At a time when filling up the tank breaks the bank, Baton Rouge is receiving a bonus.
Megabus, the popular city-to-city express bus company, begins its daily service to and from Baton Rouge today. The bus travels round trip to New Orleans and Houston from the Capital City.
Fares for Megabus travel start as low as $1 every day and increase as traveling dates draw nearer.
For customers coming from New Orleans to Baton Rouge, the cheapest fare and earliest departure is 12:15 a.m., followed by 7:30 a.m. and 4:15 p.m. The earliest bus from Baton Rouge to New Orleans departs at 4 a.m., then at 12:45 p.m. and 9:15 p.m. The prices vary daily.
While some commuters believe Megabus will do a lot for the commuter struggle, others disagree.
“The roundtrip between New Orleans and Baton Rouge would cost $54 — about $27 each way, which is completely ludicrous,” said biology instructor Adam Hrincevich, who commutes twice a week from New Orleans to Baton Rouge. “Then, you run into the issue of still having to take a taxi between the drop-off location and LSU campus, which would probably be about $8 each way. So, a roundtrip fare comes out to about $70 a day.”
Hrincevich said that the drive is his “down time,” and a chance to catch up on world news, music and look through his lecture notes when there is traffic.
The bus company offers state-of-the-art, green-certified, double-decker buses with free Wi-Fi, restrooms and wheelchair accessibility.
The arrival and departure location is at the old State National Life Building at 224 Florida St.
“The bus would be helpful for people like me, whose families live in New Orleans or have work in New Orleans during the week,” said child and family studies sophomore and New Orleans Saintsation dancer Kate-Lyne Hecker. “It sounds great for out-of-state students who don’t have cars and want to visit the city, too.”
Megabus Vice President of Marketing and Public Relations Mike Alvich said the company is excited to become a part of Baton Rouge and to help residents who are looking for ways to stretch their dollars even further because of increasing gas prices.