George Washington Bridge Bus Station

George Washington Bridge Bus Station

Company type	Public transportation facility
Industry	Transportation
Founded	January 17, 1963 (1963-01-17) in Manhattan, New York City, United States
Founder	Port Authority of New York and New Jersey
Headquarters	Manhattan, New York City , United States
Area served	New York City metropolitan area
Key people	Pier Luigi Nervi (architect-engineer)
Products	Commuter bus services and retail space
Owner	Port Authority of New York and New Jersey

The George Washington Bridge Bus Station functions as a commuter bus hub situated at the eastern terminus of the George Washington Bridge within Manhattan's Washington Heights district in New York City. Managed and owned by the Port Authority of New York and New Jersey (PANYNJ), it accommodates approximately 20,000 travelers daily, with around 1,000 buses operating through the terminal each day.

Italian architect-engineer Pier Luigi Nervi designed the facility, which stands as an example of mid-20th-century urban renewal and structural expressionism. It has been celebrated as a pioneering achievement in reinforced concrete engineering and transportation infrastructure design. Despite years of postponed upkeep, architecture critic Ada Louise Huxtable hailed it as "a work of the first rank" among 20th-century architectural accomplishments.

Initially proposed in 1955 and inaugurated on January 17, 1963, the terminal experienced lower patronage compared to the Port Authority Bus Terminal during its early years. A significant refurbishment announced in 2008 expanded its retail footprint from to , with expenses exceeding . Renovation work commenced in late 2013, culminating in the station's reopening on May 16, 2017—delayed by two years, $17 million over the original budget, and with some elements still incomplete.

Description

Positioned above the Trans-Manhattan Expressway (Interstate 95) between 178th and 179th Streets as well as Fort Washington and Wadsworth Avenues, the station incorporates direct bus ramps that connect to the George Washington Bridge’s upper level. This structure, one of Italian engineer Pier Luigi Nervi’s rare international projects, spans . Early designs included ten suburban bus platforms on the upper tier with 36 loading spots, retail spaces at ground level, seven sawtooth bays for long-distance buses, and a basement mezzanine linking to the 175th Street subway station.

Built with fourteen steel-reinforced concrete trusses cantilevered from supports located within the expressway median, the roof consists of 26 triangular segments, each measuring , composed of 36 concrete panels. The roofing system is designed to disperse bus exhaust effectively, negating the initial need for air conditioning. From an aerial perspective, its trusses have been compared to butterflies.

Inside the terminal are murals along with busts honoring George Washington and bridge engineer Othmar Amman. The facility received recognition from the Concrete Industry Board in 1963. It is fully accessible for wheelchair users, though it has drawn criticism for its austere architectural style.

Development

The George Washington Bridge began operation in 1931 with only its upper deck open. By 1952, the PANYNJ (then known as Port of New York Authority) proposed widening a block along 178th Street to construct a bus terminal featuring three platforms for interstate buses and a connection to the subway system; this required demolishing multiple buildings.

A study conducted in 1955 recommended adding a lower deck to the bridge, building the Trans-Manhattan Expressway linking to the Cross Bronx Expressway, and situating a bus terminal atop this expressway. In February 1957, plans were unveiled by the Port Authority for a $12 million terminal designed to accommodate up to 255 buses per hour, boosting interstate bus capacity by 70%. The project entailed relocating approximately 10,000 families and encountered opposition from local officials. The New York City Planning Commission granted approval in June 1957, followed by funding allocation in July. The terminal was required to be fully enclosed.

In March 1960, engineer Pier Luigi Nervi was commissioned by the Port Authority to design a three-story bus terminal costing $13 million above the Trans-Manhattan Expressway; his design drew inspiration from Rome's Stadio Flaminio. By this time, foundations were complete and ramp construction was underway. Contracts valued at $9.6 million for roof construction were awarded in December 1960. Steel girders supporting the terminal were erected by February 1961; by April, steel framing was finished and concrete work had commenced.

