# Talk:South Station Bus Terminal

It would be interesting to have a photo of the old Greyhound terminal on St. James, since it doesn't have its own article, as well as one of the inside of the new terminal. -- Beland (talk) 17:26, 5 March 2010 (UTC)

It was torn down if I remember correctly.  A new office building I believe occupies its spot. I remember the building with the funky looking slanted car park entrance & exit (which is how I knew I was at the right place.  :-) Someone might have to dig through some archives or old photos to find a photo of it or the Peter Pan terminal in the middle of Dewey Square might be another good one?  It sat about ~20 yards east of where the current entrance/exit to the South Station MBTA sits.
I found some vintage photos using Google Images under "Boston Greyhound Bus Terminal":
I remember this place with its row of coin operated plastic Television-seats (similar to this http://www.itravelnet.com/photos/na/usa/pa/philadelphia/greyhound-bus-stop-pay-tv.jpg ). :-)

http://www.flickr.com/photos/thinkcouch/154331552/
Previous late-1950s Greyhound terminal in Boston:
http://www.flickr.com/photos/mit-libraries/tags/busterminals/
http://www.flickr.com/photos/mit-libraries/3421349756/
http://www.flickr.com/photos/mit-libraries/3402035442/
CaribDigita (talk) 17:45, 5 March 2010 (UTC)

I split out a small section on "History" in the article.  It would be interesting to describe the predecessors of the SSBT, as a historical contrast to the greatly-improved current facilities.  Reify-tech (talk) 20:19, 20 August 2014 (UTC)

i was in South station on tuesday, gate assignments are incorrect. I dont know the complete list off the top of my head, but i departed on Greyhound for Bangor, ME at gate 21, gate 20 was Greyhound to Montreal.
could someone check up on that? 72.95.98.55 (talk) 20:32, 23 June 2011 (UTC)

As I'm compiling the history, I'm seeing divergent figures for construction cost:

$80 million: March 1992
$81 million: August 1992, December 1994 (It's probable that this was the value of the main construction contract)
$100 million: June 1995
$102 million: June 1995
$122 million: October 1995
$171 million: August 1996
All of these are from the same newspaper. Since I haven't seen anything about cost increases during construction, I suspect the differences may be based on what elements of the larger renovation are included in the total. Costs-to-date for that (pre-bus-terminal-construction) were quoted as $60 million in 1988 and $80 million in 1989 (when rail construction/renovation finished). My suspicion is that the $171 million is the cost of rail and bus work, but I have no idea where the $100-102 and $122 million numbers come from. Pi.1415926535 (talk) 04:07, 23 July 2025 (UTC)

Inflation?  Over time the USD loses its purchasing power. Anything ever planned, or ever built in Boston starts out with one price-tag and ends up with another by completion. For the Big Dig I remember going to the Museum of Science back in 1986-87. They had an exhibit in the Western Main hall set up concerning the Big Dig I remember it clearly.  And they were showing how new issues were arising with phone company "NYNEX" having to move phone lines which zig-zagged all over the place and how they would have to move all utilities into neat little corridors and the fact that was all unforeseen costs. I am willing to bet that's it.
Further, I recall the Big Dig was administered out of the Governor's Office up until I believe the Third Harbor tunnel was completed? (subject to correction). I recall the entry to the Third Harbor Tunnel was also supposed to have a space-age looking entry-way something like Hong Kong's newest harbor tunnel design.  But the design's extravagance was slashed last minute after the news highlighted cost overruns. The last minute change would up costing more(dumb), and Hong Kong used it or a similar designed instead of Boston so I thought I heard.
To your point again, I do recall actually Amtrak was wrapping up it's electrification project around then. But I cannot say if that caused it? But it is above that work area where they said the (train) "terminal area" in Boston caused lots of cost overruns (for Amtrak's project). Perhaps some effected the (bus) terminal too?
See some of the sources in "Amtrak's 60 Hz traction power system". Boston projects always tend to include lots of artificially inflated stuff. Look how many times tracks were put down and dug up in Beacon Park Yards, and under Interstate-90's elevated next to the B.U. Bridge since the state was acquiring it. It was dug up and put down before the sale to boost the value. Then after the sale it was dug up and put down.  Now again with the I-90 renovation it was dug up again. Then if they ever goto build West End Station I bet you someone will want to put it all down and dig it up again before construction of any station to inflate costs yet again. But that's just how things are done around here.  That's how the 'hustle' goes. CaribDigita (talk) 02:51, 4 October 2025 (UTC)

I had taken a photo a couple decades back but lost it.
On the 2nd floor. when you turn right and head towards the main hall of the bus terminal. There is a plaque on the right wall.  (If still there)
The said plaque goes into detail about the construction worker who lost their life in construction of the terminal. By the name of "Coombs".
When I read it- it sounded like the terminal was to be dedicated in his name.  But I could find no further information if perhaps only that hall (???) was to be post-humusly named after him?
Just wanted to indicate it as a possible point of interest if folks are going for G/A status. CaribDigita (talk) 16:04, 25 August 2025 (UTC)

Thanks, I've added a pair of citations about his death and the plaque. Pi.1415926535 (talk) 20:31, 25 August 2025 (UTC)