Bill Text: NJ AR70 | 2016-2017 | Regular Session | Introduced
Bill Title: Urges PANYNJ to implement new bus terminal plan.
Spectrum: Partisan Bill (Democrat 1-0)
Status: (Introduced - Dead) 2016-02-04 - Introduced, Referred to Assembly Transportation and Independent Authorities Committee [AR70 Detail]
Download: New_Jersey-2016-AR70-Introduced.html
Sponsored by:
Assemblywoman VALERIE VAINIERI HUTTLE
District 37 (Bergen)
SYNOPSIS
Urges PANYNJ to implement new bus terminal plan.
CURRENT VERSION OF TEXT
As introduced.
An Assembly Resolution urging the Port Authority of New York and New Jersey to implement a plan for a new bus terminal.
Whereas, Each day, thousands of people use the Port Authority of New York and New Jersey ("Port Authority") bus terminal and rely on it to commute to and from jobs in Manhattan; and
Whereas, The bus terminal currently operates beyond its capacity, resulting in frequent delays; and
Whereas, The Port Authority estimates that peak hour ridership demand will increase by 35 to 51 percent through 2040 and the current bus terminal cannot accommodate this growth; and
Whereas, The bus terminal's infrastructure is deteriorating and, according to the Port Authority, the terminal's structural slabs will not be usable in 15 to 25 years; and
Whereas, There is no place in Manhattan to park the buses once they drop off morning passengers, so each day these buses go back through the Lincoln Tunnel after dropping off morning passengers, spend the day parked in New Jersey, and then come back to Manhattan empty to pick up evening commuters; and
Whereas, Sending empty buses through the Lincoln Tunnel increases congestion in New Jersey and New York and contributes to air pollution; and
Whereas, The Port Authority took steps to address these issues through its Midtown Bus Master Plan, which includes developing options for a new bus terminal; and
Whereas, Any plan for a new bus terminal should include building the bus terminal in Manhattan, in order to avoid creating a two seat ride for the many passengers who commute to Manhattan, and should provide space to garage buses; and
Whereas, The Port Authority should endeavor to implement a plan that will not require an interim bus facility, but will instead keep the existing bus terminal operational during construction of a new terminal; and
Whereas, The Port Authority Board of Commissioners failed to take action on a plan to build a new bus terminal during a meeting held on September 24, 2015; and
Whereas, It is imperative that the Port Authority of New York and New Jersey implement a plan to develop a new bus terminal in Manhattan with space to garage buses in order to reduce air pollution and traffic congestion, increase reliability, and build capacity to accommodate future growth; now, therefore,
Be It
Resolved by the General Assembly of the State
of New Jersey:
1. This House respectfully urges the Port Authority of New York and New Jersey to implement a plan to develop a new bus terminal in Manhattan.
2. Copies of this resolution, as filed with the Secretary of State, shall be transmitted by the Clerk of the General Assembly to the Governor of the State of New Jersey, the Governor of the State of New York, the Board of Commissioners of the Port Authority of New York and New Jersey, and the Executive Director of the Port Authority of New York and New Jersey.
STATEMENT
This resolution urges the Port Authority of New York and New Jersey (PANYNJ) to implement a plan to develop a new bus terminal. The existing bus terminal facilitates the transportation of thousands of people a day and operates beyond capacity. The bus terminal experiences frequent delays and the PANYNJ estimates that peak hour ridership demand will increase by 35 to 51 percent through 2040. The bus terminal is deteriorating, and according to the PANYNJ, the terminal's structural slabs will not be useable in 15 to 25 years. Parking is limited in Manhattan and buses dropping off morning passengers return to New Jersey to park and then go back to Manhattan empty to pick up evening passengers, increasing congestion and pollution.
The PANYNJ took steps to address these bus terminal issues through its Midtown Bus Master Plan, which includes developing options for a new bus terminal. A new bus terminal should be built in Manhattan, to avoid creating a two seat ride for passengers, and should provide space to garage buses. The existing bus terminal should remain operational while a new bus terminal is built. At a meeting held in September 2015, the PANYNJ Board of Commissioners failed to implement a new bus terminal plan. However, it is imperative that the PANYNJ implement a plan for a new bus terminal in Manhattan with space to garage buses during the day in order to reduce pollution and congestion, increase reliability, and build capacity to accommodate future growth.
