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EDITORIAL & CORPORATE OFFICES

Rankin Publishing Co., Inc.Don Rankin and Linda Rankin, Publishers

204 E. Main Street • P.O. Box 130Arcola, IL 61910-0130, USA

Email: [email protected]: www.rankinpublishing.com

(800) 598-8083 (U.S.) • (217) 268-4959Fax: (217) 268-4815

Editorial: Harrell Kerkhoff, EditorRick Mullen, Associate Editor

Design: David OpdykeReception: Misty Douglas

AdvertisingContact Kevin Kennedy @ 623-434-8959

Email: [email protected]

Don Rankin @ 800-598-8083Fax: 217-268-4815

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C A L E N D A R O F E V E N T SOCTOBER 2014October 12-15

APTA Expo 2014& Annual Meeting

Houston, TX Info: 202-496-4800

October 15-19Taxicab, Limousine

& Paratransit AssociationAnnual Convention & Trade Show San Antonio, TXInfo: 301‐984‐5700

NOVEMBER 2014November 15-19

Canadian Urban Transit Association (CUTA)

Trans-ExpoNiagara Falls, ON Info: 416-365-9800

JANUARY 2015January 10-13

American Bus Association(ABA) Marketplace

St. Louis, MOInfo: 202-842-1645

January 16-18International Motorcoach

Group (IMG) Maintenance & Safety

ForumNew Orleans, LAInfo: 888-447-3466

January 18-22United Motorcoach

Association (UMA) Expo At Travel Exchange

New Orleans, LA Info: 800-424-8262

MAY 2015May 3-6

APTA Bus & Paratransit Conference

Fort Worth, TX Info: 202-496-4800

JULY 2015July 18-22

National School Transportation Association(NSTA) Annual Meeting

& ConventionMinneapolis, MNInfo: 703-684-3200

Visit Busline Magazine At APTA EXPO

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Busline Magazine is published 6 times a year by Rankin Publishing, Inc., 204 E. Main, P.O. Box 130, Arcola, IL 61910-0130.Publisher assumes no liability whatsoever for content of any advertisement or editorial material contained herein. Copyright 2014Rankin Publishing, Inc. All rights reserved. No part of this publication may be reproduced or transmitted in any form without written con-sent of Rankin Publishing, Inc. Subscription Rates in United States: 6 issues $25. Single Copy rate: $10 including postage/handling;Buyer’s Guide $15 including postage/handling. International rates: 6 issue annual Air Mail Subscription $60 U.S. dollars net

RAPID RESPONSE ................................Page 63INDUSTRY NEWS.................................5

ON THE COVER: Motor Coach Industries has helped shape today’scommuter landscape with its MCI Commuter Coach. Such vehicles are currently in use around the country, including at Houston (TX) Metro.

See page 24.

Busline Vehicle Showcase

TRANSIT BUSES64 – 66

Page 4 BUSLINE September/October 2014

SEPTEMBER/OCTOBER 2014Published by

Rankin Publishing, Inc.

www.buslinemag.comM A G A Z I N E

IN THIS ISSUEMetro Transit Approaches 50 Years Of Service To Kalamazoo, MI, Area ........8

Commuter Coach Makes History The MCI Way .....................24

Public Transit Demand Increasing As Millennial Generation Seeks Alternatives ..............................28

APTA EXPO Heads To Houston .....................................................34

APTA EXPO 15,000 Expected .......................................................35APTA EXPO Booth Numbers Current As Of 09/11/14, courtesy of www.aptaexpo.com.

CONTE

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0914Busline.FINAL_Layout 1 9/12/14 10:54 AM Page 4

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SEPTEMBER/OCTOBER 2014Published by

Rankin Publishing, Inc.

www.buslinemag.comM A G A Z I N E

BUSLINE September/October 2014

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Kalamazoois a resilient city thathas been bouncing back, and playing a big part in its resurgence has been Metro Transit, serving the public transportation needs of riders for nearly 50 years.

Metro TransitApproaches 50 Years Of Service To Kalamazoo, MI, Area

By Rick Mullen, Associate Editor



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Kalamazoo’s economic history during the past few decades is notunlike that of many Midwestern cities. Located in what has been called“the Rust Belt,” the city fell victim to declining industry and populationgrowth during the 1980s and into the 1990s. It was also impacted by therecent recession. “Metro Transit serves the city of

Kalamazoo and Kalamazoo County,which encompasses roughly 561square miles,” said Metro ExecutiveDirector Sean P. McBride, during arecent interview with BuslineMagazine at the system’s headquar-ters in downtown Kalamazoo.“The countywide population is

255,000, and the population of theurbanized portion of the county is justover 200,000. With the last census, wewent from a small urban to a largeurban system. Along with Kalamazoo(population of about 75,000 resi-dents), the city of Portage is the otherlarge jurisdiction in the county, with apopulation of about 55,000 people.”Currently, Metro Transit is owned,

operated and managed by the city ofKalamazoo. However, changes areunderway.“One of the things we are working

on is regionalizing the system,”McBride said. “What we are trying todo is transition Metro from a cityowned and operated system to aregional, countywide authority. Oneof the first steps to making this hap-pen has been putting together about20 regional stakeholders. They areelected and administrative officialsfrom Kalamazoo and several sur-rounding jurisdictions, cities andtownships.”According to the Kalamazoo County

Transportation Authority (KCTA) 2013Annual Report, as a part of the transi-tion process, the KCTA was formed inJanuary 2006 by the County Board ofCommissioners. In 2013, the team ofstakeholders was established to guidethe process for transitioning to a coun-tywide public transit system. This group is now called the

Transitional Leadership Team andincludes representatives from Kal -amazoo County, KCTA, KalamazooTransportation Authority Board(KTAB), city of Portage, Comstock Township, Kalamazoo Township,Oshtemo Township and Kalamazoo Area Trans portation Study (theregional metropolitan planning organization).Also last year, the Transitional Leadership Team developed a plan to

guide the process of transitioning the public transit system from the man-agement, ownership and oversight of the city of Kalamazoo to theKCTA. “The plan provides an enhanced level of detail and specificity on the

steps necessary to regionalize the system,” the annual report said. “Keycomponents of the plan include consolidating public transit executive

management; development of an agreement to transfer system employ-ees, facilities and fleet to the KCTA; creation of a new urban transitauthority to provide fixed-route bus service; and the development of agovernance structure for the new urban transit authority.”

