SPRINGFIELD — Peter Pan Bus Lines announced the appointment of Jacob DuBois as senior director of Safety and Security, effective Feb. 1.

DuBois brings extensive experience in transportation safety and operations to his new role. He most recently served as Connecticut Division manager, overseeing daily operations while maintaining a strong focus on safety, regulatory compliance, and service excellence. Prior to that role, DuBois served as director of Safety and Security at Peter Pan Bus Lines, leading key initiatives to strengthen the company’s safety culture and compliance programs.

In his new position, DuBois will oversee all aspects of Peter Pan’s safety and security operations, working closely with senior leadership to ensure the highest standards of safety, security, and regulatory compliance across the organization.

“Jacob’s deep understanding of our operations, combined with his proven leadership within the safety department, make him exceptionally well-suited for this role,” said Peter Picknelly, chairman and CEO of Peter Pan Bus Lines. “His commitment to safety and accountability aligns perfectly with Peter Pan’s core values.”

Peter Pan Bus Lines remains firmly committed to providing safe, reliable transportation for its passengers and employees, and looks forward to continued progress under DuBois’s leadership.

SPRINGFIELD — Peter Pan Bus Lines announced key leadership promotions as the company looks ahead to 2026. Lauryn Picknelly-DuBois was promoted to vice president, Finance, while Peter B. Picknelly was promoted to vice president.

These promotions signify the continued legacy of the Picknelly family and mark the addition of the fourth generation of family executives to lead the company

“Our children represent the next chapter of our family’s stewardship,” said Peter A. Picknelly and Melissa Picknelly. “We take great pride in their commitment to our company’s future success and in their desire to take on expanded leadership roles.”

Founded in 1933 by Peter Carmine Picknelly, Peter Pan Bus Lines began as a small transportation company rooted in service and community. From those humble beginnings, the company has grown into one of the nation’s largest family-owned and -operated inter-city bus companies, delivering safe, reliable transportation across the Northeast and Mid-Atlantic.

For nearly a century, Peter Pan Bus Lines has remained family-owned, with each generation building upon the vision, values, and resilience established by the founder. Through decades of growth, industry change, and economic challenges, the company has remained committed to innovation, safety, and long-term stability.

“We are confident that Peter Pan remains on solid footing and is well-positioned for continued success,” Peter A. Picknelly and Melissa Picknelly added. “It is with tremendous pride and confidence that we look to the future, knowing the company is in very capable hands as the next generation leads us forward.”

SPRINGFIELD — Peter Pan Bus Lines announced that Mary Davila has made transportation history as the first woman awarded 2 Million Mile Motor Coach Operator status and inducted into the Safe Driving Hall of Fame by the National Safety Council. This prestigious achievement recognizes Davila’s impeccable driving record — 2 million miles without a single preventable accident.

Davila began her career in 1996 in Peter Pan’s New York City Division, and has spent 28 years transporting passengers safely through the busiest cities in the Northeast and Mid-Atlantic. She is the first female motorcoach operator to reach the 2 million-mile milestone, breaking barriers in a traditionally male-dominated field while exemplifying Peter Pan’s commitment to safety and reliability.

“Mary embodies the highest standards of professionalism and safety,” said Chris Crean, vice president of Safety and Security at Peter Pan Bus Lines. “She has set a new benchmark for motor-coach operators across the nation, proving that dedication and skill can lead to extraordinary achievements.”

Beyond her skill behind the wheel, Davila is known for her kindness, compassion, and infectious laugh, the company stated, adding that her positive attitude and unwavering professionalism have earned her the admiration of passengers and colleagues alike.

Davila’s accomplishment reinforces Peter Pan’s reputation as an industry leader in safety. The National Safety Council’s Million Mile Award is one of the most respected honors in the transportation industry, and Peter Pan boasts 170 drivers who have received this distinction. With her achievement, Davila moves into an elite group of more than 40 Peter Pan drivers who have at least 2 million accident-free miles. In addition, Peter Pan has nine 3 million-mile drivers, and is home to the first two 4 million-mile drivers in the U.S., Ed Hope and Andy Anderson.

SPRINGFIELD — Peter Pan Bus Lines has been named the 2025 Motorcoach Operator of the Year by METRO magazine. This prestigious award, presented at the United Motorcoach Assoc. (UMA) Expo in Oklahoma City, Okla., recognizes excellence in motorcoach safety, customer service, operational performance, and industry innovation.

“This award is a true testament to the dedication and hard work of our entire Peter Pan Bus Lines team,” said Peter B. Picknelly, director of Safety & Security. “For four generations, our family has remained committed to providing safe, reliable, and affordable transportation to millions of passengers across the Northeast and beyond. To be recognized at the UMA Expo, one of the most important gatherings in the motorcoach industry, is an incredible honor. As a proud American family-owned and operated company, we are grateful for this recognition and remain committed to shaping the future of travel.”

