PHILADELPHIA (KYW Newsradio) — Philadelphia’s Greyhound bus terminal may be moving to yet another temporary location — across the street from its current spot in Northern Liberties.
It’s only an idea, and far from definite. A proposal presented to neighbors last week would have the current inter-city bus terminal move from its currently hectic spot — on the south side of Spring Garden Street at Front Street — to a parking lot on the north side. It would have modular buildings where riders would have shelter while they wait.
This spot would mark the third time the depot for Greyhound and other bus companies has moved since the terminal at 10th and Filbert streets in Chinatown closed last June. It moved to Sixth and Market streets that June, then to Northern Liberties in November.
Jeff Hornstein, president of the Northern Liberties Neighbors Association, said the current terminal, which does not have a shelter for riders to wait under, isn’t working, so he suggested moving it.
“You have buses pulling up willy-nilly, Uber drivers and ride-shares dropping people off all over the place. People congregating. And then there’s this relatively empty, huge parking lot across the street,” he said.
In a statement, the Philadelphia Office of Transportation, Infrastructure, and Sustainability (OTIS) confirmed the city is considering ideas for the bus station, but the presentation wasn’t meant for public distribution and is not final. Hornstein couldn’t add more.
“More details, I don’t really know them because I don’t think anybody knows them right now,” he said.
This potential third temporary location isn’t perfect either, he noted, but it would be an improvement.
“We’re pretty sure this isn’t the final destination for this terminal,” he added. “We’re going to be totally transparent with our community and have as many meetings and as much dialogue as possible.”