In August of this year, TheKalamazoo Board of CountyCommissioners approved the creationof the Central County TransportationAuthority.

“We are targeting Oct. 1, 2015, tocomplete the transition to a regionalsystem,” said McBride, who will alsobe the executive director of the newregional system. “The region isembracing public transit as a keyservice — something on which wecan bond together to accomplishregional cooperation. Regional coop-eration sounds good, but it is not allthat easy to accomplish; however, weare making great strides.”

The Kalamazoo Promise

For its 19 fixed-routes, MetroTransit operates 36 buses, uti-lizing a hub and spoke system

branching out from the KalamazooTransportation Center, located nextdoor to Metro’s main headquartersand maintenance facility. The histori-cal Transportation Center is an inter-modal complex, originally built in1887. It was placed on the NationalRegister of Historic Places on July11, 1975. In addition to a Metro tick-et office, the center houses Amtrak,Greyhound Bus and Indian Trails Busoffices.The Transportation Center’s inte-

rior design features elements fromKalamazoo’s early 20th century trainstation. Parts of the original structureare also evident on the outside of thesprawling facility, which acts as themain transfer hub for Metro buses.The station was rebuilt as a multi-

modal facility in the early 21st centu-ry. The project was a collaborationbetween local, state, and federalauthorities, with the Department ofTransportation awarding a $3.8 mil-lion grant.McBride explained the Trans -

portation Center is also somewhat of a centralized location for theregions served by Amtrak, Greyhound and Indian Trails.“It is one of the larger transit centers in the region, and is open

Saturdays, Sundays and into the evening hours,” McBride said. “Manyof the other transportation centers along the Interstate 94 corridor closeat earlier hours. We have had many conversations with Amtrak andGreyhound and they tell us they really like using the TransportationCenter and want to maximize their service. We have plenty of access tothe north to Grand Rapids, MI, to the south into Indiana and Chicago andeast to Detroit.”


Metro Transit staff members include, top: Executive Director SeanMcBride and Operations Supervisor Terecita Potts. Middle, left to right:Coach Operators Larry Gordon, Guy Stevens and Earl Cox. Bottom:

Senior Maintenance Supervisor Rob Branch, left, and Class B Mechanic Aaron Connors.


See us at APTA Expo Booth #1163


When it comes to other modes of transportation other than riding thebus, McBride doesn’t see “competition,” rather he sees “choices.”“Our challenge as a public transportation agency is to provide options

and flexibility for people,” McBride said. “We want to create moreoptions for people. After that, our challenge is to make sure people con-tinue to ride the bus.“We currently run 11 hybrid-electric buses on our fixed-route sys-

tem out of a total of 36, and we are purchasing three more this year.In addition, we have 48 demand-response vehicles, which are vansand cutaways. We also operate 10 vans for our community servicevan program.”Metro’s demand-response paratransit system is called “Metro

County Connect.” It is a shared ride, origin-to-destination service. Itcan be used by all residents of Kalamazoo County. Discounted faresare available to people who are certified as having a disability, seniors

62 years or older and individuals with a disability who are certified asAmericans with Disabilities Act (ADA) eligible.At one time, it basically ran as two separate services — an ADA

service and a demand and response service, McBride explained.“Around 2009, it was all put under one roof and is now operated by

the city of Kalamazoo,” he said. “We make no distinction between theADA service and the rural demand and response service. We wantedto make a seamless service for our riders. Riders can go through theADA certification if they want the discounted fare.“One of the challenges is making people aware of this pretty amaz-

ing service. Currently, we average about 132,000 rides per year on thisservice.”The Community Service Van Program is a specialized service provid-

ing vehicles to approved agencies serving elderly and individuals withdisabilities at no cost.

“For this program, we partner with othermunicipalities and non-profit organizations,”McBride said. “The organizations enter into anagreement with Metro and utilize the vans forfree. They also use their own drivers. Vans canbe reserved on a first-come, first-serve basis.The vans are stored at the Metro facility.”In 2013, Metro logged in 650,000 miles trav-

eled for all three systems, fixed-route, MetroCounty Connect and the Community ServiceVan Program.“The mileage was split almost 50-50 between

the fixed route and demand response systems,”McBride said. “Our ridership was just under 3million passengers last year. Ridership for thedemand/response service was 132,000 and14,000 for the community service program. Weare growing this year about 3 percent overallfrom last year. The community service programwent from 6 to 10 vans and we have doubled theridership so far this year.”The increase in ridership is reflective of the

area’s population growth, following years ofdecline.“There is an interesting story to be told along

these lines,” McBride said. “Kalamazoo was oneof those typical Midwestern Rust Belt cities thatexperienced significant industry populationdeclines in the 1980s and into the 1990s. Then in2005, the ‘Kalamazoo Promise’ was born.”The Promise was introduced on Nov. 10,

2005, at a special Kalamazoo school boardmeeting, when it was announced anonymousdonors were funding scholarships for graduatesof Kalamazoo Public Schools, beginning withthe Class of 2006.“A graduate of the Kalamazoo public school

system who has remained in the system through-out his or her career (K-12), will receive a freecollege education in any state college or univer-sity in Michigan,” McBride said.Recently, the program was expanded to

include some private colleges and universities inMichigan, as well. Currently, the program cov-ers up to 100 percent of tuition and mandatoryfees for up to 130 credits at Michigan’s 15 pub-lic universities and 28 community colleges. Thescholarship amount is based on the longevity ofa student in KPS — students in the district since

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kindergarten get 100 percent oftuition, down to 65 percent tothose who transferred intoKPS at the start of ninth grade,according to www.mlive.com/news/kalamazoo.

