At the end of every semester, hundreds of Brown students trek to Kennedy Plaza to begin their journeys home. This year, Peter Pan Bus Lines is making the trip easier by offering a pick-up location on Brown's campus.
Peter Pan buses are stopping three times a day every Friday, Saturday and Sunday at the corner of Brook and Power streets, said Tony Andrade, operations manager for Bonanza Bus Lines, a Providence-based company that is owned by Peter Pan Bus Lines. The bus brings students to the Peter Pan Bus Station in Providence. There, students can buy discounted tickets to Boston's Logan Airport, Springfield, Mass., Hartford, Conn., and New York City.
Andrade said he contacted University officials about bringing Peter Pan bus service to College Hill.
Regarding the inspiration for the change, Andrade said, "We felt we would serve the community better by serving Brown students." Also, he added that the change is a way to "pump up the business."
Abigail Rider, director of real estate and administrative services, could not be reached for comment regarding Brown's role in coordinating the service.
The extra service began before Thanksgiving break and was announced in Morning Mail as a temporary change for Thanksgiving-related travel. However, Andrade said the company will "run the service even when the kids aren't on campus."
Andrade said he does not yet know the number of Brown students who took advantage of the on-campus pick-up over Thanksgiving break. However, he estimates there were about eight to 10 students per trip.
Traveling by bus is cheaper than traveling by air or train. A ticket from Providence to New York City, for example, costs around $63 roundtrip. A one-way trip to Boston's Logan Airport is $22.
Kate Taylor '10, who frequently takes Greyhound Lines buses to Boston, said Peter Pan's on-campus service "seems like a nice convenience for Brown students." She plans to take advantage of the service in the future, though she said, "Amtrak is more comfortable."
Reva Gaur '07, who lives on the corner of Brook and Williams streets, said she may be more inclined to use Peter Pan bus service now that the on-campus pick-up is in effect.
"The stop is really close to where I live, so it would be really convenient for me to take it," she said.
