Gloucester’s Newton Bus Service has grown significantly from the one bus that founder Alvin Newton ran to Naval Weapons Station Yorktown in 1954.

Warren Newton, Alvin’s son and current president, said the business took a big hit following terrorist attacks in 2001 and in subsequent years as many groups that once booked charter buses stopped taking trips. But the charter business, especially trips up and down the East Coast and into Canada, provides some improving business.

However, Warren said the business has prospered by being creative and acquiring U.S. Department of Defense clearance to transport many military workers daily from the Newport News Shipbuilding North and South Yards. Today, the business is 50 percent charter and 50 percent shuttle, he said, with coaches offering amenities such as television screens and tablet hookups.

Warren said the coach to Yorktown later led to coaches going to Newport News Shipbuilding, Langley Field and even to Dahlgren. The busine...