According to www.kalama-zoopromise.com, the process ofactivating a Kalamazoo Pro -mise Scholarship occurs duringa student’s senior year in highschool. While attending a col-lege or university, a scholarshiprecipient must make regularprogress toward a degree or cer-tification, maintain a 2.0 gradepoint average (GPA) and com-plete a minimum of 12 credithours per semester. If the stu-dent’s GPA drops below 2.0, astudent may be reinstated if heor she is able to bring the GPAback to at least a 2.0.

The program is expanding to 15private liberal-arts colleges inMichigan, with tuition covered upto 100 percent for students inKalamazoo Public Schools, acc -

ording to a press release issued recently by The Kalamazoo Promise and theMichigan Colleges Alliance. The change will begin with the Class of 2015.

One result of the Kalamazoo Promise has been to promote citygrowth, McBride explained.

“Many families, rather than moving out to the suburbs, are stayingwithin the strong, tightknit neighborhoods here to take advantage of theeducational opportunities presented by the Promise,” he said. “We alsohave a large secondary school student population. We have a partnershipwith Western Michigan University. Students comprise about 30 percentof our ridership. We are also seeking to partner more with KalamazooValley Community College (KVCC).

“Millennials — they are an interesting group. Students use the transitsystem when they are at Western Michigan or KVCC. What we are see-ing as our community is prospering, is a lot of these students are gradu-ating and staying within the community. They have grown to know anduse the bus and they are staying with public transportation. They are liv-ing in areas that access the bus system. We’ve seen some growth and Iam confident that is going to continue.

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The Transportation Center’s interiordesign features elements from

Kalamazoo’s early 20th century trainstation. The intermodal complex,

originally built in 1887, houses a Metroticket office and offices for Amtrak,Greyhound Bus and Indian Trails.

“In addition to expanding and developing newrelationships with our college-age student riders,we are planning to begin communicating with theyounger students. We would like to partner withour high schools to teach students how to useand embrace public transportation even earlier inlife than college.”—Sean McBride, Metro Executive Director

0914Busline.FINAL_Layout 1 9/12/14 3:18 PM Page 14

on campus such as Western Michigan University students. We are work-ing on a new fare program for them right now that will be implementedthis fall.“In addition to expanding and developing new relationships with our

college-age student riders, we are plan-ning to begin communicating with theyounger students. We would like to part-ner with our high schools to teach studentshow to use and embrace public transporta-tion even earlier in life than college.“Today, the main reasons people are

using the Metro fixed-route service is to go to school or to work. Thereis a small ridership among seniors — most seniors use the demand andresponse service. There is some ridership growth in that demographic as

Baby Boomers are start-ing to retire and aremoving more to theurban center.“When I talk to peo-

ple, the biggest thing Ialways hear is the need tooperate later and offerSunday service. Many ofthe retail and religiousinstitutions would like

Sunday service. We would love to expand, but it is going to take finan-cial investment. We would like to pilot some Sunday service in theupcoming years, if our financial situation allows, to see if it is viable.”

Kalamazoo’s growth, and the improvement in the overall U.S.economy are opening doors for Metro to establish new partnerships,McBride said.He added: “The improved economic outlook is creating many new

opportunities to interact with different organizations, be it non-prof-its, for-profits, or other government agencies that we didn’t have inthe past. We want to see how we can find mutual ways to benefit eachother and find efficiencies by working together. I think this is one ofthe benefits of today’s economy. It is making us operate better and itis making us communicate with different organizations that wehaven’t in the past. “To be a successful government organization, the modus operandi in

the future will be to find these opportunities and collaborations.”While the economy has improved, McBride said employers are real-

izing that it is becoming more difficult to recruit employees these days.There is competition among employers seeking to hire people, and oneof the barriers, according to McBride, is how to get employees to andfrom work.“We’re having conversations now about how can we get employees to

work and the things we can do differently to make it happen,” McBridesaid. “At times we have made adjustments on routes and added some


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“The improved economic outlook is creating many new opportunitiesto interact with different organizations, be it non-profits, for-profits, orother government agencies that we didn’t have in the past.”

“At times we have madeadjustments on routes andadded some routes to meetan employer’s specific needs.Partnering with companies isalso essential.”



routes to meet an employer’s specific needs. Partnering with companiesis also essential. “One of the major employers in Kalamazoo is Bronson Methodist

Hospital. They are having parking issues at their campus and there aregoing to be some major new developments in that area. As a result, weare going to try and partner with the hospital to see how we can meettheir transportation needs.”

Intelligent Transportation System

At Metro, passengers are considered “customers,” according toMcBride. As such, transit system employees listen to riders andtry to stay aware of their needs and wants.

“Our passengers, as customers, have choices regarding what they wantto do, although some may have limited choices,” McBride said. “If weare not doing a good job providing friendly customer service; clean andsafe facilities; and reliable on-time performance, they are going to findother alternatives, such as riding a bike or riding with a friend, neighboror colleague. “We are customer service oriented. We run Metro Transit like a busi-

ness. We listen to our customers and make adjustments from the feed-back we receive. We really want to be responsive and receptive to whatour customers are saying.

“We stress paying attention to the details. We reinforce to our driversthat they are our frontline when it comes to communicating with riders.Our employees try to make every interaction with the riding public apositive one, although sometimes you have to say ‘no.’”One critical aspect of taking care of riders is making sure they feel safe

while riding the bus.“We have an extensive surveillance camera system at Metro’s facili-

ties,” McBride said. “We also have five cameras on each ofour buses, and we are working on upgrading that system tohave six cameras on each bus. This is really helpful in han-dling complaints, both from drivers and the public.“The next training session for bus drivers in September

will emphasize how to defuse confrontations on the bus.The session will explore methods that drivers can use tosolve issues.

