DePaul study: Motorcoaches surging in popularity

Research conducted by the Chaddick Institute for Metropolitan Development at DePaul University found that the number of scheduled runs or bus departures across the nation has jumped about 13 percent since February 2006.  

The study, “The Return of the Intercity Bus: The Decline and Revival of Scheduled Service to American Cities, 1960-2007,” authored by Joseph P. Schweiterman and several researchers, attributed the increase to new players entering the field — most notably Megabus Inc. in the Midwest.  

Additionally, the study also cited the increase in the number of routes and departures offered by other regional lines, as well as Greyhound Lines' $60 million equipment and facility overhaul, which enhanced the quality of its passenger service. The increase, the study found, comes on the heels of a dramatic and painful period of decline that resulted in the loss of more than two-thirds of all services nationally.  

The study is available at: www.depaul.edu/~chaddick.