As deadline looms, abortion providers and advocates warn about possible loss of Greyhound bus station
Wednesday, Sep 4, 2024 - Posted by Rich Miller * NBC 5 with some background…
* Press release…
* More from Isabel… * Streetsblog Chicago | Wake them up *before* September ends: New statements from Amtrak, Ald. Conway, Mayor’s Office on Greyhound terminal negotiations: “The Johnson Administration continues, as it has over these past months, to work with Greyhound and other stakeholders to find a viable solution for intercity bus services and its passengers in downtown Chicago,” replied the City’s Chief Operating Officer John Roberson in a statement. “While we have looked at a number of different options, it should be noted that Greyhound has an option to renew its lease at its current Harrison Street location under the same terms and conditions that it currently operates under.” (The Greyhound company was bought in October 2021 by the Germany-based firm FlixBus. DePaul’s Chaddick Center Director Joe Schwieterman said at Tuesday’s webinar, “The property tax on this station alone, paid by Greyhound, has topped $120,000 a year in the past,” which could be a deterrent to renewing the lease.) “The City has had productive conversations with Amtrak, which has agreed to work in partnership to solve Greyhound’s problem of providing a clean and safe terminal facility for intercity bus passengers,” Roberson added. “These conversations are ongoing, and the City continues to work in close partnership with Amtrak and other stakeholders on a long-term comprehensive solution for travelers and Chicagoans.” * Crain’s | Chicago faces dubious distinction with Greyhound station closure looming: Amtrak claims in a statement that Flix told the company “we don’t do stations,” and plans to move forward with a stop on the traffic lane on Jackson Boulevard. Amtrak is now asking the city to help find an alternative solution. The train service confirmed it had a meeting with city officials this week but declined to disclose what was discussed. * CBS | DePaul says if Greyhound station closes, Chicago will be only 1 of 3 top world cities with no intercity bus depot: The study by the Chaddick Institute for Metropolitan Development at DePaul focused on the world’s 130 largest cities—out of which Chicago ranks 114th in population. Only two cities currently lack an intercity bus station, and both are in Sub-Saharan Africa—Kinshasa, the capital of the Democratic Republic of the Congo, and Nairobi, the capital of Kenya.
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- Two Left Feet - Wednesday, Sep 4, 24 @ 12:49 pm:
It sounds like the new owners may be trying to shift the costs of the bus terminal to the public. While times may have changed, I’ve boarded an intercity bus in many different parking lots and have used this terminal. This one is very convenient to the train station and downtown. How many bus lines will be impacted? What is the cost to Greyhound of shutting this one down? There are so many other users of buses: students, adventurous travelers, budget focused, etc. It seems unusual to not have other advocates. There’s a solution here.
- Give Us Barabbas - Wednesday, Sep 4, 24 @ 1:21 pm:
What about something at McCormick Place Lakeside? One of their satellite lots?