“Metro also has a strong relationship with the county public safetydepartment. We contract with two police officers who are located on-siteat the Transportation Center.”To enhance the riding experience for passengers even further, Metro

introduced its Intelligent Transportation System (ITS) in 2013. ITS tech-nology allows passengers to access real-time information via smartphones, computers and tablets.“The ITS information technology is providing a significant amount

of robust data,” McBride said. “For example, using ITS data we arefiguring out how to make runs to areas that have been seeking servicefor years. We have reconfigured two routes to gain enough time togrow service in an under-utilized area. During the past six months, wehave made much progress in gathering data to use in our decision-making process.”ITS also provides operational enhancements by enabling computer

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Our new space program launches in HoustonStylish, lighter, more fuel efficient and with 80 passenger seats, the all-new Enviro500 has turned another corner… and is now available at the reduced height of just 13’ 6” (4.1m) meaning that it can now operate in virtually every part of the USA and Canada.

13’6” High

Designed exclusively for North America the Go-Anywhere Enviro500 remains as maneuverable and popular as ever and has stepped up a gear in terms of reliability, durability, low-cost maintenance and best-in-class whole-life costs. Little wonder that the Enviro500 remains the world’s best-selling, three-axle, high capacity double deck bus.

See the new Go-Anywhere Enviro500 double deck on the Alexander Dennis booth (2419), APTA EXPO, Houston, Texas, October 13-15 2014.

Alexander Dennis Inc31566 Railroad Canyon Road 342 Canyon Lake CA 92587-9446Tel: (951)244-9429 Fax: (951)755-0318Email: [email protected]

“We run Metro Transit like a business. We listen to ourcustomers and make adjustments from the feedback wereceive... We stress paying attention to the details.”


Our new space program launches in HoustonStylish, lighter, more fuel efficient and with 80 passenger seats, the all-new Enviro500 has turned another corner… and is now available at the reduced height of just 13’ 6” (4.1m) meaning that it can now operate in virtually every part of the USA and Canada.

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Designed exclusively for North America the Go-Anywhere Enviro500 remains as maneuverable and popular as ever and has stepped up a gear in terms of reliability, durability, low-cost maintenance and best-in-class whole-life costs. Little wonder that the Enviro500 remains the world’s best-selling, three-axle, high capacity double deck bus.

See the new Go-Anywhere Enviro500 double deck on the Alexander Dennis booth (2419), APTA EXPO, Houston, Texas, October 13-15 2014.

Alexander Dennis Inc31566 Railroad Canyon Road 342 Canyon Lake CA 92587-9446Tel: (951)244-9429 Fax: (951)755-0318Email: [email protected]


aided dispatching and automatic vehicle locating (AVL) capabilities.The ITS also gives Metro the ability to produce reports on scheduling,

routes, ridership, trends and other statistics that enable adjustments to bemade on real-time data.Other technological upgrades include the installation of electronic

ADA-compliant bus stop signs to help keep riders informed of arrivaland departure times. This information is also on the Metrowebsite, www.kmetro.org under the “Track My Bus” or“Plan My Trip” icons.Metro also offers free travel training. The sessions are

designed to teach individuals how to travel safely andindependently use the fixed-route bus system. Trainingcovers the following topics: bus routes, trip planning,transferring, emergency skills, bus rules, safety skills, schedules,fares/fareboxes and bus passes/ID cards.According to Metro, the goal of training is to give an opportunity for

all community members to gain independence, mobility, and confidenceby utilizing the fixed-route transit system. By expanding the client baseof the fixed-route system, there is a potential to save transportationagency dollars while contributing to the sustainability and longevity ofpublic transportation. Training can involve individual sessions up tolarge group settings.

Employee Retirement Program Presents Challenges

Perhaps a universal challenge for public transit systems across theboard is funding. While traditional funding avenues for MetroTransit have remained relatively in place, dollar amounts coming

into the system have decreased somewhat from some sources.“Funding is always a challenge. This is just a way of life these days,”

McBride said. “There are no ‘magic bullets’ out there. It is just some-thing that we are going to have to deal with as a government agency andwork to become more efficient over time. “How do we provide better service with the same amount of resources

or fewer resources? We are in the government business to figure outthese kinds of tough challenges.”

Metro receives funding from federal and state governments as well asfrom local property tax millages. “We used to get 55 percent of our funding from state and federal

grants. Now it is more in the 45 percent range,” McBride said. “The stateof Michigan has been very supportive of public transit. As far as capitalpurchases are concerned, we get 80 percent from federal governmentgrants and the state has historically provided the 20 percent match, whichis great. I hope that can continue long into the future.“Furthermore, we have had very strong support when it comes to

voter-approved property tax millage revenue.“Local support would seem to indicate that Metro has been successful

in developing a strong relationship with residents, riders and the voters.However, these groups must continue to see the benefits of public tran-sit in the community, because they have the ultimate say in voting up ordown on millage renewal and/or millage increases.“For our last four millages, the approval rates were 63 percent, 76 per-

cent, 63 percent and 72 percent respectively. The approval rates were a


Hosted by Protective Insurance Company in Indianapolis, Ind., the Public Transportation Claims + Safety Seminar is your chance to hear from industry experts and network with other safety professionals. Seminar topics include, among others:

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Hosted by Protective Insurance Company in Indianapolis, Ind., the Public Transportation Claims + Safety Seminar is your chance to hear from industry experts and network with other safety professionals. Seminar topics include, among others:

• creating a safety culture

• retaining drivers

• minimizing vehicle downtime

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The MCI Commuter Coach has earned its position as the proven, North American leader in Commuter Express bus service for public transit systems due to its safety, reliability and comfort at highway speeds.

Our coach is strong and durable, with a rugged semi-monocoque structure that elevates passengers and drivers above traffic, plus Electronic Stability Control (ESC), tire pressure monitoring system and fire suppression system that make express routes, BRT and Bus-on-Shoulder service safer.

Our other strengths? Value and comfort. The MCI Commuter Coach offers a highly competitive per-seat price, plus low cost of operation and the best MDBF rate over all other types of bus models. Proven in the fleets of some of the nation’s most demanding transit agencies, it’s a hit with passengers too, thanks to comfortable forward-facing seats, reading lights, 110v outlets and high-capacity air conditioning.