Initial Opening and Early Adjustments

The George Washington Bridge Bus Station commenced operations on January 17, 1963, with an official dedication ceremony held the next day by New York Governor Nelson Rockefeller and New Jersey Governor Richard J. Hughes. Following passenger feedback regarding chilly conditions caused by the terminal’s open-air construction, the Port Authority authorized the installation of a retractable plastic membrane in August 1963, costing approximately $200,000. Further enhancements consisted of glass walls and adjustable louvers designed to protect travelers from harsh west winds, along with heated glass-and-aluminum canopies installed above the ten departure bays. Although the facility was intended to replace street-level bus stops between 166th and 167th streets, the final bus route did not transition to the terminal until 1967.

During its initial years, the station experienced low utilization as many New Jersey riders favored the Port Authority Bus Terminal located in Midtown Manhattan. On its first anniversary, the station serviced 750 buses daily, transporting around 20,500 passengers. Despite this activity, by 1974 it was still regarded as underutilized.

In July 1999, the Port Authority of New York and New Jersey (PANYNJ) engaged McCann Real Equities to explore constructing a $20 million multiplex cinema atop the terminal. The proposed multiplex would have contained 12 screens with a total of 2,800 seats under a lease spanning four decades. Nevertheless, this multiplex project and other plans for air rights development never came to fruition. By the early 2000s, although much of its original architectural design remained intact, the station had deteriorated significantly.

Renovation

In October 2008, the PANYNJ approved a comprehensive $152 million refurbishment plan for the George Washington Bridge Bus Station. The Port Authority committed $49.5 million toward this effort while developer Acadia agreed to invest $102 million. Despite managing approximately 300,000 buses and five million passengers annually, the terminal was outdated—lacking climate control and offering limited retail options restricted mainly to off-track betting and lottery sales. Renovation designs were unveiled later that month but were delayed due to the financial crisis of 2008.

By July 2011, renovation efforts resumed with an increased budget of $183 million; developers pledged $100 million while the PANYNJ contributed $83.2 million. The New York City Regional Center (NYCRC) initially provided a $72 million loan to developers and later extended an additional $19 million. Planned upgrades included improved subway connectivity, installation of digital bus information boards, centralized air conditioning systems, full compliance with ADA standards, and an expansion of retail space from 30,000 to 120,000 square feet. Prominent tenants such as Marshalls, Key Food, and Blink Fitness had secured leases for portions of this retail area.

In August 2013, Tutor Perini was awarded a $100 million contract for construction work. Renovations commenced that year but encountered substantial delays; the main concourse was closed in August 2014 with project completion postponed beyond the initially scheduled date in 2015. The station ultimately reopened in May 2017—two years behind schedule, exceeding budget by $17 million—and remained partially unfinished.

In July 2019, Tutor Perini filed a lawsuit against the PANYNJ citing delays and cost overruns. By October of that year, GWBBS Development Venture LLC sought Chapter 11 bankruptcy protection partly due to these complications and ongoing arbitration disputes. Monarch Alternative Capital LP expressed interest in acquiring the retail leasehold but negotiations did not advance. In 2021, NYCRC initiated legal action against the PANYNJ alleging interference with attempts to sell the retail lease rights. Eventually, Aurora Capital Associates together with Bridges Development Group purchased the retail leasehold in December 2022 for $46 million.

Subway connection

The facility is accessible via the 175th Street station on the New York City Subway, situated along Fort Washington Avenue with entry points at 175th and 177th Streets; the latter lies one block south of the bus terminal. Managed by the New York City Transit Authority and served by the , this station was originally part of the inaugural route of the Independent Subway System, the IND Eighth Avenue Line, which commenced operations in 1932. A pedestrian passageway under the jurisdiction of the Port Authority links the bus terminal directly to this subway station, although it is closed during nighttime hours.

Additionally, the bus terminal is within a short walking distance from both the 181st Street station on the same subway line and the 181st Street station on the .

Bus service

Greyhound announced on September 20, 2017, that it would initiate operations at this station starting September 27, while continuing to use the Port Authority Bus Terminal as its main location in New York City.

As of 2020, bus services at this terminal include routes operated by New York City Transit Authority, New Jersey Transit, and Coach USA (specifically Rockland Coaches and Short Line). The station also accommodates Express Service jitneys run by Spanish Transportation. Moreover, certain routes operated by OurBus make stops at the George Washington Bridge Bus Station.

MTA Regional Bus Operations

Ten local routes operated by MTA Regional Bus Operations serve both the lower level of the station and nearby streets. The M4 route stops along Fort Washington Avenue, while M5, M100, and Bx7 operate on Broadway. Routes M98, Bx3, Bx11, Bx13, Bx35, and Bx36 make stops on 178th and 179th Streets between Fort Washington Avenue and Broadway. All these routes comply with ADA accessibility standards.

