhound, as well. Its terminal had been at 10th and Filbert Streets since the 1980s. However, the Sixers are now buying that property as part of their proposal to build a new arena in the Fashion District. The proposed billion-dollar arena would take over the one-way block of Gilbert Street between the terminal and the Fashion District Philadelphia Mall.

"No bathrooms and every business will not let the people use the bathroom," Virginia Warner said. "Not too good. People gotta go."

Greyhound's new terminal is much smaller than the old one. Passengers can wait in line to talk to a representative, but after that,  CBS News Philadelphia saw firsthand an employee tell customers to leave because they can't wait inside or charge their phones.

"Look at it. You got people standing around here on Market Street. Is that what they want," Raul Concosa said. "Filbert Street, at least you had someplace indoors to be sheltered from the rain, the weather."

Until then, people who take Greyhound often said this new setup isn't their favorite.

"I can't say on camera how frustrating it is. OK, I really can't because you'll blank it out," Mark Randall said, "but it's incredibly frustrating. It's hot. It's humid."

"They just have us out here, standing out here all along the line and it is horrible," Crystal Weeks said. "People paid money. We can't use the bathroom. We're hungry. We're tired and we're been sitting down out here since 3 o'clock, and it's not just me."

"It's strange because we were sitting in front of the building and the guy was like, 'No sitting on the steps,'" Sylvester Washington said. "So like basically, we've just been standing out amongst the people in the street. I feel like I'm in the street."

Passengers have no choice but to wait outside, forcing other pedestrians to walk around them. Some even sat on the ground, creating a trip hazard.

"Everybody's standing around with bags and stuff," Tunina Outlaw said. "They make us look like we're homeless." 

If you walk down Market Street, you may notice a little bit more congestion either from the buses or people standing out on the sidewalk.

When buses pull up, the passengers get in a long line, which blocks the sidewalk. The buses themselves block the right turn lane on Market Street, causing a traffic nightmare.

"People in corporate needs to really get in touch with everybody, and talk and see where they're doing wrong," Warner said. "And then try to fix it."

In a statement, Greyhound said the new terminal is conveniently located near several restaurants where people can buy food and drinks, and that there's a bathroom on the bus once passengers are boarded.

However, the company did not address why the terminal doesn't have any indoor seats or bathrooms for people waiting for the bus.

Read Greyhound's full statement: 

"Greyhound, like other intercity bus transportation providers, follows industry standards by operating from a range of stops across its extensive network.  The ability to operate from the bus stop in Philadelphia, alongside FlixBus and Peter Pan, provides customers with accessibility to other transit providers and an easy boarding process to get customers more quickly on their way to their destination.

The bus stop at 618 Market Street is conveniently located near several restaurants where travelers can purchase food and drinks prior to boarding. As customers await the bus, they can access self-service, real-time features like Bus Tracker and receive notifications through the Greyhound or FlixBus app, enabling customers to track their bus and keep up-to-date trip information in the palm of their hands.  Once on board, the Greyhound bus is equipped with amenities including a restroom and free Wi-Fi and onboard entertainment.

Over the years, Greyhound has had the privilege of serving the community of Philadelphia. It is the company's goal to provide a better travel experience through the ease of accessibility, customer self-service features and a comfortable onboard journey."

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