$1 Megabus Service Headed To Downtown Jacksonville

[thelakelander]

New bus service promises rides to Atlanta, Orlando for $1

A low-fare bus company has announced plans to provide service to Orlando and Atlanta from Jacksonville.

The company is called Megabus.com, and claims in a press release that riders can get to those cities from Jacksovnille "for as low as $1."

With Atlanta as its Southeastern hub, Megabus.com said it will begin providing service to and from 11 cities, including Jacksonville, beginning Nov. 16.

One daily departure to Orlando and one to Atlanta will leave from the Jacksonville Skyway Convention Center, 1093 W. Forsyth St.

Travelers can book seats at Megabus.com. Booking early secures the $1 fare. Ticket prices increase progressively as the day of travel nears.

Megabus.com is a subsidiary of Coach USA, a company launched in April 2006 to provide intercity express bus service in North America. In addition to low fares, it boasts "state-of-the-art environmentally-friendly buses with free Wi-Fi, power outlets and restrooms," its news release said.

Visit www.megabus.com fare, schedule and other information.

http://jacksonville.com/opinion/blog/400669/jeff-brumley/2011-10-25/new-bus-service-promises-rides-atlanta-orlando-1

[JeffreyS]

The Megabus between Chicago and Saint Louis is great.  This could be a good service.

[thelakelander]

My family members claim the one between Chicago and Detroit is pretty good as well.  Those tickets hover around $10 or so.

[Dashing Dan]

One daily departure to Orlando and one to Atlanta will leave from the Jacksonville Skyway Convention Center, 1093 W. Forsyth St.

So the Megabus will be picking up and dropping off somewhere in the middle of the JRTC site? 

How's that going to work?

[JeffreyS]

According to the website it will drop off at a MARTA site in Atlanta.

[Ernest Street]

What do the prices typically reach near the day of departure? I heard $10.....anyone?

[thelakelander]

You can put in departure and return dates to various destinations here.

http://us.megabus.com/Default.aspx

The price tonight for a ticket leaving Detroit tomorrow to travel to Chicago is $25.  It drops to $15 for a ticket on Saturday.  That trip between those two cities is 5hr 40min.

[JeffreyS]

Jax to Atlanta Nov. 16th $1.

[tufsu1]

One daily departure to Orlando and one to Atlanta will leave from the Jacksonville Skyway Convention Center, 1093 W. Forsyth St.

So the Megabus will be picking up and dropping off somewhere in the middle of the JRTC site? 

How's that going to work?

best guess is that it works better than the Red Coach did in stopping near the airport.

[ProjectMaximus]

I was on the phone when I saw this subject on metrojacksonville and my friend thought I was having a heart attack. I was in Chicago when megabus was introduced to America with their first hub in Chicago. I've taken it to St Louis and Detroit as mentioned by a few folks above. This is not hyperbole whatsoever when I say that since moving back to Jax I've watched ruefully as megabus expanded all over the northeast, and even stretched down into North Carolina (I took it from Raleigh to DC last month...$2.50 round trip), thinking that all this expansion is awesome but it's all so faraway. I've considered the possibility of megabus coming to Jax, but figured that was a year or two away from  being feasible, if ever.

So yes, this was a shock to my system, and in the corniest of ways it's a dream come true. Megabus is sweet!

They've stepped up their safety precautions ever since that horrible accident in NY. They've maintained a choice clientele...pretty much all college kids, young professionals, occasional middle-aged business person and every once in a blue moon, an elderly couple traveling together to visit the grandkids or something. I don't know how their business model works but they clearly have expanded carefully after an epic failure out on the west coast. They do deter more undesirable riders by pretty much requiring internet access and a credit card to be able to purchase a seat. And they keep overhead to a minimum by having no physical ticket offices or bus platforms of any sort (except in DC starting next year) So somehow it works, despite the fact that I've been on at least three or four trips on megabus with fewer than 10 people on the bus!

Other thoughts and answers to a few questions:
-prices that I've seen top out at about $35. Don't think megabus specifically has ever been higher.
-if you're planning well in advance, it shouldn't be hard to find a $5/$10 seat unless it's a high traffic day like Fri or Sun eve or holidays. The $1 are nearly impossible unless you check right when they first open a new set of available dates for travel.
-the buses pick up on the side of the road or empty parking lots. Literally no cost other than simple signage. This way, there's no rent cost. On the other hand, many other travel companies arent terrible pleased with this arrangement. Large lines of people on some random corner near a major landmark or travel hub.
-they appear to have one electrical outlet for every seat (some of the others bus companies do not have that many)
-despite my allegiance to megabus, I think that boltbus (one of the main competitors) is nicer. But it's network is limited to the northeast: DC-Philly-NYC-Boston
-they used to make rest stops for food and bathroom, but they seem to have eliminated those, at least for trips under 5 hours.

Bottom line: This is great! I'm not sure how successful it will be but I have a feeling these routes will be viable. At least compared to some of their other services (like I said before, I'm not sure how any of their business is profitable) They're not afraid to discontinue if it doesn't work, but they're also very careful and particular about their routes so the fact they've moved into this market means there's a good chance for success. Notice they didn't connect Jax to Gainesville. It's either ATL-GNV-ORL or ATL-JAX-ORL

[TheProfessor]

Very exciting.  if you purt in promo code ATL10k the trips are free between Nov 16- Dec 16th!

[fsujax]

Megabus will picking up at the Convention Center Skyway station. There is an empty bus bay there and that is what they will be using. They have been working with JTA on this for about a month now.

[blizz01]

So what would be the optimal (overnight/multi-day) parking scenario?  King Street garage & take the Skyway to the Convention Center station?

[tufsu1]

I would think parking at the JTA lots near the station might make more sense....perhaps JTA can set up a lot (or portion of a lot) that is based on daily fees vs. monthly passes.

[fsujax]

From what I hear parking will be provided in the Johnson st skyway lot.