Less than a week remains before the company's lease at the location expires, so it is still unclear what will happen to Chicago's Greyhound station and where passengers will go when it closes.
One Alderman proposed relocating bus operations to the new arrivals landing zone at Des Plaines Avenue and Polk Street, approximately one block south, as transit advocates tried to come up with solutions.
For months, transit advocates, reproductive health care providers, and several local officials have been urging the city of Chicago and Greyhound's parent company, Flix North America, to finalize a plan to ensure uninterrupted bus service when the bus line's lease at its West Loop terminal expires.
Since the late 1980s, the Greyhound bus terminal at 630 W. Harrison St. has been operational, serving approximately 500,000 individuals annually. According to experts, the intercity buses that operate from this terminal offer a crucial means of travel for older adults, low-income passengers, individuals with disabilities, and those who are unable or choose not to drive. Moreover, the future of the well-liked terminal has been uncertain for the last few years.
In a deal in 2021, FlixBus acquired Greyhound, excluding the Chicago terminal and several other properties. The next year, a subsidiary of Alden Global Capital purchased 33 Greyhound terminals and has proposed redevelopment plans for the Chicago location.
The Downtown station has been operating on borrowed time, according to a Greyhound representative, as the terminal's lease is officially set to expire on October 20. The vice president of the company added that although the bus lines have been operating there this month, they must leave the facility by September 20. Furthermore, as that deadline approached, a number of short- and long-term plans were put forth in recent months.
A group of transit and advocacy organizations had hoped that the city would purchase the terminal and then lease it back to bus lines, but a city spokesperson stated earlier this year that this proposal was ultimately considered 'unfeasible.' Another proposal, supported by FlixBus, to have buses board near Union Station while passengers wait inside also appears to have stalled, partly due to opposition from Amtrak.
Although negotiations between Flix and the city are still in progress, there have been limited updates on where passengers will be directed. When questioned by a Block Club reporter last week about the station's status, Mayor Brandon Johnson stated that his administration is still 'exploring all options.'
In a statement released on Thursday, a Greyhound representative stated that the business is still in contact with 'relevant stakeholders.' A question regarding whether the company's lease at 630 W. Harrison St. could be extended past the deadline of October 20 was, however not addressed by the company.
In a statement, Flixbus spokesperson Merrill Leedom stated, 'The Mayor's Office has been assisting them in identifying a suitable Downtown location for pick-ups and drop-offs.' Their efforts and the possibility of a solution that satisfies the requirements of their passengers—such as a bus-only lane, rudimentary weather protection, and easy access to nearby transit options—encouraged them. They added that even though this has been a difficult process, they are still optimistic about reaching on an agreement soon.
As the deadline approached, the Alderman responsible for the Greyhound terminal's ward suggested a temporary solution: relocating Greyhound operations to the new arrivals landing zone. Over the past two years, thousands of migrants arriving on buses have used this location.
In the event that the Chicago Greyhound terminal closes, Chicago will be the only city in the northern hemisphere's top 15 cities without a facility that satisfies those requirements.
As a result, they have been given numerous suggestions and will review them while weighing all the possibilities to guarantee the establishment of intercity bus service in the city of Chicago.
