Paramus, NJ – Coach USA today announced that O.N.E. Bus routes 24, 31, and 44, which run in East Orange, Orange City, Newark, and Essex County, will be discontinued effective October 8, 2023.
Dan Rodriguez, Vice President of Public Affairs at Coach USA said, “We attempted to find a solution that would allow service to continue but none prevailed.” He went on to say, “Routes managed by operators such as O.N.E Bus, DeCamp Bus Lines, and A&C Bus Corp are legacy lines that in most cases were created long before the New Jersey Transit was, as years progressed and costs went up, became increasingly difficult to make financially viable and fully operational. We have attempted every course of action to have prevented this, but without government assistance there is no alternative.”
Newel Scoon, Vice President of the East for Coach USA added, “We attempted to run uninterrupted service on those lines, but with decrease in ridership, driver shortages, inflationary pressures on all operating expenses, and our strong desire in providing the most affordable mode of transportation, it simply became untenable to continue.”
Mr. Scoon continued, “We are acutely aware of the importance of these lines to those in the communities we have been serving, but there is simply no way we can continue to do so. O.N.E.
Bus operates very similarly to New Jersey Transit but with a key distinction: We are not provided with an operating subsidy. In an environment with consistently lower passenger counts and higher incurred costs, the losses are substantial. Revenue only covers about half of the current cost of operating the service.”
Mr. Rodriguez noted that Coach USA “will continue to work with state and other officials so as to make the change less impactful on those customers affected by it.”
Coach USA has operated the O.N.E. Bus service and has managed bus routes in the Newark, New Jersey area for well over thirty years. The current O.N.E. Bus service consists of 3 routes: number 24, number 44, and number 31.
Coach USA has given notice to its unions, New Jersey Transit, the Governor’s office, and elected officials who represent the affected areas. Coach USA is also in the process of informing the customers of this service of the impending changes. All other existing Coach USA routes continue to operate as scheduled and this announcement does not impact any other Coach USA service.
About Coach USA:
Coach USA is one of the nation’s largest passenger transportation companies where the top priority is the safety of its customers and employees. We operate 2,250 vehicles and have more than 3,000 employees who serve millions of passengers. Coach USA provides critical local and intercity transport services for communities throughout the United States and Canada via Coach Canada.
Coach USA also owns and operates Megabus, which provides affordable, express bus service for intercity travel. Since launching in 2006, Megabus has served more than 50 million customers throughout more than 500 cities across the nation. Coach USA is partnered with Truckers Against Trafficking through their Bussing on the Lookout (BOTL) program. This comprehensive program equips all drivers, supervisors, managers, and dispatchers with the knowledge to identify and report potential signs of human trafficking. Coach USA is proud that its CEO, Derrick Waters has been selected to serve on the United States Department of Transportation Advisory Committee on Human Trafficking (ACHT).
