A new travel option is arriving at the University of Connecticut this semester, offering students a direct ride home for Thanksgiving, winter and spring break.
College Break Bus, a service dedicated exclusively to college students, will begin operating out of the UConn Storrs campus this fall. The service provides one-way or round-trip bus rides to twelve destinations across Connecticut, Massachusetts, New Hampshire, New Jersey and New York, with pickup and drop-off located at the UConn Field House.
The program is designed to make travel easier for students whose families live hours away. According to the company’s website, it eliminates the need for parents to make long drives to campus and offers amenities such as Wi-Fi, live GPS tracking, onboard restrooms and ample luggage space.
Felice Katsanos, a worker for College Break Bus, said the company’s difference lies in its direct ownership of buses rather than contracting out rides.
“What makes us different is that other companies are brokers,” Katsanos said. “They book riders and then hire a bus company to make the most amount of profit. We are different because we are a bus company, so we’re always here, we’re available for customers, we track buses 24/7 and we’re always in the office. We are extremely communicative.”
College Break Bus is operated by Starr, a third-generation family-owned company that has provided motor coach services since 1947. In 2018, the family launched College Break Bus to specifically meet the needs of university students. Since then, the company has provided more than 300 trips to schools including Syracuse University, Penn State, West Virginia University and Carnegie Mellon University.
Sandy Borowsky, the owner of College Break Bus, emphasized that safety and reliability are at the center of the company’s mission, especially during high-volume travel periods.
“We use only the safest bus companies, the bus companies with the highest safety rating from the Department of Transportation, companies that we personally know and have inspected their facilities,” Borowsky said. “On busy travel days, we make sure both drivers and our motor coaches are fully inspected and prepared before each trip. My husband, myself and our dispatch team personally track the buses every step of the way so we can be quick to react if need be.”
The service arrives at UConn after interest from parents and students, according to Borowsky. The company initially launched a route to New Jersey, which nearly sold out. In response, two additional routes were added.
“The reason we’re at UConn right now is because of the parents and the students,” Borowsky said. “They reached out to us, asked for this service, and we initially did our route to New Jersey which is almost sold out. We will continue to add buses to existing routes and expand routes if the request and the needs are there.”
College Break Bus will operate during the university’s major breaks. For Thanksgiving break, buses depart on Nov. 21, with return trips on Nov. 30. Winter break departures are scheduled for Dec. 12, with returns on Jan. 19. Spring break buses will run March 13 through March 22.
Destinations include Bridgeport and Stamford in Connecticut; Framingham, Newton, and Woburn in Massachusetts; Salem in New Hampshire; Bridgewater, Hamilton, Mahwah and Parsippany in New Jersey; and Melville and Roslyn Heights in New York.
The company primarily partners with DATTCO, a Connecticut-based bus operator that already provides transportation for UConn Athletics. Borowsky said that relationship adds an additional layer of confidence that the buses will serve students.
“UConn Athletics is already using the safest bus company,” Borowsky said. “I personally know the owners of DATTCO, and I know they will do a great job as they already do for your athletic teams. Now it just makes sense that they’re doing the transportation for College Break Bus.”
Katsanos added that the company’s perspective as parents of college students shapes their approach.
“The owners and I are all parents of college students, and so we understand what parents need and what students need,” Katsanos said.
More information and booking details can be found on the company’s website.
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