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] Academy is the third-largest motorcoach operator in the United States and Canada.[2]

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, Academy Bus operates the following routes. Routes are listed by county.[3]

    County Garage Routes Equipment
    Hudson County Hoboken 2, 10, 22, 22X, 23, 88 and 119 NABI 40-SFW 416.15
    Middlesex County Perth Amboy 801, 802, 803, 804, 805, 810, 811, 813, 814, 815, 817, 818, 819 and 822
    Monmouth County Toms River 130, 132, 136 and 139 MCI D-Series coaches
    Ocean County

    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,[4] 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.[5][6] 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.

    Since January 2014, Academy operates the SIM23 and SIM24 (formerly 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.[7]

    Academy formerly operated under contract to Bridj, a private, app-based, on-demand transit service, in the Greater Boston area. [8]

    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.[9]

    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.[10]


    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.[11]


    References

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