George Washington Bridge Bus Station

The George Washington Bridge Bus Station is a commuter bus terminal located at the east end of the George Washington Bridge in the Washington Heights area of Manhattan in New York City, New York. The bus station is owned and operated by the Port Authority of New York and New Jersey. On a typical weekday, approximately 20,000 passengers on about 1,000 buses use the station.[1]

George Washington Bridge
Bus Station
view of the station from the southeast (2018)
Locationbetween Ft. Washington & Wadsworth Aves, and W. 178th & W. 179th Sts.
Manhattan, New York City
United States
Owned byPort Authority of New York and New Jersey
Operated byPort Authority of New York and New Jersey
Platforms21 gates (upper level)
ConnectionsNew York City Subway:
175th Street ( train)
181st Street ( train)
Construction
ArchitectPier Luigi Nervi
Other information
WebsiteGWBBS
History
OpenedJanuary 17, 1963
Rebuilt2013–2017 renovations
Passengers
20156.9 million

The building, an example of 1960s urban renewal, has been described as a blight on its surrounding environment[2] and "a brutal assault on the senses".[3] Its upper-level bus ramps cross Fort Washington Avenue, blocking light and the view of the George Washington Bridge.

Major renovations, including an expansion of retail space from 30,000 to 120,000 square feet (3,000 to 11,000 m2), began in late 2013 and were expected to cost more than US$183 million . Although scheduled to be completed in early 2015, the renovated station reopened on May 16, 2017, two years behind schedule, $17 million over budget, and still unfinished.[4][5][6]

Description
Aerial view of station and I-95

The station is built over the Trans-Manhattan Expressway (Interstate 95) between 178th and 179th Streets and Fort Washington and Wadsworth Avenues, and features direct bus ramps on and off the upper level of the bridge.

The building was designed by noted Italian engineer Pier Luigi Nervi and is one of only a few buildings he designed outside of Italy.[7] It opened January 13, 1963 as a replacement for a series of sidewalk bus loading areas that existed between 166th and 167th streets further south.[8] The building is constructed of huge steel-reinforced concrete trusses, fourteen of which are cantilevered from supports in the median of the Trans-Manhattan Expressway, which it straddles. The building contains murals as well as busts of George Washington and Othmar Amman, the civil engineer who designed the bridge. The building received the 1963 Concrete Industry Board’s Award.[9]

The building's roof trusses have been described as resembling butterflies,[10] as seen in aerial views. The entire facility is wheelchair-accessible.[11]

The renovated waiting room (June 2018)
Renovated bus boarding area with display screens (November 2017)

Renovation

A renovation of the terminal began in late 2013, after years of delays. It was expected to cost US$183 million . The project was a partnership between the Port Authority and a private company known as GWBBS Development Venture, LLC. Tutor Perini received a $100 million construction contract in August 2013.

The renovated building was to be improved with better access to local subway stops, displays of bus departure and arrival times, central air conditioning, and full ADA-compliant accessibility to those with disabilities. It will increase retail space from 30,000 to 120,000 square feet (3,000 to 11,000 m2), with large tenants like Marshalls, Key Food, and Blink Fitness.[5][12]

The renovated station reopened on May 16, 2017, two years behind schedule, $17 million over budget, and still unfinished.[5][6][13][14] The contractor Tutor Perini has filed a $120 million lawsuit against the Port Authority over "delays and cost overruns" incurred on the project [15]

The station seen from the western approach in 2006

Subway connection

The complex is served by the 175th Street station of the New York City Subway. The station is on Fort Washington Avenue with entrances at 175th Street and 177th Street, the latter one block south of the bus station.[16] The subway station, operated by the New York City Transit Authority and served by the A train,[17] was part of the Independent Subway System (IND)'s first line, the IND Eighth Avenue Line, which opened in 1932.[18] A pedestrian tunnel, maintained by the Port Authority of New York and New Jersey, links the bus terminal to the subway station. This tunnel is closed at night.[19]

The bus station is also within walking distance of the 181st Street station of the same line, and the 181st Street IRT Broadway–Seventh Avenue Line station on the 1 train.[17]

