BoltBus eyes Manhattan to Riverhead service, to begin as soon as this fall

BoltBus, the discount bus service connecting New York with Philadelphia, Boston, Baltimore and Washington D.C., is eyeing the Long Island market for a new bus line to run between Manhattan and Riverhead, RiverheadLOCAL has learned.

BoltBus, which expanded its operations into the Pacific Northwest this spring, is in discussions with Hampton Luxury Liner on the new Long Island service, which will also stop in Ronkonkoma, according to Michael Schoolman of Hampton Luxury Liner. Schoolman’s company already operates business class coaches on the South Fork and wine tours on the North Fork.

Like Hampton Luxury Liner buses, the Bolt coaches have fewer seats and more legroom, as well as personal power outlets at all seats and free wifi, Schoolman said.

The new service won’t be launched until this fall at the earliest, Schoolman said.

“It’s still in the planning stages,” he said.

BoltBus general manager David Hall confirmed his company is “involved and interested” in the project.

No time schedules or fare schedules have been finalized, Schoolman said. Bolt is known for “its low-cost pricing model,” Schoolman said. For instance, one-way fares from New York to Philadelphia range from $10 to $13. There’s at least one rider on every Bolt bus who pays a fare of just $1, in keeping with the company’s “Bolt for a Buck” slogan.

Schoolman said NYC sees 50 million visitors every year, most of whom don’t have cars. They are eager for short trips to points outside the city, such as Long Island, he said. Riverhead’s attractions — the aquarium, Tanger Outlets, Splish Splash and the wineries — will help lure tourists to the East End.

It will be a boon for the local tourism industry, according to Schoolman, whose wine tour business is growing. On peak weekends last fall it served 600 customers per weekend. He said he’s got six wine tour buses fully booked for this coming weekend.

Hampton Luxury Liner successfully packages transportion, attractions and hotel rooms for tourists visiting other locations and will do the same for the East End, he said. But reliable, affordable and comfortable, frequent transit is an absolute necessity, Schoolman said.

The partners intend to submit a grant application to the L.I. Regional Economic Development Council, seeking funding to help purchase new coaches for the Long Island service, Schoolman said.

The bright orange BoltBus coaches are operated in the Northeast as a joint venture between Greyhound and Peter Pan lines.