Plus, the MCI Commuter Coach is Buy America-compliant and available in clean-diesel, hybrid and CNG options. So whether you’re looking to build capacity, serve new markets, improve passenger safety and comfort or simply build on your reputation for reliability, service and value, the Commuter Coach is ready to transform your commutes.

The MCI Commuter Coach

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combination of the city of Kalamazoo and countywide millages. Our chal-lenge is maintaining that strong relationship and success moving forward. “Through the regionalization process that we have been going through,

we are seeing a strong buy-in, not just in the urban core, but also in subur-ban and rural areas. People are really embracing the use of public transit indifferent ways. “There are a lot of Baby Boomers living in the rural areas who may want

to retire there, but will need access into the center of the city for doctor serv-ices and shopping, etc. Therefore, Metro has strong support in the ruralareas.”

McBride alluded to the fact that employers (as a part of embracing eco-nomic development) are understanding that the suburban areas contain apopulation of good, potential employees. By supplying public transit tothese areas to allow more people a means to get to and from work,employers can draw from a wider area than just a mile or two from theirlocations.“In addition, a couple of our outlying areas have also been supportive

of joining the (countywide) transportation authority,” McBride said.“These outlying areas are not serviced right now, but it is a part of ourmaster planning process to do so. We see this as a major corridor forfuture development.”The aging of the U.S. workforce as the large demographic of Baby

Boomers are at, or reaching, time to retire is a problem for many compa-nies in industries across the board. At Metro, the challenge of an agingworkforce took an unexpected turn recently.McBride explained that about three or four years ago, to help shave the

city’s deficit, Kalamazoo offered an Early Retirement Initiative (ERI) toeligible employees.“Citywide there were 700 employees and about one-third of them retired

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The MCI Commuter Coach has earned its position as the proven, North American leader in Commuter Express bus service for public transit systems due to its safety, reliability and comfort at highway speeds.

Our coach is strong and durable, with a rugged semi-monocoque structure that elevates passengers and drivers above traffic, plus Electronic Stability Control (ESC), tire pressure monitoring system and fire suppression system that make express routes, BRT and Bus-on-Shoulder service safer.

Our other strengths? Value and comfort. The MCI Commuter Coach offers a highly competitive per-seat price, plus low cost of operation and the best MDBF rate over all other types of bus models. Proven in the fleets of some of the nation’s most demanding transit agencies, it’s a hit with passengers too, thanks to comfortable forward-facing seats, reading lights, 110v outlets and high-capacity air conditioning.

Plus, the MCI Commuter Coach is Buy America-compliant and available in clean-diesel, hybrid and CNG options. So whether you’re looking to build capacity, serve new markets, improve passenger safety and comfort or simply build on your reputation for reliability, service and value, the Commuter Coach is ready to transform your commutes.

The MCI Commuter Coach

To learn more about the MCI® Commuter Coach, go to www.mcicoach.com/commuter

Plus, the MCI Commuter Coach is Buy America-compliant and available in clean-diesel, hybrid and CNG options. So whether you’re looking to build capacity, serve new markets, improve passenger safety and

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Indeed, the MCI Commuter Coach has become a fixture in thefleets of forward-thinking regional transit authorities like NewJersey Transit, LA DOT and Houston Metro, where “express” sub-urb-to-city center commutes over highway routes are the norm.

“We’ve seen an increase in interest in commuter coaches over theyears due to growing suburbs and exurbs as well as the resurgenceof the inner city, and there’s this incredible need for transit,” saysTom Wagner, vice president of MCI Public Sector sales.Fortunately, the MCI Commuter Coach is remarkably well-suited

to meet the demand.

High-Speed Merits

Compared to a low-floor transit bus, an MCI Commuter Coach isa high-floor vehicle that is designed to operate at highway speeds,

with comfortable forward-facingseats and amenities such as read-ing lights and personal airflowcontrols—and, oftentimes, extraslike Wi-Fi, passenger power out-lets and video monitors. Altoona-tested and Buy

America compliant, it is theonly such vehicle currentlyavailable in diesel, hybrid, andCNG configurations as well as

both 40- and 45-foot models. It is also loaded with safety fea-tures, not the least of which is a driver’s cockpit that is elevatedabove most other traffic, offering an incomparable vantage point.MCI’s newest Commuter Coaches are additionally availablewith seatbelts; offer electronic stability control; and come stan-dard with fire suppression and tire-pressure monitoring systems.

“We’ve seen an increase in interest in commutercoaches over the years due to growing suburbs andexurbs as well as the resurgence of the inner city,and there’s this incredible need for transit.”

— Tom Wagner, vice president of MCI Public Sector sales.


ADVERTORIAL

Every industry has its high-profile players as well as its unsung heroes, and transit is no different.While rail has long attracted the most public attention, Motor Coach Industries (MCI) has helped

build today’s commuter landscape just as surely as the subway car and train.


The MCI Commuter Coach’s seating capacity is larger thanthat of a typical low-floor transit bus, and it offers an exception-ally high MDBF (mean distance between failure) rate that is 191percent better than BRT vehicles and 55 percent better than low-floor buses. Thanks in large part to the semi-monocoque frameand heavy-duty axles that absorb road energy, the ride is quietand stable even on the highway. This is ideal for commuters whowant to get a little work done as well as for those seeking apeaceful bit of shut-eye.With its impressive list of attributes, the MCI Commuter Coach

is by far the market’s best-selling com-muter-style coach, favored for its longlife, competitive per-seat price and lowtotal cost of ownership. Nor should any-one be surprised by the vehicle’s longhighway pedigree. The MCI CommuterCoach is, after all, based on the leg-endary MCI D4500, part of the indus-try’s all-time best-selling coach family,with more than 13,000 units on theroads today.

