Traveling nonstop from Waukegan to Chicago’s Loop or downtown Milwaukee for as little as $10 while reclining in a leather seat on a luxury bus is about to become a reality this summer.
GPGO Charters, a charter bus company based in San Antonio for the past 15 years is debuting a scheduled passenger service with six Midwestern routes, including one from Chicago to Madison, Wisconsin.
Jonathon Schneider, the company’s communications manager, said the stops along the Chicago-Madison route are Waukegan, Milwaukee and Sun Prairie, Wisconsin, creating nonstop service for people in the Waukegan area to both Chicago and Milwaukee.
“We’ve sensed a need for this in the Midwest as legacy carriers are leaving the area,” Schneider said. “We have reclining leather seats with armrests. There is Wi-Fi and bathrooms. Our buses aren’t more than 5 years old.”
A more than 10-year veteran of the transportation industry, company President Mark Thronson said in an email current conditions create an opportunity to make a move into scheduled passenger service.
“This is a very unique time for the industry,” Thronson said in the email. “We’ve sensed a need, and with our expansive network and a significant investment in technology, we’re building a program to meet this demand. (This) will bring a new, comfortable and efficient travel alternative to the region while also enhancing connectivity throughout.”
Passengers will board and depart the bus at the Waukegan train station. Schneider said he estimates the cost between Waukegan and Chicago will be around $10. The ride to Milwaukee will likely be between $10 and $19. Costs are still being determined.
Tickets can be purchased online or over the phone using the GOGO app. Schneider said depending on traffic, the trip should take approximately 1 hour and 45 minutes. A customer using their phone will know if the bus is on time.
“They’ll definitely know if there is a delay,” he said. “There’s live tracking on the app.”
By contrast, a train ride between Chicago and Waukegan costs $7.50 and the travel time is 90 minutes, according to the Metra website.
Initially, Schneider said he anticipates there will be at least one bus per day in each direction on the Chicago-Madison route, but two is a definite possibility. There could be more on a weekend if Green Bay Packers fans are trying to get from Milwaukee to Chicago for a game.
Waukegan Mayor Ann Taylor said she is happy to see the new bus service for city residents. It creates something currently not available, offers monetary savings and adds convenience. There are also environmental benefits.
“It’s really good for people, especially seniors, who want to go to Chicago (or Milwaukee) and don’t want to drive,” Taylor said. “They don’t have to worry about parking, or pay to park their car. With all the construction, it gets cars off the road and it’s a more pleasant trip for everyone.”
Once in Chicago, people can connect to two other routes, according to a GOGO press release. One goes to Indianapolis with a stop in Lafayette, Indiana, and another to Detroit with stops in South Bend, Indiana, and Ann Arbor, Michigan.
Other routes include one from Indianapolis and Columbus, Ohio, with a stop in Dayton, Ohio, and another from Columbus to Cleveland stopping in Akron, Ohio. A Cleveland to Detroit trip stops in Toledo, Ohio.
