D.C. Union Station group, coach operators reach agreement

Coach operators Greyhound, Bolt Bus, Megabus and Washington Deluxe reached an agreement with The Union Station Redevelopment Corp. (USRC) to relocate their services to Washington, D.C.'s Union Station.

The new agreement will enable passengers to board and disembark from the safe, weather-protected Union Station bus deck, improve access to other transportation and retail options available at Union Station, and reduce congestion in the District by moving buses off of busy city streets.

The new partnership means that more than 70 percent of intercity bus service in the District will now be available from Union Station. The new pickup and drop off location will provide increased security and safety for passengers, as well as connections to the D.C. Metro, Amtrak, MARC, the D.C. Circulator and bicycle and pedestrian facilities. Also, tourists entering the city by bus will have easy access to Capitol Hill, the Mall, the Smithsonian Museums and the retail options at Union Station.

To ensure that the new intercity bus service doesn't interfere with the popular and successful D.C. tour buses operating from Union Station, the USRC worked carefully with all of the companies involved to develop a layout plan for the bus deck that will maximize resources at Union Station.

In addition, the USRC will partner with Mayor Vincent Gray's office and the District Department of Transportation to provide a nearby offsite parking lot for bus drivers with access to concessions and dedicated restrooms. The offsite lot will keep bus traffic flowing smoothly on the Union Station Bus Deck, help the District move bus parking off of city streets, and provide facilities and services to better meet the needs of bus drivers.