Back To The Beginning

Of course, today’s Commuter Coachhas its roots in earlier MCI models thatserved line-haul carriers and regionaloperators of the pre-Interstate era. Infact, the rise of the Commuter Coach istied to the larger history of motorcoach travel. Says Wagner, “When it comes to a legacy in the Public Sector,

no one can hold a candle to MCI.”The MCI lineage goes back to 1965, to Gray Coach in

Canada, which was eventually absorbed by Ontario’s GOTransit agency. At about the same time in the United States,Chautauqua Transit purchased an MC-5A for its operations. MCI new-coach sales representative Lee Kemp remembers

similar small-transit purchases in the Denver area, and he tiesthose purchases to a larger trend of the 1960s: the creation of theregional transit authority. During that era, small transit operators were struggling as more

Americans became dependent on their cars. Meanwhile, therewere still plenty of passengers in desperate need of safe, over-the-road transit. The federal government sought a solution by creatingthe Urban Mass Transportation Administration in 1964, thenrenamed the FTA in 1991, which in turn led to the rise of region-al transit authorities. As the regional transit authorities absorbed smaller local agen-

cies, they acquired their equipment as well—including lots ofMCI coaches. Because MCI had enjoyed a reputation for buildingextremely durable coaches, many of those regional agencies did-n’t need to replace their coaches for a long time. But when theydid, MCI was the logical choice.A few major orders never hurt either.

Making Milestones With New Jersey Transit

New Jersey Transit has been one of MCI’s most important tran-sit partners, with a relationship that goes back to the 1960s, whenseveral MC-7s made their way into the agency’s fleet. The agencymade its first big MCI order in 1982, taking 700 MC-9 cruisers. But in the late 1990s, a true alliance was forged. That’s when the

agency asked MCI to develop alternate-fuel coaches for their fleet.In 1999, MCI delivered 50 Compressed Natural Gas buses to theagency, followed by another 27 the following year. The agency

also placed a history-making order in 2000, purchasing 1,400Commuter Coaches. Those long-running CNG coaches will finally be retired when

MCI delivers its next big order— 147 new CNG CommuterCoaches that will begin to arrive later this year. In all, MCI hasdelivered more than 2,350 coaches to New Jersey Transit.“New Jersey Transit was instrumental in our development of

CNG and hybrid models — they were our initial customer,”says Wagner. “We’ve been extremely honored to partner withNew Jersey. We have a strong history and legacy with NewJersey Transit, and this most recent order is a continuation ofthat relationship.”

New Frontiers

The MCI Commuter Coach has been making important inroads far-ther west, too, where highway commutes are the rule rather than theexception. In 2011, the Los Angeles Department of Transportationsigned a contract for 84 MCI Commuter Coaches powered by CNG toserve express routes, replacing older diesel equipment and underscor-ing the city’s commitment to improved air quality.And most recently, Houston Metro ordered 95 MCI Commuter

Coaches to serve its commuter express routes. The agency hasordered nearly 300 MCI Commuter Coaches since 2001, includ-ing 122 diesel-electric hybrid models. Wagner is especiallyimpressed that Houston continues to make such a commitment to

September/October 2014 BUSLINE



public transit in a region that is often thought of as more car-cen-tric than its neighbors in the Northeast.Wagner is also seeing growing interest in “bus on shoulder” pro-

grams across the United States, including in MCI’s own backyard. Pace Suburban Bus, which serves the suburban Chicagoarea, including MCI’s Des Plaines headquarters, last year ordered13 MCI Commuter Coaches to run between Chicago and south-west suburbs. This service includes routes where buses areallowed to run on expressway shoulders during heavy traffic. Due in part to the shoulder provision’s ability to reduce travel

times and congestion, the routes have seen ridership surges of asmuch as 120 percent. The use of the MCI Commuter Coach grantspassengers a greater feeling of safety and security when riding thehighway, or its shoulder, according to Wagner.“Today, smaller urban areas are growing and we are seeing

more on-highway usage of buses making trips over 15 miles atspeeds of 35 mph and more,” said Brent Maitland, MCI vicepresident of Marketing and Product Planning.

“Many transit agencies understand the advantages of passengercomfort and safety, and the reliable performance of the purpose-built MCI Commuter Coach.”

Making Better Coaches

MCI has been making significant investments to support growingdemand for the Commuter Coach. Most notably, the company hasinstituted “Quality at Source” manufacturing principles at itsWinnipeg, and Pembina, ND, plants.

The manufacturing principles, mostfamously adopted by Toyota, are, attheir essence, a bid for perfection. Ahighly struc tured lean manufacturingprocess, QAS is intended to help MCI cre-ate repeatable successes, empoweremployees and measure progress along theway to create flaw-free vehicles.“It’s a common-sense app roach,” says

Jim Macdon ald, executive director ofengineering. “Eliminate failures at everypoint, and you deliver perfect quality.”Wagner likens it to building quality into

the process as opposed to “inspecting” it in. “It’s very important to keep ‘Reliability

Driven’ as our focus,” says Wagner.There have also been significant invest-

ments in tooling, including a high-tech“Sheer Genius” metal cutter. The produc-tion line has also recently introduced a wayto automate the lifting of the driver’s seat

into place, improving the ergonomics for workers. Such tweaks tothe production line are expected to yield happier, healthier workersand lower operational costs in the long run.

Improvements Afoot

MCI continues to engineer improvements to the CommuterCoach as well. CNG coaches will soon include a larger engine,which will offer improved performance during operation in hillyterrain and with heavy loads. Engineers are also working onincreased use of electrification in the cooling system to fine-tunethe coach’s power demand. Projects to optimize accessibility are inthe process as well.MCI, which also makes the best-selling MCI J4500 for the tour

and charter market, continues to invest in new technology as well asold-fashioned customer service. Transit customers enjoy their ownMCI team, including a dedicated technical support. Says Wagner, “Ultimately, it’s about safety, capacity, performance,

ride quality and service. It’s about being Reliability Driven.”

Motor Coach Industries; 200 E. Oakton St.,Des Plaines, IL 60018

Phone: 847-285-2000; 800-428-7626; Fax: 847-285-2013

Email: [email protected]; Website: www.mcicoach.com

“Ultimately, it’s about safety,capacity, performance, ride quality and service.It’s about being

Reliability Driven.” — Tom Wagner, vice president of MCI Public Sector sales.


