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. Academy is the third-largest motorcoach operator in the United States and Canada.
Academy's fleet consists of a variety of motor coaches, including Motor Coach Industries motorcoaches, which are used for commuter and charter services. Nova Bus LFS, RTS, and New Flyer Industries D60LF buses are used for university contracts and charters. Services operated under contract to New Jersey Transit use NJT-owned and branded Nova Bus RTS and North American Bus Industries buses. Many of Academy's Motor Coach Industries and Nova Bus RTS bus fleet are owned by New Jersey Transit and leased to Academy. These NJT-owned buses are Academy-branded and used on services directly controlled by Academy.
Routes
Under contract to NJ Transit
Under contract to New Jersey Transit, Academy Bus operates the following routes. Routes are listed by county.
- Hudson County: 2, 10, 22, 22X, 23, 88, and 119
- Middlesex County: 801-805, 810, 811, 813, 814, 815, 817, 818, 819, 822
- Monmouth and Ocean counties: Academy operates some peak hour trips on NJT's 130, 132, 136, and 139 routes.
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, 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. Despite the loss of shuttle operations, the company continues to provide the chartered bus operations used for tours and other events.
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.
Since January 2014, Academy operates the X23 and X24 routes between Manhattan and Staten Island, formerly operated by the now bankrupt Atlantic Express. These routes are subsidized by and operated under contract to the New York City Economic Development Corporation.
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 under contract Best Bus, which provides intercity buses between New York and the Washington area.
Academy formerly operated under contract to Bridj, a private, app-based, on-demand transit service, in the Greater Boston area.
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.
The full route is shown for each except for branching. Unless otherwise noted, passengers are carried to and from New York only.
NOTES:
- 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.
- 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.
- 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., as well as the state of Florida from Fort Lauderdale to Key West. Go Buses markets its service with amenities such as free WiFi, 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.
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.
References
External links
- Official website