Danielle Veronesi

SPRINGFIELD — Busline Magazine, the journal of the tour, transit, and specialty vehicle industry, named Danielle Veronesi to its list of “Women to Recognize in 2024,” which honors female leaders in the public and private bus industries whose accomplishments have set a solid foundation for all women to succeed in the future. Veronesi is senior director of Marketing & Customer Care for Peter Pan Bus Lines and was recognized for her leadership, innovation, and community commitment.

“Danielle’s commitment to the busing industry and the community is unparalleled. Her impact on customer care and her hands-on approach in workforce development are true differentiators,” said Peter Picknelly, CEO of Peter Pan Bus Lines. “We are thrilled to see her recognized for her contributions to our industry.”

Picknelly noted that Veronesi has driven major improvements within Peter Pan Bus Lines, from modernizing customer-service technology to spearheading workforce-development initiatives. She also has championed projects that elevate customer satisfaction and operational excellence. In her role, she has implemented advanced technologies to streamline passenger experience and introduced data-driven strategies for workforce recruitment.

Veronesi also chairs the National Bus Traffic Assoc. customer care committee and works with organizations like the Jimmy Fund, where her contributions earned her the esteemed Bob Chyene Award.

SPRINGFIELD — Starting today, Aug. 16, Peter Pan Bus Lines and Megabus have announced a partnership that will result in Peter Pan taking over all the Megabus routes in the northeast and mid-Atlantic states.

Peter Pan will now operate those routes 24/7, including service to Washington, D.C.; Baltimore; White Marsh, Md.; and Philadelphia, and connecting passengers to the 100 destinations the company already serves.

“We’re modernizing our fleet, which is what our consumers want; they want a nice, clean, modern bus,” Peter Picknelly, chairman and CEO of Peter Pan Bus Lines, said in a recent interview with BusinessWest. “We listen to our customers — where they want to go — and expand where it makes sense.”

In preparation, Peter Pan has reduced fares by close to 40%, hired 75 new drivers, and purchased 45 new buses. The entire fleet of Peter Pan’s modern buses includes better-designed seats, video, and Wi-Fi. The company has also relaunched its app, enabling passengers to easily book their trips in advance and featuring its PERKs program, through which users can earn free travel.

Peter Pan is making travel more convenient, especially for Gen-X and Gen-Z riders, said Picknelly, the third-generation leader of the company.

“What people want in a bus company is really very simple. They want a clean bus, a professional driver, and on-time friendly service. It seems easy, but it’s really difficult to execute all the time. I happen to think that Peter Pan executes it better than most.”

The company recently announced a partnership with Trailways and a strategic alliance with Amtrak. It actively forms relationships with ride services like Uber and Lyft to make all aspects of travel it controls or can influence more reliable and affordable.

SPRINGFIELD — Feb. 26 was the official 90th anniversary of Peter Pan Bus Lines. The celebration kicked off at the company’s Annual S.T.A.R. Awards & Safety Banquet on Feb. 28 in Worcester to honor employees who have gone the miles for ‘Super Team Achievement & Recognition.’ This year’s spotlight shone on 11 of Peter Pan’s 1 million-, 2 million-, 3 million-, and 4 million-mile motor-coach operators.

“This is the night we celebrate our team’s outstanding performance, superior dedication, positive attitudes, and safe driving,” Peter Pan CEO Peter Picknelly said.

The brightest star at the 2023 S.T.A.R. Awards was Everette Anderson, who has been a Peter Pan motor-coach driver for 53 years, since May 1970. Anderson is the second motor-coach operator in the history of this country to be inducted into the National Safety Hall of Fame for driving 4 million miles without any accidents. The first inductee was Peter Pan motor-coach operator Ed Hope in 2017.

Picknelly described 4 million miles as 4.2 trips to the moon, or 40 times around the earth. “It’s an amazing accomplishment, and I cannot say enough about the dedication and professionalism that Everette Anderson has had behind the wheel. There have only been two drivers in history to achieve 4 million miles without an accident, and both have worked for Peter Pan. This really demonstrates our commitment to safety, and we are very pleased to honor these distinguished drivers.”

Motor-coach operators honored at the S.T.A.R. Awards also included Thomas Reckner and Paul Boie for 3 million miles; Phillandor Knight, Dave Kollisch, Wayne Soloman, and Anthony Wilson for 2 million miles; and Syed Bukhari, Edward Caouette, Frederick Perry, and Horace Wright for 1 million miles.

Peter Pan’s S.T.A.R. Awards marked the first stop for a year-long anniversary celebration. Presenting sponsors for the event were MCI, Transcor Data Services, and Bridgestone Firestone.

SPRINGFIELD — Pan Bus Lines is planning for the future and creating a new generation of leaders to drive the 90-year-old bus company to new levels. CEO Peter Picknelly recently announced five major promotions in management, including a promotion to chief operating officer awarded to an employee who started as a bus driver 18 years ago. Other promotions include vice president of Operations, vice president of Planning and Revenue, senior director of Marketing, and senior director of Maintenance.

