New Bus Service Launches from New Brunswick to D.C.

NEW BRUNSWICK, NJ - Looking to get to D.C.? A new bus service just launched this week that leaves right from downtown New Brunswick to Washington, D.C. The company that runs it is called OurBus and it picks up at French/Albany streets, right across from the train station. (The same bus stop that NJ Transit uses.)

It's brand new: OurBus started the service Monday, and the company says they will be stopping in New Brunswick seven days a week, twice a day, in the mornings and evenings. (Check their website for exact pick-up and drop-off times.) The bus originates in Manhattan, stops in New Brunswick and then goes direct to D.C. There are no intermediate stops along the way. Fares range from $16 to $24 for a one-way ticket to D.C. Compare that to an Amtrak ticket, which runs anywhere from $80 to $200.

“Over the past few years, intercity bus services along the Northeast Corridor have exploded in popularity," said Axel Hellman, the bus company's transportation planner. "But even though it’s just 10 minutes from the Turnpike, New Brunswick has been left out. It’s one of the largest cities between New York and Washington that lacks an affordable intercity bus service — until now.”

OurBus has reclining seats, on-board restrooms, complimentary Wi-Fi and individual charging stations.

OurBus launched last May and has been in operation for the past year. The bulk of their business is picking up daily commuters in South Brunswick/Franklin Township and taking them into Port Authority in Manhattan.

OurBus makes three stops for the commuter run along Rt. 27, starting at the Kendall Park park and ride, inside the Green Hill manor apartment complex and lastly, the Kendall Park post office. Morning departures leave the Kendall Park park and ride at 6:55 a.m., and from the Kendall park post office at 7:03 a.m. The return trip leaves from the last stop in Times Square at 6 p.m.

They're calling their New Brunswick-D.C. service OurBus Prime, likely a nod to the success of Amazon Prime.

OurBus is unique because the company is constantly creating and adjusting routes based on commuter demand. For example, they have their customers provide them with their home and work ZIP codes and then use an algorithm to create a direct service for people that live and work near each other.

Commuters who live outside Kendall Park or who commute to other destinations or commute at other times can create a new route by signing up for OurBus, the founders say.

"The faster commuters sign up for OurBus, the faster we will begin serving their communities,” said OurBus founder Narinder Singh. “We have already seen lots of interest from nearby towns such as North Brunswick, Monroe and Edison.”