Giving Compass' Take:
- Dan Zukowski reports on the numerous improvements being made to intercity bus travel in eight major metropolitan areas.
- Why is investment in infrastructure for intercity buses critical? What is the role of philanthropy in improving this infrastructure?
- Learn more about key infrastructure issues and how you can help.
- Search our Guide to Good for nonprofits focused on infrastructure in your area.
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Intercity buses might be called the neglected child of the transportation modes. “If a stakeholder doesn’t ride the bus, they don’t think about the bus,” Kaitie Czuchaj, head of government affairs at Flix North America, said in an interview.
The industry suffered a significant downturn during the COVID-19 pandemic. Even as travel began to return, things got worse for bus riders in some cities. Greyhound’s acquisition by FlixMobility in 2021 did not include most of its bus stations, leaving many riders to stand on the curb waiting for their bus to arrive from a distant city.
C&J Bus Lines owner and President Jim Jalbert is not a fan of curbside bus stops for intercity buses. “What kind of experience is it for a customer who sits out in inclement weather on a street corner … or who has to wait in the cold and doesn’t have a safe environment from which to travel to and from?” he asks.
Lately, intercity bus ridership is on the upswing. In 2023, intercity buses carried about 75% more passengers than Amtrak, 50 million compared with 28.5 million. Buses also reach more than three times as many destinations.
A 2024 report from the U.S. Department of Transportation’s Climate Change Center pointed out this mode’s benefits: “competitive pricing, flexible schedules, and a viable alternative for those seeking to reduce their environmental impact.”
The report also notes that “Successful intercity bus networks rely on strong local, State, and private sector collaboration.” It recommends state and local agencies consider investing in bus stops with adequate shelter and amenities as well as transit hubs allowing easy transfers among transportation modes.
Some intercity bus lines own bus stations. C&J, which serves New Hampshire and Massachusetts with routes to New York City, owns its primary terminal in Portsmouth, New Hampshire; it also completed a terminal facility in Seabrook, New Hampshire, in 2020. C&J also uses South Station in Boston and the Port Authority terminal in New York City. “The flexibility of bus — both in the urbanized and non-urbanized areas — is critical,” Jalbert said.
Read the full article about intercity buses by Dan Zukowski at Smart Cities Dive.