Future location of Greyhound Chicago station unclear
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The Chicago Greyhound station in West Loop. Photo: Moyo Adeolu/Axios
Greyhound is expected to close the West Loop bus depot in coming weeks, but it remains unclear where passengers will go.
Driving the news: Greyhound owner FlixBus' lease at 630 W. Harrison expires on Oct. 20, and the company says it is working on an "alternative location" but wouldn't specify where.
Why it matters: Chicago hails itself as a transportation hub, but losing the downtown bus station would make travel difficult or potentially impossible for hundreds of thousands of riders who are often lower-income.
- About 500,000 passengers went through the Chicago Greyhound station last year, via dozens of daily routes, including to coastal destinations.
Flashback: Germany-based FlixBus acquired Greyhound in 2021, and Twenty Lake Holdings Co., a subsidiary of Alden Global Capital — which is known for buying then decimating newspapers — purchased the West Loop station in 2022.
Between the lines: Twenty Lake Holdings has been buying stations across the country to make way for new development on prime real estate. Chicago's Greyhound station, between the Loop and Greektown, falls into this category.
Reality check: Advocates for Access Living, Better Street Chicago and Chicago Abortion Fund have stressed to Mayor Brandon Johnson and city officials that closing the intercity bus station would harm students, victims of domestic violence, the disabled community, people seeking reproductive and gender-affirming health care and LGBTQ+ people.
The latest: City and transportation sources tell Axios that Twenty Lake Holdings offered FlixBus a short-term extension while the company determined a new depot location, but FlixBus spokesperson Gilda Brewton said during a webinar last month the company couldn't agree to the terms.
- Twenty Lake Holdings did not respond to Axios' questions.
State of play: FlixBus has been exploring a plan to drop off passengers outside Union Station on Jackson Boulevard between Canal and Clinton streets, a move Union Station's owner, Amtrak, opposes.
- Amtrak president Roger Harris sent a letter to Johnson and city leaders detailing safety and ADA-accessibility concerns, including concerns that passengers would be left in an unsheltered area during cold months.
- The current West Loop depot has restrooms, a snack bar and, most importantly, indoor shelter to keep passengers safe during harsh weather.
- Amtrak spokesperson Marc Magliari tells Axios that the company raised these concerns to FlixBus and offered other options that would have access to indoor shelter and food, but FlixBus didn't indicate it was exploring those options.
What they're saying: Axios asked FlixBus where customers will be dropped off when the current station closes, but the company didn't specify.
- "Our top priority is to maintain uninterrupted service. While this has been a challenging process, we are hopeful that an agreement can be reached to preserve equitable access to affordable, well-connected transportation for all residents," a spokesperson told us.
The mayor said the city is "working diligently with all operational parties to develop a comprehensive solution."
- "Given our jurisdiction over curbside pickup and drop-off, we're dedicated to ensuring travelers maintain access to affordable transportation options," Johnson said in a statement.
What we're watching: Ald. Bill Conway, whose ward includes the Greyhound depot and Union Station, tells Axios there are no current plans for redevelopment on the Greyhound site, and city records don't show any demolition permits for the lot.
Go deeper: How Greyhound's closure would make Chicago the largest city in the country without an intercity bus station.