Q&A
Public safety and social services plan during Port Authority Bus Terminal construction
0:56:33
·
140 sec
Council Member Bottcher inquires about the Port Authority's plans for public safety and social services during the multi-year construction project. Port Authority representatives emphasize the importance of public safety and discuss their current partnership with Urban Pathways for social services.
- Public safety is a top priority for the Port Authority during construction
- Urban Pathways will continue to provide social services for unhoused individuals
- Port Authority agrees to include Urban Pathways in the construction task force
Erik D. Bottcher
0:56:33
What will the Port Authority be doing with respect to a public safety and social service plan to manage the project's multiyear duration and, the installation of sidewalk sheds and construction fencing to ensure that these enclosures are securely maintained and that all sidewalk sheds are safe, well lighted, monitored, and used solely for pedestrian passage.
0:57:02
And what kind of social services will be provided for any unhoused individuals?
Hersh Parekh
0:57:10
Yeah.
0:57:10
So I think it's important that note that we we agree that public safety is of paramount importance.
0:57:16
We want to make sure that the users of the bus terminal, the residents that live around the bus terminal, the businesses that operate around the bus terminal are are kept safe during the course of this construction program.
0:57:29
That is probably, if not our number one priority, really one of our top priorities.
0:57:34
And we will make sure that, our contractors, our staff, everyone that's working with us on this program, keep to that mantra as well, to ensure that, conditions are kept safe, for everyone mentioned.
0:57:47
In terms of the social services plan, we currently, work with an organization called Urban Pathways that works within our existing bus terminal to provide, to support those individuals that are unhoused and and need to be referred to, social services.
0:58:04
And, we expect that that type of service, would continue, on Port Authority property during the course of this program to make sure that any unhoused individuals that are part on the property, that they are referred to the appropriate service providers to get them the help that they need.
Erik D. Bottcher
0:58:22
Would you commit to inviting Urban Pathways to be part of the construction task force?
Hersh Parekh
0:58:30
Yeah.
0:58:30
I mean, I think it's it's safe to say that all of our bus terminal stakeholders, including, Urban Pathways, would be critical in terms of managing, the impacts of the bus terminal construction project.
0:58:43
And so I would expect that Urban Pathways would be a a a key component of that.
0:58:49
And, you know, we will rely on them to help with, addressing that need specifically.
