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.
The building, an example of 1960s urban renewal, has been described as a blight on its surrounding environment and "a brutal assault on the senses". Its upper-level bus ramps block light, as well as the view of the George Washington Bridge, from an entire block of Fort Washington Avenue.
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.
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Architecture
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. 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. 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.
The building's roof trusses have been described as resembling butterflies, though this butterfly-like doubled-triangle view can be seen only if the trusses are viewed or photographed from above, an angle only available to aircraft passengers or to maintenance workers atop the New York tower of the nearby George Washington Bridge.
The first floor of the bus terminal will have additional space for stores. (all undergoing major renovations.) and a passenger waiting area.
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 station reopened on May 16, 2017, two years behind schedule, $17 million over budget, and still unfinished.
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.
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Accessibility
Some portions of the terminal are wheelchair-accessible, but many of the bus platforms are not. In addition, the New York City Bus M4 route provides wheelchair-accessible service to Fort Tryon Park, accessing the bus stop one block south of the station, and continuing inside the park to the Cloisters Museum when open.
New York City Subway
The complex is served by the 175th Street station of the New York City Subway, located on Fort Washington Avenue, with entrances at 175th Street and 177th Street, the latter one block south of the bus station. The subway station, operated by the New York City Transit Authority and served by the A train, was part of the Independent Subway System (IND)'s first line, the IND Eighth Avenue Line, which opened in 1932.
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.
Bus service
As of 2016, the bus lines detailed below serve the terminal for the New York City Transit Authority, New Jersey Transit, Coach USA (Rockland Coaches and Short Line) and Ameribus. Service is also provided by Spanish Transportation with its Express Service jitneys.
MTA Regional Bus Operations
Local buses stop at a lower level and on the streets outside the station. Local service includes:
- M4 on the Ft. Washington Av side, M5, M100 and Bx7 (outside the station on Broadway)
- M98, Bx3, Bx11, Bx13, Bx35 and Bx36 (on 178th & 179th streets between Ft Washington Av and Broadway). The Bx13 serves Yankee Stadium.
New Jersey Transit
Coach USA
Rockland Coaches
Short Line
Ameribus
Source of the article : Wikipedia
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