Jefferson Lines

Jefferson Lines (JL or JLI) is a regional intercity bus company operating in the United States. Today, the Jefferson Lines system extends from Grand Forks, North Dakota south to Wichita Falls, Texas. The company is operated by Jefferson Partners L.P., based in Minneapolis, Minnesota. Jefferson Partners also operates the Jefferson Tours charter bus service for tours and other group services. The company is the second-largest bus company in the US that operates from fixed stations.

Background

Founded in 1919 during the early days of motorcoach travel, the company serves 13 states as of 2014: The company's name originates in the Jefferson Highway, a north-south route in the early National Auto Trail system which once ran from Winnipeg in Manitoba, Canada, south to New Orleans, Louisiana. The service to Winnipeg was cut back to Grand Forks, North Dakota on October 7, 2010. By 1990, the company was believed to be the second-largest intercity bus company in the country after Continental Trailways was bought by Greyhound Lines. Intercity bus lines underwent many changes in the 2000s decade after Greyhound Lines declined into bankruptcy and subsequently shed off many bus routes. Jefferson Lines has taken over operation of many former Greyhound routes and has been able to improve ridership significantly on some of them.