Academy Bus Lines
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![]() A 2019-model Prévost H3-45 in Columbia Commuter Shuttle service | |
Founded | 1968 |
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Headquarters | Hoboken, New Jersey |
Locale | Eastern United States |
Service area | Eastern United States |
Service type | Local and commuter bus service, contract service, charter service |
Operator | Academy Lines LLC No. 22 Hillside LLC Academy Express LLC Academy Bus LLC (Florida) |
Chief executive | Francis Tedesco |
Website | academybus.com |
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'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 for Hudson and Middlesex Counties following a fraud settlement with Academy.[5][6]
Current
County | Garage | Routes | Equipment | Notes |
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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 | ||||
Bergen County and Passaic County | Hackensack | 702, 705, 707, 709, 722, 744, 746, 748, 751, 752, 753, 755, 756, 758, 762, 772, 780 | 2012 NABI 416.15 | Was originally operated by CoachUSA Community Coach until they became bankrupt. Routes were transferred to Academy Bus on August 17, 2024. |
Former
County | Garage | Routes | Equipment | Notes |
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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. NJT took over these routes in 2022 and 2024.[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. | |
Hudson County | Hoboken | 24 | 2008-2013 NABI 416.15 | Operated alongside NJ Transit, until NJT had enough operators. Academy temporarily operated from October to December 2023. |
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.
In July of 2022, Academy Bus took over operations of Disney World's Cruise Line Bus route. This service was previously done by Mears Transportation, until they lost the contract in June of 2022.[12] Academy Bus also added a new Disney World Sunshine Flyer service in November of 2022. [13]
As of September 27, 2023 Academy bus operates Amtrak Thruway Service between Charlottesville to Richmond, Virginia. This service was previously operated by James River Transportation, which was acquired that same day.
On June 17, 2024, Academy Bus took over EZRide from Paul Revere Transportation. Academy Bus increased service, while adding new Eldorado buses to run the service. [14]
Academy operated under contract BestBus, which provides intercity buses between New York and the Washington area.[15] 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.[16]
Academy formerly operated under contract to Bridj, a private, app-based, on-demand transit service, in the Greater Boston area.[17]
Academy Bus also provides Uber shuttle bus service, as of July 2024.[18]
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.[19]
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 | ||
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Line 300 | New York Port Authority Bus Terminal | ↔ | East Windsor Windsor Heights Shopping Center |
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← AM ---- → PM | Plainsboro Town Center |
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Jamesburg The Ponds, Concordia, and Whittingham |
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Sayreville | New York East Midtown via 5/Madison Avenues | Sayreville Winding Woods | Garden State Parkway Main Street Washington Road Bordentown Avenue |
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New York Wall Street area | Sayreville Harbor Club |
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Route 91 | New York Wall Street area | Lakewood Bus Terminal |
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Shore Points | New York Port Authority Bus Terminal | ↔ | Point Pleasant Beach Railroad station |
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New York Wall Street area | ← AM ---- → PM | ||||
Route 36 | New York Port Authority Bus Terminal | ↔ | Long Branch Railroad station |
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New York Wall Street area | ← AM ---- → PM | ||||
Route 35 | New York Port Authority Bus Terminal | Red Bank Route 35 and Navesink River Road |
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Parkway Express | Forked River Park and Ride |
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New York Wall Street area | |||||
Westampton | New York Port Authority Bus Terminal | ↔ |
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New York Wall Street area | ← AM ---- → PM |
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.. 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.[20]
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.[21]
Gallery
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- An NJT-owned, Academy-operated 2003-model MCI D4000 Commuter Coach in Lower Manhattan. This bus has since retired.
- A 2003-model MCI D4500 Commuter Coach on the SIM23 Staten Island-Manhattan express route, a formerly Academy-operated route. This bus has since been replaced with Van Hool CX45 and C2045 models. The route was given to MTA NYCT in 2022.
- A 2017-model MCI D4500CT Commuter Coach operating on the Parkway Express route that goes to the Jersey Shore
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- A New Flyer D60LF in Boston University's CRC & MED Campus shuttle service
See also
References
- ^ "Federal Register - Academy Express, L.L.C.-Acquisition of the Properties of Go Bus LLC and Its Affiliate, MCIZ Corp". Retrieved May 10, 2015.
- ^ "Academy Bus acquired James River Transportation in Virginia". m.facebook.com. Retrieved September 28, 2023.
- ^ Roman, Alex (January 25, 2016). "2015 Top 50 Motorcoach Fleets Survey". Metro. Retrieved January 29, 2016.
- ^ http://www.njtransit.com New Jersey Transit - Bus
- ^ Goldman, Jeff (February 11, 2022). "Academy Bus to pay $20.5M after being accused of defrauding NJ Transit for years". NJ.com.
- ^ Higgs, Larry (March 15, 2022). "After settling fraud case, NJ Transit denies $48M contracts with Academy Bus". NJ.com.
- ^ Higgs, Larry (June 9, 2021). "New bus company will take over NJ Transit routes in busy N.J. County". NJ.com.
- ^ "Middlesex County Comprehensive Transportation Study Final Report Appendix" (PDF). Archived from the original (PDF) on February 4, 2007. (224 KiB)
- ^ "Academy Bus of Hoboken sues Rutgers University". NJ.com. Associated Press. December 15, 2010.
- ^ Malwitz, Rick (December 13, 2010). "Contractor sues Rutgers over loss of bus contract". myCentralJersey.com. Archived from the original on October 3, 2012.
- ^ Metropolitan Transportation Authority, MTA to Take Over Operation of SIM23 and SIM24 Bus Routes on Staten Island Starting Jan. 3, 2022, 12/27/2021
- ^ "Academy Begins Disney Cruise Line Contract Service | Expands Disney Relationship with Cruise Line Service". academybus.com. Retrieved November 14, 2023.
- ^ "Academy Bus Tapped to Supplement Sunshine Flyer Fleet in Orlando, FL | Academy Bus to Provide Motorcoaches and Drivers to Support New Orlando International Airport to Disney Resort Transportation Service". academybus.com. Retrieved November 14, 2023.
- ^ Academy Bus Lines [@academybus] (June 18, 2024). "Academy Bus takeover of EZRIDE Instagram". Boston. Retrieved June 18, 2024 – via Instagram.
- ^ 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.
- ^ "Pepsi Caniac Coach". www.caniaccoach.com. Retrieved April 5, 2021.
- ^ 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.
- ^ "Instagram". www.instagram.com. Retrieved July 23, 2024.
- ^ Academy Bus commuter schedules
- ^ "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.
- ^ National Labor Relations Board, "CASE 22-RC-12287" (PDF).[permanent dead link], December 18, 2002
External links
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- Official website
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40°45′24″N 74°01′57″W / 40.75672°N 74.03250°W / 40.75672; -74.03250