OurBus, a bus service that connects over 300 cities across the Northeast, including Ithaca, announced it will increase its service from Cornell to New York City beginning Tuesday. The bus route will now run from campus to Manhattan four to six times a day, seven days a week, according to a Monday press release from OurBus.
The bus service expanded its service in response to a reported 20% increase in ridership between Ithaca and New York City in Spring 2026, according to the OurBus release. Prior to this expansion, stops on Cornell’s campus were primarily offered around major university breaks, the release added.
In addition to expanding the number of buses commuting between the two cities, OurBus announced that all new trips will make stops in the Ithaca Commons, West Campus and North Campus.
The company has also announced that they will now offer travel options between Cornell and Syracuse six days a week, including to Syracuse Hancock International Airport and Destiny USA.
"A 20-minute walk downtown may not sound like much, but it makes a big difference when you're catching an early morning bus or arriving back in Ithaca late at night — especially with luggage," wrote Axel Hellman, co-founder of OurBus, in the announcement. "It's a relatively simple change that can make the whole trip easier for students."
Hellman wrote to The Sun that OurBus is in “regular contact” with the University’s transportation department and worked collaboratively on implementing the new stops.
He attributed the increased ridership from Ithaca to New York City to an increase in fuel prices and the loss of Ithaca Tompkins International Airport’s direct flight to Newark Liberty International Airport in 2025.
“Ultimately, travelers are looking for a reliable and affordable way to get between Ithaca and New York City, and we're seeing that demand continue to grow,” Hellman wrote to The Sun.
In addition to transport to Manhattan, OurBus is adjusting their Ithaca route on weekends to provide stops in Fresh Meadows, Queens and Melville, Long Island starting Thursday. These weekend routes will also include stops in Cortland, Binghamton, Middletown and Nanuet, similar to previous service that was suspended due to COVID, Hellman wrote to The Sun.
Hellman stated that OurBus is already reporting high demand in the new on-campus stops.
“That's a pretty clear signal that bringing the service closer to where students are is filling a need,” Hellman wrote to The Sun.
Coral Platt is a member of the Class of 2029 in the College of Arts and Sciences. She is a news editor for the 144th Editorial Board and can be reached at cplatt@cornellsun.com.
Giselle Redmond is a member of the Class of 2028 in the College of Agriculture and Life Sciences. She is an assistant news editor for the 144th Editorial Board and can be reached at gredmond@cornellsun.com.