Route	Terminal	via	notes
M4	The Cloisters or Fort Tryon Park (north) Fifth Avenue/32nd Street, Koreatown (south)	Broadway and Fifth Avenue	Service to The Cloisters operates only when the museum is open; otherwise, buses run to Fort Tryon Park.
M5	Broadway/31st Street, Garment District	Riverside Drive, Fifth Avenue, Broadway
M98 LTD	Fort Tryon Park (north) 68th Street/Lexington Avenue (south)	Harlem River Drive and Lexington Avenue	Operates only during peak hours.
M100	West 220th Street/Broadway, Inwood (north) West 125th Street/St. Nicholas Avenue, Harlem (south)	Broadway and Amsterdam Avenues
Bx3	238th Street station, Riverdale, Bronx	University Avenue
Bx7	West 263rd Street/Riverdale Avenue, Riverdale, Bronx (north) 168th Street station (south)	Broadway, Johnson Avenue, Henry Hudson Parkway
Bx11	Parkchester station, Parkchester, Bronx	170th Street, Claremont Parkway, East 174th Street
Bx13	Bronx Terminal Market (extended to Third Avenue/163rd Street during rush hours)	West 181st Street, Ogden Avenue, East 161st Street
Bx35	Jennings Street and West Farms Road, Longwood, Bronx	Edward L. Grant Highway, East 167th-169th Streets
Bx36	Olmstead Avenue and Randall Avenue, Soundview, Bronx	Tremont Avenue, White Plains Road

New Jersey Transit

Route	Terminal	via	notes
171	Paterson Broadway Bus Terminal	GWB Plaza Route 4	Jitney service on a comparable Paterson corridor is provided by Spanish Transportation
175	Ridgewood Bus Terminal	GWB Plaza New Jersey Route 4 Hackensack, Paramus, Rochelle Park	Certain trips bypass Bergen Community College
178	Hackensack Bus Terminal	GWB Plaza, New Jersey Route 4 Grand Avenue, Teaneck Armory, Englewood Avenue	Northern variant of route 182 serving Englewood and Teaneck
181	Bergenline Ave. Station	GWB Plaza, Palisade Avenue, Bergenline Avenue	Limited service during peak and evening hours Monday through Saturday; Spanish Transportation operates additional service to Jersey City
182	Hackensack Bus Terminal	GWB Plaza, Fort Lee Road, DeGraw Avenue	Southern routing alternative of 178 covering Leonia, Teaneck, and Bogota
186	Dumont	GWB Plaza, Sylvan Avenue, Palisade Avenue, Teaneck Road
188	West New York	GWB Plaza, via River Road through Edgewater 60 Street at Kennedy Boulevard	Weekend service is limited

Rockland Coaches

Route	Terminals	via
9A & 9AT	New City (9A and 9W) (full-time) Central Nyack (9W) or Stony Point (9) (peak hours only)	Sylvan Avenue, Oak Tree Road, Piermont Avenue/River Road, Broadway, Nyack Turnpike (applies to Central Nyack trips), Lake Road, Main Street, Route 9W (Stony Point on select rush-hour runs)

Short Line Bus

Route	Service	Terminals	Serving	Notes
208	PM peak	Montgomery, NY Intersection of Route 211 and Clinton Street	Washingtonville, Monroe, Central Valley, Ridgewood, NJ	Managed by the New York State Department of Transportation
	AM peak	East Side, Manhattan 23rd Street and 2nd Avenue	Manhattan areas including Washington Heights, Harlem, East Harlem, Yorkville, Upper East Side, Turtle Bay, Murray Hill, Kips Bay.	Operated under the authority of the New York State DOT. Does not stop at GWB Bus Station or Bridge Plaza.

See also

• Port Authority Bus Terminal
• Journal Square Transportation Center
• George Washington Bridge Plaza, located on the New Jersey side in Fort Lee, New Jersey

External links

• Official page for the GW Bridge Bus Station
• Rockland Coaches by Coach USA
• Shortline services by Coach USA
• Google Maps Street View showing the Boarding Area
• Google Maps Street View of the Waiting Room