September 11, 2001, began like any other Tuesday at Trans-Bridge Lines.
Our buses were operating their regular schedules — approximately 30 round trips between the Lehigh Valley and New York City, including six serving the Wall Street business district. Drivers reported for work, passengers boarded, and the familiar rhythm of the morning commute began.
Then, everything changed.
As the attacks unfolded and the Port Authority Bus Terminal was shut down, our buses that had already arrived in New York were parked in our nearby 39th Street lot. Other Trans-Bridge Lines buses that were en route to New York were turned around as all tunnels and bridges into Manhattan were closed.
As calls began coming into our Main Office from passengers stranded in New York, our staff directed them to our 39th Street lot, where buses were waiting. Our drivers also worked to locate and assist as many passengers as possible outside the Port Authority Bus Terminal, doing what they could to help bring them to our parked buses until we could attempt to get them home.
Later that afternoon, when the Lincoln Tunnel opened for outgoing traffic, we were able to begin bringing a few buses home to New Jersey and the Lehigh Valley. Six buses were unable to get through and had to wait, eventually driving to the George Washington Bridge when it opened so they could leave the city. A couple of buses remained in the Wall Street area and were recovered weeks later.
For our drivers and employees, the passengers we serve are much more than names on a manifest. They are familiar faces that drivers greet each morning and evening. Over time, our staff has come to know many of them by name, sharing the simple pleasantries that become part of a daily routine. We knew that day that some of the passengers who traveled with us that morning would not be returning home.
September 11 was a Tuesday. By Thursday, Trans-Bridge Lines had resumed some service to the Port Authority Bus Terminal. Service to the Wall Street area was canceled.
Riddled with grief, anger, and anxiety, we carried on together.
25 Years Later
As we mark the 25th anniversary of September 11, we remember the passengers we lost, the families who waited for them, and all those whose lives were profoundly affected by that day.
We also reflect on our 85 years as a company. In 2026, as we mark this important milestone, we recognize that the history of Trans-Bridge Lines is closely connected to the people who have traveled with us.
For generations, we have shared their everyday journeys — the morning commutes, the evening rides home, the long days, the fun days, and the holidays. We have also shared difficult times and experiences that have become part of our collective history.
September 11 is one of those moments we continue to remember.
Twenty-five years later, we remember those we knew vividly, those we lost with immense sorrow, and those who worked to help bring people home with eternal gratitude.
We remember. We honor. We will never forget. We are resilient.