Bus service

As of 2020, the bus lines detailed below serve the terminal for the New York City Transit Authority, New Jersey Transit, and Coach USA (Rockland Coaches and Short Line).[20] Service is also provided by Spanish Transportation with its Express Service jitneys.[21]

On September 20, 2017, Greyhound announced that it would be providing service to the station starting September 27, while keeping the Port Authority Bus Terminal as its primary New York City location.[22]

MTA Regional Bus Operations

Ten local MTA Regional Bus Operations routes stop at a lower level and on the streets outside the station. The M4 stops on Fort Washington Avenue, while the M5, M100 and Bx7 stop on Broadway. The M98, Bx3, Bx11, Bx13, Bx35 and Bx36 stop on 178th and 179th Streets between Fort Washington Avenue and Broadway. All routes are ADA-accessible.[23][24]

Route Terminal via notes
M4 The Cloisters or Fort Tryon Park (north)
Fifth Avenue/32nd Street, Koreatown (south)		 Broadway and Fifth Avenue Bus only runs to the Cloisters when the museum is open; it only runs to Fort Tryon Park at all other times.
M5 Broadway/31st Street, Garment District Riverside Drive, Fifth Avenue, and Broadway
M98 LTD Fort Tryon Park (north)
68th Street/Lexington Avenue (south)		 Harlem River Drive and Lexington Avenue Bus only runs during rush hours.
M100 West 220th Street/Broadway, Inwood (north)
East 125th Street/First Avenue, East Harlem (south)		 Broadway and Amsterdam Avenues
Bx3 238th Street station, Riverdale, Bronx University Avenue
Bx7 West 263rd Street/Riverdale Avenue, Riverdale, Bronx (north)
168th Street station (south)		 Broadway, Johnson Avenue, Henry Hudson Parkway
Bx11 Simpson Street station, Longwood, Bronx 170th Street
Bx13 Bronx Terminal Market (extended to Third Avenue/163rd Street, rush hours) Ogden Avenue and Yankee Stadium
Bx35 Simpson Street station, Longwood, Bronx 167th/169th Streets
Bx36 Olmstead Avenue/Seaward Avenue, Castle Hill, Bronx 174th/180th Streets

New Jersey Transit
See also: List of NJ Transit bus routes (100–199)
Route Terminal via notes
171
 Paterson Broadway Bus Terminal GWB Plaza
Route 4		 Spanish Transportation operates jitneys along similar route to Paterson
175
 Ridgewood Bus Terminal GWB Plaza
New Jersey Route 4
Hackensack, Paramus, Rochelle Park		 some trips do not stop at
Bergen Community College
178
 Hackensack Bus Terminal GWB Plaza, New Jersey Route 4
Grand Avenue, Teaneck Armory, Englewood Avenue		 Englewood/Teaneck (northern route) variant of Route 182
181
 Bergenline Ave. Station GWB Plaza, Palisade Avenue, Bergenline Avenue Limited peak and evening service Monday-Saturday. Other times, use Spanish Transportation route, which runs down Bergenline Avenue and continues to Jersey City.
182
 Hackensack Bus Terminal GWB Plaza, Fort Lee Road, DeGraw Avenue Leonia/Teaneck/Bogota (southern route) variant of 178
186
 Dumont GWB Plaza, Sylvan Avenue, Palisades Avenue, Teaneck Road
188
 West New York GWB Plaza, via River Road Edgewater
60 Street at Kennedy Boulevard		 Limited weekend service

Rockland Coaches
Route Terminals via
9A & 9AT New City (9A and 9W)
(full-time)
Central Nyack (9W) or Stony Point (9)
(peak service only)		 Sylvan Avenue, Oak Tree Road, Piermont Avenue/River Road, Broadway, Nyack Turnpike (Central Nyack trips only) Lake Road, Main Street, Route 9W (Stony Point is served on select rush-hour trips)

Short Line Bus
Route Service Terminals Serving Notes
208
 PM peak Montgomery, NY
Route 211 and Clinton Street		 Washingtonville, Monroe, Central Valley, Ridgewood, NJ
AM peak East Side, Manhattan
23rd Street and 2nd Avenue		 Manhattan neighborhoods:
Washington Heights, Harlem, East Harlem, Yorkville, Upper East Side, Turtle Bay, Murray Hill, Kips Bay.
  • Route owned by the New York State DOT.
  • Does not serve GWB Bus Station and GWB Bridge Plaza.

