Almost two years ago, the Jacksonville Economic Development Commission’s Downtown Development Review Board approved a plan to transform the area around the Skyway Station at the Osborn Center into a Regional Transportation Center.
The idea was to consolidate all forms of ground transportation – JTA, Greyhound and Amtrak – in one facility to provide local and long-distance travel options.
The long-distance part of that plan debuted Wednesday when the first Jacksonville-to-Atlanta Megabus loaded up and left with 26 passengers onboard.
The Megabus concept began in 2003 in Scotland to provide travelers with a convenient, low-cost alternative to driving or flying for midrange excursions.
Megabus opened its first U.S. operation in 2006 with a hub in Chicago. The company, a subsidiary of Coach USA, has since expanded to seven hubs, including the latest on West Peachtree Street NW in Atlanta.
“All of our hubs and destinations are in downtown locations. It’s very popular with our passengers,” said Megabus Director Edward Hodgson, who was on hand Wednesday to witness the first departure.
The first ticket sold on all Megabus trips is $1, and then the price per seat increases based on availability and travel demand.
Hodgson said if a customer booked the last seat from Jacksonville to Atlanta the day before departure during the highest-demand travel time of the year, the trip wouldn’t cost more than $35.
Passenger Kelsey Ehret was one of the first Megabus customers in Jacksonville. Before she boarded, Ehret said she was headed for Atlanta to meet some friends and then travel to Nashville.
Making it halfway to her final destination on Megabus made sense, she said.
“I got my ticket for $3.50. I don’t know any cheaper way to travel,” Ehret said.
The coaches are equipped with Wi-Fi, power outlets and restrooms. The Jacksonville-to- Atlanta route is nonstop, so it takes the same amount of time as it would to drive.
Hodgson said the company has surveyed its passengers in other markets and determined that 40 percent chose Megabus over driving their own vehicles.
“They can work on their computer or read a book or watch the scenery or take a nap,” he said.
Megabus service from Jacksonville to Atlanta and Orlando is available seven days a week. For schedule times and tickets, visit www.megabus.com.
Until Dec. 16, Megabus is offering free tickets into and out of its new Atlanta hub, subject to availability. Enter promo code ATL10K when making reservations.
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