Academy Bus Lines

Academy Bus Lines is a bus company in New Jersey providing local bus services in northern New Jersey, line-run services to/from New York City from points in southern and central New Jersey, and contract and charter service in the eastern United States from Boston to Miami. In 2014, Academy acquired Go Buses, which currently operates bus service between Boston and Washington, D.C., and in southern Florida.[1] On September 27, 2023, Academy acquired James River Transportation, which operates in Virginia. [2]Academy is the third-largest motorcoach operator in the United States and Canada.[3]

Academy Bus Lines
A 2019-model Prévost H3-45 in Columbia Commuter Shuttle service
Founded1968
HeadquartersHoboken, New Jersey
LocaleEastern United States
Service areaEastern United States
Service typeLocal and commuter bus service, contract service, charter service
OperatorAcademy Lines LLC
No. 22 Hillside LLC
Academy Express LLC
Academy Bus LLC (Florida)
Chief executiveFrancis Tedesco
Websitewww.academybus.com

Academy's fleet consists of a variety of motor coaches, including MCI D4500 (in the process of being retired), MCI J4500, Van Hool CX35, Van Hool CX45, and Van Hool C2045 motorcoaches, which are used for commuter and charter services. Nova Bus LFS and New Flyer Industries low floor buses are used for university contracts and charters, such as Columbia Transportation. Services operated under contract to New Jersey Transit use NJT-owned (and branded) North American Bus Industries buses.

Routes

Under contract to NJ Transit

Under contract to New Jersey Transit (NJT), Academy Bus operates the following routes using NJT-owned equipment. Routes are listed by county.[4] NJT did not renew its contract with Academy following a fraud settlement with Academy.[5][6]

Current

County Garage Routes Equipment Notes
Monmouth County Toms River 130, 132, 136, 139 2017-2020 MCI D4500CT Operates alongside NJ Transit during peak hours.

Route 132 is now the 139E (139 Englishtown)

Ocean County
Hudson County Hoboken 24 2008-2013 NABI 416.15 Operates alongside NJ Transit temporarily until NJ Transit has enough operators.

Former

County Garage Routes Equipment Notes
Hudson County Hoboken 2, 10, 22, 22X, 23, 88 and 119 2012 NABI 416.15 Service was taken over by Coach USA Elizabeth (ONE Bus) in June 2021.[7]
Middlesex County Perth Amboy 801, 802, 803, 804, 805, 810, 811, 813, 814, 815, 817, 818, 819 and 822 Service was taken over by Coach USA Suburban Trails in January 2021.

Other contract operations

Under contract to Rutgers University, Academy Bus operated the campus shuttles for the New Brunswick and Piscataway campuses under a 10-year contract,[8] until June 30, 2011, after which time First Transit Services, Inc. took over operations of the Rutgers Campus Buses. Academy has filed a lawsuit against the university over the loss of the contract.[9][10] Despite the loss of shuttle operations, the company continues to provide the chartered bus operations used for tours and other events.

Academy operates Columbia Transportation for Columbia University, using both Columbia-branded transit buses and Academy-branded coaches.

Academy continues to run a separate operation in New York City for New York University and various operations for universities in southern Connecticut and around Boston. Also, Academy Bus operates long-term parking shuttles around Newark Liberty Airport under contract to the Port Authority of New York and New Jersey using Port Authority-owned and branded Orion VII buses.

In January 2014, Academy began operation of the SIM23 and SIM24 (formerly X23 and X24) routes between Manhattan and Staten Island, formerly operated by the now bankrupt Atlantic Express. These routes were subsidized by and operated under contract to the New York City Economic Development Corporation. Effective January 3, 2022, operations of the two routes transferred to the MTA, with minor changes to the operating times and routing.[11]

As of October 1, 2014, Academy operates the MTA Maryland Commuter Express routes #410, #411, & #420 under contract to and using MTA Maryland owned buses. The #820 was also awarded by MTA Maryland and began operations on July 1, 2015.

Academy operates shuttle buses for Tri-Rail in Florida and operates various private and public community shuttles on behalf of municipalities and private communities throughout its service area.

