Statement on Union Station Bus Depot

Norton Efforts Launch First Bus Service from Union Station

WASHINGTON, D.C. – Congresswoman Eleanor Holmes Norton (D-DC), who has worked for nearly four years to bring inter-city bus service to Union Station, launched bus service by the first three companies today at a press conference with Union Station officials and bus company representatives. Buses, which until today could only drop off and pick up passengers on streets in the city, now will be able to drop off and pick them up at the Union Station’s Bus Deck Level as part of a six month pilot. Norton chairs the Subcommittee on Economic Development, Emergency Management, and Public Buildings, which has jurisdiction over Union Station. Her statement follows.

“Today we begin service between the District of Columbia and other cities from Union Station for the first time since this historic structure opened as a train station in 1907. Bus service has been the missing component in the congressional vision and mandate that Union Station become a model inter-modal transportation center for all modes of transportation. The first three companies, Greyhound’s Boltbus, Washington Delux, and DC2NY, are part of an important and necessary six-month pilot to test inter-city bus service from Union Station for now, as well as for later when an expanded bus deck will accommodate inter-city bus and charter bus traffic. Our subcommittee sees no reason to delay co-location of inter-city bus accommodations at Union Station until expansion to accommodate a proper bus depot. If Union Station is to become a true inter-modal facility, the public expects to be able to move seamlessly from one mode of transportation to another. Today, when residents have been hit hard by the toughest of economic downturns, all feasible transportation choices should be available to them, particularly low-cost bus service. Union Station offers Amtrak, WMATA rail and bus, VRE, which plans to extend service to New York City, MARC, which will extend to Fredericksburg and other Virginia locations, and bike sharing. However, no world-class inter-modal city can claim the title without inter-city bus service as part of its package of transportation services.

“Bus service is an important part of our plan to maximize unused space and expand and update Union Station, including a revitalization of its mall, now underway; but the 21^st century Union Station will not only update transportation service. Also coming is an exciting new neighborhood at Burnham Station, a two million square foot, multi-use addition of residential, office, and commercial space. Burnham Station is the result of a congressional competition that has awarded the air rights above the rail tracks and behind Union Station.