The terminal, sold last year, is the only intercity bus station in the city, serving hundreds of thousands of mostly low-income travelers each year.
The only intercity bus terminal in Chicago, formerly belonging to Greyhound, could close as a result of the company’s acquisition by FlixMobility. Dan Zukowski outlines the story in Smart Cities Dive, noting that “All but two of Greyhound’s former properties were sold by September 2022, causing cities to lose enclosed bus stations and forcing riders to wait at curbside or other locations lacking waiting rooms and other amenities.”
According to a brief from the Chaddick Institute for Metropolitan Development at DePaul University, “Allowing the closure of the Greyhound Station without giving passengers an attractive alternative that is both centrally located and equipped with an indoor waiting room would make metropolitan Chicago a weak link in the national intercity bus system.” The station currently serves between 456,000 and 557,000 riders per year, according to a Chaddick estimate, with almost 400,000 more riders using curbside pickup locations, which lack protection from winter weather and heat, for Greyhound and other bus lines.
The brief calls on the city to take over operations of the bus station and keep it in service for the passengers who rely on it and explore options for expanding intercity bus service to and from Chicago.
FULL STORY: Chicago may lose its only intercity bus station, placing burden on disadvantaged travelers
Shuttered Bus Terminals Cause Problems for Riders, Cities
The closure of intercity bus stations is putting passengers out on the curb.
Intercity Buses Face Station Closures and Labor Shortage
The closure of many former Greyhound bus terminals is making intercity bus travel more inconvenient for the riders who depend on it.
Chicago Makes ‘Pop-Up’ Bus Lanes Permanent
Even with the addition of 3.5 miles of permanent bus-only lanes, Chicago trails other cities in miles of dedicated bus lanes.
‘Forward Together’ Bus System Redesign Rolling Out in Portland
Portland is redesigning its bus system to respond to the changing patterns of the post-pandemic world—with twin goals of increasing ridership and improving equity.
Plan to Potentially Remove Downtown Milwaukee’s Interstate Faces Public Scrutiny
The public is weighing in on a suite of options for repairing, replacing, or removing Interstate 794 in downtown Milwaukee.
Can New York City Go Green Without Renewable Rikers?
New York City’s bold proposal to close the jail on Rikers Island and replace it with green infrastructure is in jeopardy. Will this compromise the city’s ambitious climate goals?
700-Acre Master-Planned Community Planned in Utah
A massive development plan is taking shape for lakefront property in Vineyard, Utah—on the site of a former U.S. Steel Geneva Works facility.
More Cities Ponder the End of Drive-Thrus
Drive-thru fast food restaurants might be a staple of American life, but several U.S. cities are actively considering prohibiting the development of new drive-thrus for the benefit of traffic safety, air quality, and congestion.
Air Pollution World’s Worst Public Health Threat, Report Says
Air pollution is more likely to take years life off the lifespan of the average human than any other external factor, according to a recent report out of the University of Chicago.
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