Port Authority Bus Terminal construction will cause major traffic disruptions for years in Midtown
The Port Authority changed bus routes starting on Thursday as part of the ongoing construction of a new Midtown bus terminal.
Transportation officials warned that customers may experience delays, particularly during weekday evening rush periods, as a result.
Buses coming from the Lincoln Tunnel and Dyer Avenue were diverted onto West 39th Street before reentering the terminal's ramp system near 10th Avenue.
The exclusive bus lane through the tunnel wasn't affected, but the Port Authority still warned about possible delays once the buses arrived in Manhattan.
"We hope that it actually goes extraordinarily smoothly, but, as you know, we committed when we said we were going to rebuild the bus terminal, that we would do it all on our own property. And so, in order to do that, we have to take down some of the current ramps and move the buses to another ramp to get in so that we can actually do the building," Port Authority Executive Director Kathryn Garcia said.
Regular drivers may also feel the impact of the $11 billion project to replace the aging bus terminal, which has been a fixture for more than 75 years.
Port Authority officials said it's the busiest bus terminal in the world, with more than 7,200 buses moving through it and an estimated 260,000 passenger trips on a busy weekday.
The terminal is aging, overcrowded and struggling to keep up with modern commuting demands.
New ramps will be built along with dedicated areas where buses can wait between trips, instead of contributing to congestion on nearby streets.
A larger, more modern facility will take its place, with the goal of getting buses to move more efficiently, reducing traffic bottlenecks and making the commute more reliable.
"It's not well organized," one commuter said about the current terminal. "During the peak hours, it's very bad."
Port Authority officials said traffic agents will be at all corners to make sure things go smoothly.
The first phase of the project is expected to wrap up by the end of 2030, with the entire project targeted for completion in 2035.
Residents near the terminal say they are already feeling the impacts of the construction. One man said his apartment was vibrating Wednesday night as crews worked nearby.
"I went to bed around 11:15 last night and right when I laid down, everything started shaking, so it felt like an earthquake," Cooper Arnold said.
Judine Somerville, a commuter, said she's willing to be patient for the changes.
"You want the ride to be safe, you want it to feel right. Although it's going to be really painful because there's going to be a lot of changes, and so I think it's a great idea," she said.
"It's crazy, insane. I come in a few times, a few times a month. [My] daughter lives here. I think I'll be avoiding it," Peggy Letsche said. "It was tough coming in where it stops coming through the tunnel. Now we are trying to get out early."
"We'll probably do what we always do here, which is to hold our nose, hope that the new development is going to be a good thing," Midtown resident Alex Joseph added.