Academy operated under contract BestBus, which provides intercity buses between New York and the Washington area.[12] BestBus was acquired by competitor DC Trails.

In 2013, Academy began a contract with the Carolina Hurricanes of the National Hockey League to run shuttles on game days from carrying spectators from local restaurants serving Pepsi to PNC Arena, the team's arena. The buses are free of charge for patrons who purchase Pepsi-branded drinks at partner restaurants.[13]

Academy formerly operated under contract to Bridj, a private, app-based, on-demand transit service, in the Greater Boston area.[14]

Directly controlled commuter routes

Academy Bus provides commuter line run service along several routes from Burlington, Mercer, Middlesex, Monmouth, and Ocean counties in New Jersey.[15]

The full route is shown for each except for branching. Unless otherwise noted, passengers are carried to and from New York only.

Route Terminals Via Notes
Line 300 New York
Port Authority Bus Terminal
East Windsor
Windsor Heights Shopping Center
  • Local passengers carried between East Windsor and Monroe.
  • Full-time service. Off-peak service operated by Suburban Trails.
  • Most service continues on to East Midtown during the AM rush only.

AM
----

PM
Plainsboro
Town Center
  • New Jersey Turnpike
  • Plainsboro Road
  • Peak service only.
  • Clearbrook served daily on the East Windsor service.
  • Most service continues on to East Midtown during the AM rush only.
Jamesburg
The Ponds, Concordia, and Whittingham
Sayreville New York
East Midtown via 5/Madison Avenues
Sayreville
Winding Woods
Garden State Parkway
Main Street
Washington Road
Bordentown Avenue
  • Peak service only.
New York
Wall Street area
Sayreville
Harbor Club
  • Weekday service only.
Route 91 New York
Wall Street area
Lakewood Bus Terminal
  • Route 9
  • Peak service only.
  • During the height of rush hour, three services operate:
    • Old Bridge to Union Hill Road only.
    • Gordon's Corner to Lakewood.
    • Jackson to Lakewood.
Shore Points New York
Port Authority Bus Terminal
Point Pleasant Beach
Railroad station
  • Garden State Parkway
  • Lincroft Park-Ride (Exit 109)
  • Route 35
  • Ocean Avenue
  • Route 71
  • Via Chesequeake and PNC Bank Arts Center park-rides.
  • Local passengers are carried between Asbury Park and Lincroft.
  • Wall Street service operates during peak hours only.
  • Weekday midday service does not travel south of Asbury Park.
  • Weekend service does not travel south of Ocean Grove.
  • Jersey Shore Premium Outlets service also interlined on both weekdays and weekends to operate via Cheesequake and Lincroft.
New York
Wall Street area

AM
----

PM
Route 36 New York
Port Authority Bus Terminal
Long Branch
Railroad station
  • Via Airport Plaza in Hazlet and Chesequeake Park-Ride.
  • Local passengers are carried between Hazlet and Long Branch.
  • Wall Street service operates during peak hours only.
New York
Wall Street area

AM
----

PM
Route 35 New York
Port Authority Bus Terminal
Red Bank
Route 35 and Navesink River Road
  • Peak service only.
  • Via Airport Plaza in Hazlet and Chesequeake Park-Ride.
Parkway Express Forked River
Park and Ride
  • Garden State Parkway
  • CR 549 (some trips)
  • Peak service only.
  • Also serves Jersey City.
  • Some lower Manhattan service operates via Jersey City.
  • Weekday Midday service from Monmouth Service Area, Lincroft and Cheesequake operated as part of their Manchester-Jackson service.
  • See Note 2 below for Toms River and Route 549 service.
New York
Wall Street area
Westampton New York
Port Authority Bus Terminal
  • Willingboro
    Van Sciver Parkway (peak)
  • Westampton
    Exit 5 park-ride (full-time)
  • New Jersey Turnpike
  • Exit 5
  • Mount Holly Road
  • Sunset Road
  • Wall Street via Jersey City service operates during peak hours only.
  • AM rush service to midtown continues to East Midtown.
  • Willingboro served during peak hours only.
New York
Wall Street area

AM
----

PM

NOTES:

  1. Route 9 service via Academy is provided to lower Manhattan only (except for service via Jackson, which is available to midtown Manhattan). Route 9 service to midtown (except Jackson service) is provided on the 139 full-time.
  2. Toms River and Route 549 service via Academy is only provided to lower Manhattan. Toms River service to midtown Manhattan is provided on the 137 line full-time.
  3. All service via the Garden State Parkway (except for Route 9) operates via the Cheesequake park and ride. Shore Points and Parkway Express services also stop at the PNC Bank Arts Center.

