Megabus Expands Service to L.A. With $1 Fares

Megabus, a city-to-city express transportation company offering double-decker service to San Francisco and Las Vegas, is returning to Los Angeles.

Starting Dec. 12, Megabus.com will offer frequent daily departures from its arrival/departure location at Union Station's Patsaouras Transit Plaza in bus bay No. 1, near the plaza entrance from Vignes Street.

Megabus.com, a subsidiary of Coach USA, operated in Los Angeles for about a year, starting in 2007, but ended its service because of a lack of demand.

"We've seen impressive growth throughout North America and are confident that our twenty-first century double-decker buses with Wi-Fi and power outlets, combined with our outstanding prices, will be a success among Los Angeles residents," said company spokesman Mike Alvich.

The company estimates 247,000 travelers will visit the Los Angeles metro area during the company’s first year serving the region.

L.A. residents will be able to travel to and from San Francisco, Las Vegas, Oakland and San Jose. Fares start at $1 every day and increase to up to $40 as the traveling date gets closer.

During the first week of travel between Dec. 12 and Dec. 19, all tickets will be $1.

For a Gold Line riding Highland Park resident, a trip to San Francisco would cost $3--including Metro fare and service fees--if purchased at an early enough date. 

Megabus.com will also stop in Riverside, and company officials said they will consider additional stops in Los Angeles County areas in the future.

"Tourism is a leading industry in Los Angeles that has enjoyed solid visitation growth over the last two years," said Don Skeoch, chief marketing officer for the tourism and convention board, in a press release.

"San Francisco's our number one visitor to L.A.," said Carol Martinez, spokeswoman for the tourism and convention board, talking to Patch Wednesday afternoon. "So anything that makes it easier for people from San Francisco to get from that city to L.A. is wonderful. We think that with more travelers being conscious of their impact on the environment [and] to travel green, that Megabus is a good alternative for travel."

For more information on schedules, services, times and fares, visit megabus.com.

To find your Metro stops and schedule to get to Union Station, click here.