No Relief In Sight for Port Authority Bus Terminal Commuters

New Jersey commuters have known for quite some time how bad conditions are at the Port Authority Bus Terminal.  Riders have to wait each evening in long lines that wrap around the concourse.  Traffic around the Lincoln Tunnel is a nightmare, and getting worse.  Both Bloomberg and The Record have recently reported how the terminal is outdated, overcrowded, in disrepair, but yet there are no immediate plans to remedy the problems.

The Record reports how there is no space to park buses.  They have to travel empty back to New Jersey after their morning runs to park, only to return for the evening rush.  This creates even more traffic jams inbound at the Lincoln Tunnel and at the terminal.  An expanded or new terminal is needed, as well as a garage to park the buses. 

Capital funding for a bus garage, however, was withdrawn.  Yet the Port Authority is planning on spending $1.5 billion to extend the PATH line to Newark Airport. Instead of allocating funding to remedy problems at the bus terminal, the agency would rather spend billions to duplicate rail service that is already provided by NJ Transit.

There is a parking garage for cars on the top level of the terminal.  A short term solution could be to use this space for buses - but this is not in the Port Authority's plans.  We only suppose this is because the Port Authority would rather rake in $45 a day in daily parking fees to fill its coffers as opposed to providing more efficient public transportation.  The parking revenues alone could help fund improvements to the terminal.

GWB Bus Station April 18, 2014 (updated)

NJBus visited the GWB Bus Station at rush hour on April 18, 2014.  Only three platforms are in service due to the terminal's reconstruction.  There is still uncertainty regarding which company will take over the 11C and 20/84 lines when Rockland Coaches discontinues service on May 4, 2014.