The city of Chicago has taken a major step toward preserving intercity bus transportation by purchasing the Greyhound bus station at 630 W. Harrison St. for $19.2 million. The City Council approved the purchasing agreement on Wednesday, with 38 alderpeople voting in favor and 10 against.

Preserving Transportation Access

The move comes as officials also expanded the boundaries of the Canal/Congress Tax Increment Financing district to include the terminal, which would provide public funding to support the purchase and future improvements to the station. Ald. Jason Ervin (28th), whose ward borders the station, pushed back against arguments that the city should not be buying property, saying the city has an obligation to preserve transportation access for people who cannot afford or easily use airports.

Ald. Bill Conway (34th), who represents the site, pleaded with his colleagues in a speech before the vote, saying the alternative would be to the detriment of the community and to those who rely on intercity bus travel. Conway said he was initially skeptical of the project but came around after reviewing the transition plan and meeting with neighbors and city departments.

The Greyhound station has served intercity bus riders since the late 1980s and now handles about 500,000 passengers a year, including older adults, low-income riders, people with disabilities, and others who can’t or don’t drive. If it closed, Chicago would become the largest city in the northern hemisphere without an intercity bus terminal, according to a DePaul University policy brief.

Transition Plan

The deal puts the station under public ownership, but the city will not immediately take over day-to-day operations. Under a transition agreement signed by the city and Greyhound owner Flix, Flix would continue operating and managing the station for up to 12 months after the city closes on the property. The city also plans to launch an RFP process to select a third-party contractor to operate the terminal.

Original reporting: Block Club Chicago — read the source article.