tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5862444008740250372.post142293582286488824..comments2024-02-01T04:37:41.878-05:00Comments on Cap'n Transit Rides Again: Saving the Manhattan TerminalCap'n Transithttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17057887736728828646noreply@blogger.comBlogger3125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5862444008740250372.post-83187029594530632752012-05-20T14:45:37.066-04:002012-05-20T14:45:37.066-04:00There used to be an East Side bus terminal. It was...There used to be an East Side bus terminal. It was sold off in 1985, according to this NY Times article:<br /><br />http://www.nytimes.com/1985/02/14/nyregion/airlines-terminal-on-east-side-sold-for-90.6-million.html<br /><br />A terminal with dedicated lanes over the Williamsburg Bridge would be OK, but buses would still suffer from BQE traffic.Jonathanhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/08520811734907587902noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5862444008740250372.post-60869922032037145652012-05-20T12:52:57.157-04:002012-05-20T12:52:57.157-04:00Given how the Port Authority bus terminal has had ...Given how the Port Authority bus terminal has had serious congestion issues--despite its size--I like the idea of a second major bus terminal able to relieve pressure from it. Plus, this one would be significantly more accessible from the east and serve a different part of Manhattan while still being right on the subway network.<br /><br />You could set up an East-West terminal division such that, e.g. buses to Boston terminate in the East terminal while those to Philly the West one. Or different operators could use the different terminals--Coach USA, with its significant Jersey commuter operation and Megabus, the West one; Greyhound, with its intercity focus and Boltbus, the East.Steve Stofkahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/14825368520377993845noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5862444008740250372.post-85183237188170314192012-05-20T02:22:04.766-04:002012-05-20T02:22:04.766-04:00I have to wonder if the "Low Line" thing...I have to wonder if the "Low Line" thing is some kind of satire. Surely everybody who has every been in a subway station and has a shred of common sense realises that, even with plenty of light, an underground space will quickly get damp, stuffy and smelly, especially if there are plants in it. The space also just isn't that large, so would probably feel cramped.<br /><br />However, I think it's probably too far from Chinatown to be attractive for the bus and commuter van operators. Having to walk an extra 10-15 minutes (or wait for the J) to reach your destination could easily more than negate the benefit of dedicated lanes across the Williamsburg Bridge (which could anyway be implemented separately). If you somehow managed to legally force the commuter vans to use the terminal rather than more convenient streetcorners, I think this would provide negative transportation value. And this is before considering the cost of renovating and ventilating the terminal and building the necessary ramps, at NYC infrastructure construction prices.<br /><br />Just because some infrastructure is spare doesn't mean you need to use it, for transit, parks, or anything else. There are plenty of examples of infrastructure being made less valuable by mediocre projects that were the best thing that was feasible to do with it at the time (see the LA Orange Line, a mistake Staten Island is considering repeating). Maybe in the future the terminal space can be used to run light rail from Brooklyn onto the disused Nassau St track pair, or J express tracks, or to feed the South 4th St subway, or as part of a regional rail line, or for bike parking, or something that doesn't even make sense with current paradigms. In the meantime, none of the suggestions I've heard seem remotely worth their costs given present demand. In the words of Lord Melbourne, why not leave it alone?threestationsquarehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02211550407397056258noreply@blogger.com