Casino line runs

Academy Bus operates several regularly scheduled line services from points in the New York metropolitan area to and from casinos in Atlantic City, Yonkers, and Connecticut, with service to the Port Authority Bus Terminal operated in partnership with Coach USA as a Megabus service, the M25 (buses carry Academy markings).

Go Buses

Academy Bus runs an intercity bus common carrier service under the "Go Buses" brand, servicing the Northeast United States from Boston to Washington, D.C.. Go Buses markets its service with amenities such as free Wi-Fi, electrical outlets, and a free bottle of water upon boarding, along with a frequent rider rewards program. Offering tickets as low as $5 per one-way trip, Go Buses competes with other low-cost intercity bus services, such as Megabus, BoltBus, and various Chinatown bus lines. Academy Bus acquired Go Buses in 2014.[16]

Corporate structure

Academy Bus, LLC is a limited liability corporation and holding company that owns three operating companies: Academy Lines, LLC, Academy Express, LLC, and No. 22 Hillside Corporation.[17]

See also

References

  1. "Federal Register - Academy Express, L.L.C.-Acquisition of the Properties of Go Bus LLC and Its Affiliate, MCIZ Corp". Retrieved May 10, 2015.
  2. "Academy Bus acquired James River Transportation in Virginia". m.facebook.com. Retrieved September 28, 2023.
  3. Roman, Alex (January 25, 2016). "2015 Top 50 Motorcoach Fleets Survey". Metro. Retrieved January 29, 2016.
  4. http://www.njtransit.com New Jersey Transit - Bus
  5. Goldman, Jeff (February 11, 2022). "Academy Bus to pay $20.5M after being accused of defrauding NJ Transit for years". NJ.com.
  6. Higgs, Larry (March 15, 2022). "After settling fraud case, NJ Transit denies $48M contracts with Academy Bus". NJ.com.
  7. Higgs, Larry (June 9, 2021). "New bus company will take over NJ Transit routes in busy N.J. County". NJ.com.
  8. "Middlesex County Comprehensive Transportation Study Final Report Appendix" (PDF). Archived from the original (PDF) on February 4, 2007.  (224 KiB)
  9. "Academy Bus of Hoboken sues Rutgers University". NJ.com. Associated Press. December 15, 2010.
  10. Malwitz, Rick (December 13, 2010). "Contractor sues Rutgers over loss of bus contract". myCentralJersey.com. Archived from the original on October 3, 2012.
  11. Metropolitan Transportation Authority, MTA to Take Over Operation of SIM23 and SIM24 Bus Routes on Staten Island Starting Jan. 3, 2022, 12/27/2021
  12. DC2NY BECOMES BESTBUS! WHOM YOU KNOW SAYS, THAT'S BECAUSE THEY ARE! New markets for BestBus Coming Soon will include Manassas, Virginia; Silver Spring, Maryland and Baltimore in addition to the markets and stops served by DC2NY in the District of Columbia, Virginia, New York and Delaware.
  13. "Pepsi Caniac Coach". www.caniaccoach.com. Retrieved April 5, 2021.
  14. Johnston, Katie (May 13, 2014). "Pop-up bus service Bridj to launch test runs June 2 - The Boston Globe". The Boston Globe. Retrieved October 5, 2016.
  15. Academy Bus commuter schedules
  16. "Academy Express, L.L.C.-Acquisition of the Properties of Go Bus LLC and Its Affiliate, MCIZ Corp". Federal Register. September 24, 2014. Retrieved October 17, 2018.
  17. National Labor Relations Board, "CASE 22-RC-12287" (PDF)., December 18, 2002

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