“We’re planning for the next generation of leaders at Peter Pan,” Picknelly said. “These are very well-deserved promotions.”

Frank Dougherty started as a bus driver and has now been promoted to chief operating officer. According to Picknelly, Dougherty sent him a 20-page letter about everything that was wrong at Peter Pan Bus Lines more than 18 years ago. Picknelly asked him to join the team to help correct the situation. Dougherty was a driver, and he will now be leading the company.

Don Soja has been named vice president of Operations. He has been with Peter Pan for more than 20 years. According to Picknelly, Soja knows all aspects of the bus company, including charters, line runs, finance, and technology. Picknelly hopes he will lead the way for decades to come.

Timothy Grabowski has been promoted to vice president of Planning and Revenue Management. Picknelly said Grabowski brings a skill set that allows Peter Pan to continue strategic growth, and that he makes Peter Pan stand out among other bus companies and keeps Peter Pan moving forward.

Danielle Veronesi has been promoted to senior director of Marketing. If there’s a special project, Picknelly said, Veronesi is the one to rely on, and she’s always the one to volunteer. He added that Venonesi has made a big difference in the company.

Joseph Picknally has been named senior director of Maintenance for Peter Pan. Picknelly said Picknally has done an exemplary job in realigning the Maintenance department, and that he has big shoes to fill in the company; Picknally’s father, Thomas, was the company’s vice president of Maintenance for decades until his passing in 2021.

SPRINGFIELD — Peter Pan Bus Lines’ Peter and Melissa Picknelly announced that their son, Peter Picknelly IV, has been promoted to director of Safety & Security.

While in high school and college, Peter IV has worked in both Operations and Customer Service. He recently graduated magna cum laude from Western New England University with a degree in business management. He joins his sister, Lauryn Picknelly-DuBois, who was recently named controller for Peter Pan Bus Lines.

SPRINGFIELD — Travelers heading to see relatives for the holidays between Maryland and New York City, or to do some sightseeing north or south, can now find Peter Pan Express service from Greenbelt, Md. to New York City in both directions.

This new Express service will give travelers a sigh of relief since the same route was abandoned by two other bus companies. As travelers get rolling again during the pandemic, Peter Pan offers safe and sanitized rides according to CDC protocols and contact-free boarding to key destinations. This could be a big deal for those who have stayed home because of the pandemic.

This service includes other stops along the way, running through Washington D.C.; Silver Spring, Baltimore, and Greenbelt, Md.; and New York City.

Tickets must be purchased in advance via the free Peter Pan mobile app at www.peterpanbus.com/app or online at www.peterpanbus.com. Information for the Greenbelt Metro Station can be found at www.peterpanbus.com/locations/maryland/greenbelt.

Peter Pan offers guaranteed reserved seating, mobile boarding instead of paper tickets, free onboard WiFi, multi-pass options for frequent travelers (www.peterpanbus.com/multipass), and 15% senior discounts (call 800-237-8747, ext. 1022).

SPRINGFIELD — Peter Pan Bus Lines buses will be back on the road serving major cities along the Northeast corridor starting today, June 5, and the company has developed a new cleaning process to keep both customers and employees safe.

“Shutting down was one of the hardest things we have ever done,” said Peter Picknelly, chairman of Peter Pan Bus Lines and third-generation leader of the family-owned company. “We also know that our customers have been through a lot as well. So, we are happy to be back on the road, serving our customers again, but now using the best cleaning and sanitizing practices in the transportation industry.”

During the shutdown, Peter Pan Bus Lines continued to improve its contactless boarding procedures and technologies. The company also made a significant investment in its bus cleaning and disinfecting procedures. Currently, Peter Pan Bus Lines is the only bus company using CDC-approved PermaSafe to continuously kill viruses, including COVID-19, bacteria, germs, and mold on contact. The non-toxic product also purifies passenger cabin air while making the interior surfaces antimicrobial and self-sanitizing. The company also uses state-of-the-art Victory electrostatic handheld sprayers, together with the powerful BruTabS6 sealant, to sanitize and disinfect. The virus-killing sprayer is used over the bus. Peter Pan Bus Lines cleans all its coaches every day, with some of them being cleaned mid-route.

“No-contact boarding means that, once they have purchased their ticket online or through our app, all passengers have to do to board is to simply walk up to the bus and give the driver their name,” Picknelly added. “In terms of safety and sanitizing, we are leading the industry with our CDC-approved approach. In fact, a hospital recently asked us to clean their staff buses.”

In addition, passengers are required to wear a face mask at all times while boarding, traveling, and exiting the coach; the first row of seats behind the driver will not be open for passengers; while the bus is occupied, fresh air will be continuously circulating; and employees have been issued personal protective equipment, including face masks and hand sanitizer, to follow CDC recommendations.

Routes and schedules are still changing frequently, so customers should visit peterpanbus.com for the latest information.