See also

References
  1. Vanterpool, Veronica (July 6, 2011). "New Life For GW Bridge Bus Station Overhaul". Tri-State Transportation Campaign. Retrieved July 15, 2011.
  2. Rizzo, Chris. "Port Authority Renovation Will Begin...Soon". Hudson Heights Gazette. Retrieved August 24, 2016.
  3. Rivlin-Nadler, Max. "Port Authority Closes Dilapidated GWB Bus Terminal For Long-Overdue Renovation". Gothamist. Archived from the original on April 25, 2017. Retrieved August 25, 2016.
  4. "Port Authority Prepares for Major Overhaul of George Washington Bridge Bus Station" (Press release). Port Authority of New York and New Jersey. June 30, 2011. Retrieved July 15, 2011.
  5. Pires, Claire (October 28, 2013). "George Washington Bridge Bus Station Is Finally Being Renovated". Northattan. Archived from the original on December 31, 2013.CS1 maint: unfit URL (link)
  6. Pichardo, Carolina (May 16, 2017) "GWB Bus Station Finally Opens, 2 Years Behind Schedule" Archived 2017-06-11 at the Wayback Machine, DNAinfo.
  7. Bernstein, Fred A. (November 2, 2004). "Second Look: George Washington Bridge Bus Station / Pier Luigi Nervi, 1963". ArchNewsNow. Retrieved June 11, 2014.
  8. "George Washington Bridge Bus Station History". Port Authority of New York and New Jersey. Retrieved June 11, 2014.
  9. Renner, James (September 1998). "George Washington Bridge Bus Station". Washington Heights & Inwood Online. Archived from the original on April 4, 2010. Retrieved March 27, 2010.
  10. Huxtable, Ada Louise (June 15, 2004). "A Landmark Destination: The Bus Station". The Wall Street Journal. Retrieved August 25, 2016.
  11. "George Washington Bridge Bus Station". www.panynj.gov. Retrieved 2021-01-28.
  12. "Port Authority's George Washington Bridge Bus Station Celebrates 50 Years of Regional Commuter Bus Service" (Press release). Port Authority of New York and New Jersey. January 13, 2013. Retrieved June 3, 2013.
  13. Strunsky, Steve (January 17, 2013). "GW Bridge Bus Station gets $183 million facelift for 50th birthday". The Star-Ledger. Retrieved June 11, 2014.
  14. "Winner revealed for $100 million GW Bridge bus station redo". New York Business Journal. August 8, 2013. Retrieved May 18, 2017.
  15. "Central Subway contractor dispute threatens to bust budget". San Francisco Examiner. July 20, 2019. Retrieved July 22, 2019.
  16. "MTA Neighborhood Maps: Washington Heights" (PDF). Metropolitan Transportation Authority. 2015. Retrieved July 29, 2016.
  17. "Subway Map" (PDF). Metropolitan Transportation Authority. October 21, 2019. Retrieved January 18, 2018.
  18. "List of the 28 Stations on the New 8th Av. Line". The New York Times. September 10, 1932. p. 6. ISSN 0362-4331. Retrieved 2020-04-21.
  19. "Connections - George Washington Bridge Bus Station - The Port Authority of NY & NJ". www.panynj.gov. Retrieved July 30, 2016.
  20. "Bus Carriers and Routes". Port Authority of New York and New Jersey. Retrieved June 1, 2015.
  21. "Express Service - Bus Terminals (Where Do You Want to Go)". Spanish Transportation. Archived from the original on October 6, 2012. Retrieved May 14, 2013.
  22. "Greyhound Begins Operations From Newly Renovated George Washington Bridge Bus Station". Retrieved 29 November 2017.
  23. "Manhattan Bus Map" (PDF). Metropolitan Transportation Authority. July 2019. Retrieved December 1, 2020.
  24. "Bronx Bus Map" (PDF). Metropolitan Transportation Authority. October 2018. Retrieved December 1, 2020.
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