Parts Of The Whole: Supplying An Industry

Perhaps it’s fitting that MCI Parts was once known asUniversal Coach Parts. After all, the company stocks partsnot only for MCI coaches, but also for most other coachand transit-bus brands. In fact, about 40 percent of the partsMCI sells are to transit customers. With an extensive inventory of OEM and proprietary

Coach Guard parts, MCI has spent the last couple of yearsboosting its stock levels and introducing programs such as“Coach Critical,” designed to assure that commonly usedparts are consistently available for immediate delivery. It also has introduced product lifecycle management into

the mix. By learning how long parts are actually lasting incustomer fleets, product lifecycle managers have been ableto get a better handle on forecasting demand, which in turnhelps fine-tune inventory levels and control pricing.The group is also helping to spread the word to customers

about value-added services and to get new products into theworks to meet customer demand. In the former instance,MCI enhances OEM starter offerings to help make sure theydon’t fail prematurely. As an example of the latter, the PLMgroup has spearheaded efforts to introduce new Coach Guardparts to give customers more non-OEM alternatives.

Scott Robertson, vice president of the MCI PLMgroup, says, “We want to grow customers’ confidence inus, so they don’t have to spend a lot of time price-check-ing. They’ll know they’re getting the right product at theright price.”MCI has been in the transit parts business since the

1960s, and has a dedicated bids-team, along with in-field technical representatives responsible for publicsector accounts. “Transit operators will find MCI competitive and able

to supply all their parts needs and maintain their buses,”says Robertson. “Additionally, many of our representa-tives in the field were formerly transit technicians,which gives us a lot of expertise and credibility servingpublic transit agencies.”


“Transit operators willfind MCI competitive andable to supply all theirparts needs and maintain

their buses.”— Scott Robertson, vice president of the MCI PLM group



Since 1976, the Mid-Ohio Valley Transit Authority (MOVTA),of Parkersburg, WV, home of the Easy Rider bus system,has been on a mission to provide safe and dependable service

to the residents of the Parkersburg and Vienna areas.“Easy Rider is considered a small urban fixed-route system,” said

MOVTA General Manager Tim Thomas. “We operate 21 vehi-cles, including the small variety of rail-chassis buses and 22- to 24-passenger cutaways.”The system has eight fixed-routes and also offers paratransit and

shuttle services, traveling an average of 650,000 miles per year.“Our ridership will be around 518,000 boardings this year,”

Thomas said. “Easy Rider transports many people towork. We also have a bus route that goes by a local col-lege (West Virginia University at Parkersburg). Inaddition, we carry senior citizens and other individu-als who need transportation to go grocery shopping,for medical appointments, etc.”Easy Rider’s paratransit system is called “Easy

Lift,” and is an ADA certified point of origin to desti-nation service.“(Easy Lift) meets all the new ADA requirements,” Thomas said.

“One of our points of emphasis is paratransit, making sure we areproviding quality service on that end, as well as on the fixed-routes.”While Easy Rider does not have any alternative fueled vehicles in

its fleet at this time, moving toward a compressed natural gas (CNG)

fleet is a possibility in the near future, Thomas said. Located beneathmuch of West Virginia, Ohio, Pennsylvania and New York is theMarcellus Shale natural gas field. The massive shale field alsotouches small parts of Maryland, Kentucky, Tennessee and Virginia,according to www.geology.com.As the natural gas industry becomes more developed in the

region, Thomas said the Parkersburg area is anticipating “a naturalgas boom.”He added: “Here in the Parkersburg area, we are looking, hope-

fully, to get a natural gas cracker plant thatcould be a very big plus to our economy andour communities. We will know in the nextcouple of years whether that will happen. Ifthe ‘boom’ times come and CNG fueling sta-

tions are constructed in the area, we will look toretrofit some of our current vehicles for CNG, as well

as opting for CNG with any new purchases.”Making sure passengers get to where they need to go in a

safe and efficient manner is a team effort at Easy Rider.“We have great employees at all levels, whether its office per-

sonnel, management, drivers and mechanics. It is a total teameffort,” Thomas said. “Our people are the biggest asset we have.Without the drivers buying into quality customer service, we don’thave a transit system. We have good route managers and we haveone of the best safety guys in the business — Certified Safety andSecurity Officer Bob Tanner.”

More and more public transportationhas come into the forefront in theearly 21st century as a viable optionto helping preserve the environment.This is done by limiting carbon emis-sions on the country’s roadways, aswell as helping to reduce traffic con-gestion that plagues many areas.There is also increasing demand

for public transit as the aging popu-lation and the younger generation,sometimes called The MillennialGeneration, opt for travel alterna-tives other than the automobile.

Busline Magazine recently spokewith executives from three publictransit operations who spoke abouthow their systems are meeting theever-growing needs of their respectiveriderships.

— By Rick MullenBusline Magazine Associate Editor

HParkersburg, WV



Under Tanner’s leadership, Easy Riderdeveloped a safety program that garnered anAPTA Gold Award for Safety for bus sys-tems with fewer than 4 million passengertrips annually. The award was announced byAPTA at the organization’s annual Bus &Paratransit Conference in May in KansasCity, MO.According to an APTA news release, the

authority “enhanced the existing trainingand coaching programs to promote safetyculture and employee engagement. This

improvement allowed for better reporting ofhazards and more efficient dissemination of

safety training and policy. Among otherachievements, the agency created animproved accidentregister that tracksaccident claims startto finish.”Thomas said, “It

was an honor toreceive the award.When APTA noti-fied us, it was very humbling. The awardreflects the dedication this transit system has

toward security. I think itmight be the first time anyonein the state of West Virginiahas received an honor likethis, when it comes to safetyand security.“I gave (Tanner) the task to

enhance our safety program,and he accepted the challenge.We owe the award to his hardwork and dedication.”At Easy Rider, safety and

customer service go hand-in-hand. Thomas began his careerat Easy Rider as its operationsmanager four years ago, andwas named general manageron December 3, 2011. He has

made customer service a high priority sincehis arrival at the transit system.

“We have been conducting training toreflect how important passengers are to the

transit system,” Thomas said. “We have hadcustomer service and safety training ses-sions on a monthly basis for the past fouryears. In addition, all of our mechanics,drivers and staff are trained in the PASS(Passenger Service and Safety) Programthat CTAA (Community TransportationAssociation of America) offers.”According to its website, CTAA is a

national nonprofit membership organizationrepresenting public and private transporta-tion providers and offers transit education,training and information. The PASS pro-gram includes comprehensive training onthe assistance that drivers should be provid-ing to passengers with special needs.As Easy Rider displays its dedication to

meeting riders’ needs, evidence indicates thesystem has earned the support of local gov-ernments and the general public.“There are two city councils we have to

go before, for a levy to receive local match-

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“We have been conducting training to reflecthow important passengers are to the transit system.We have had customer service and safety trainingsessions on a monthly basis for the past fouryears.” — MOVTA General Manager Tim Thomas

Easy Rider operates 21 vehicles, including the small variety of rail-chassis buses and 22- to 24-passenger cutaways.



ing funds,” Thomas said. “We are treatedwith great respect, in my opinion. They doask questions, but they also see the productthat we put out there. I feel we have one ofthe best systems in the nation. As a result,the councils and citizens are eager and will-ing to work with Easy Rider.”Thomas thanked taxpayers who voted for

the levy during the May election.“The percentage of voters approving the

levy was possibly the highest we have ever

had,” Thomas said. “This shows how impor-tant transit is to our citizens. When a goodproduct is offered, people will be supportive.“We want to continue to provide the best

quality, safe, reliable transit service that wecan. We want to look at ways to continue tokeep the system financially constrained,making sure we spend taxpayer dollarswisely, earning the trust to do so from thepublic.”In anticipation of an economic boom

brought on by the development of the natu-

ral gas industry in the state, Easy Rider isplanning ahead for the possibility ofexpanding services.“We want to make sure our drivers and

other staff members provide the best qualityservice. Our board of directors is behind us100 percent,” Thomas said.In the meantime, Thomas is keeping a

watchful eye on the U.S. Congress as thecurrent authorization for federal spendingon highway and public transportation pro-

grams, as well as surface transportationsafety and research and some rail programs,expires Sept. 30, 2014.“I hope Congress takes a hard look at

making sure public transportation is fundedfor the next four to six years so there won’tbe any service cuts throughout,” Thomassaid. “We have the possibility to expandservice down the road, but it depends onhow the federal government acts.”

Contact: Mid-Ohio Valley Transit Authority,

520 Juliana St., Parkersburg, WV 26101.Phone: 304-422-4100.

Email: [email protected]: www.easyriderbus.com.

This past summer marked the thirdanniversary of Solano CountyTran sit (SolTrans), of Vallejo, CA,

that serves the cities of Vallejo and Benicia,both located just north of the SanFrancisco/Oakland metro areas.“Prior to the inception of SolTrans, both

cities operated their own separate transitsystems,” said SolTrans Executive Dir -ector Mona Babauta. “It was at the end ofcalendar year 2010, when both cities, in theinterest of establishing a sustainable transitsystem of south Solano County, signed aJoint Powers Agreement to establishSolTrans. Approximately six months later,the agency then assumed the full responsi-bility of operating transit services for eachcity.”As a Joint Powers Authority (JPA),

SolTrans is considered its own governmen-tal entity in California and outsources its


“When a good product is offered, people will be supportive.”



transit operations to National ExpressTransit.“SolTrans is an urban system,” Babauta

said. “In addition to providing servicesto both Vallejo and Benicia, it also runscommuter service to BART (Bay AreaRapid Transit) stations in the citiesWalnut Creek and El Cerrito. Both ofthese BART stations arein Contra Costa County. “From both stations,

customers can also trav-el to major destinationsin the Oakland or SanFrancisco areas bycatching a BART train.We also operate service upto the city of Fairfield,which is here in SolanoCounty.“Furthermore, SolTrans offers

complementary bus service for theSan Francisco Bay Ferry to aug-ment is ferry service between downtownVallejo and San Francisco. Essentially, busservice is provided between ferry trips andwhen the ferries are not available.”SolTrans’ fleet includes 45 fixed-route,

and 12 paratransit vehicles. The system

averages 1.6 million revenue miles per year.“We operate seven local fixed-routes and

five regional routes,” Babauta said. “Our

local fleet is largelydiesel-electric hybrids.Three of our local busesand our entire commuter

fleet are of the old diesel variety, and theyall need to be replaced in the next one to fiveyears.”

Because of California’s stringent air emis-sions standards, SolTrans is finding it moreand more difficult to purchase diesel-elec-

tric hybrid buses.“There is a compliance

issue currently with CARB(California Air ResourcesBoard) that is prohibiting usfrom buying diesel-electrichybrid buses at this time,”Babauta said. “Every yearmanufacturers need to gothrough CARB to certify theirdiesel-electric hybrid sys-tems, resulting in significantprocurement delays.”As a result, SolTrans is

looking to CNG vehicles forthe future, which the Sol -Trans Board of Directorsrecently authorized during itsJune 2014 board meeting.

SolTrans ridership is around 1.4 millionpassengers per year.“About one-half of our ridership travels

on our commuter routes,” Babauta said.“These are folks going to San Francisco,Oakland, Walnut Creek, etc., for work orschool. I would consider these customers to


SolTrans Executive Director Mona Babauta.

HVallejo, CA



be primarily choice riders. “The commuter service is popular

because it is extremely expensive to park inSan Francisco or anywhere in the urban coreof the Bay Area. In addition, to get fromSolano County to downtown San Franciscoby car, people must pay two bridge tolls,which adds up to $10 per day on top of pay-ing for parking.“The other half of our ridership is local

customers, of which a good portion areyouths getting to and from school, in addi-tion to seniors and the disabled.”According to SolTrans, its ADA paratran-

sit service is available to qualified, certifiedpersons with disabilities who are unable toboard a regular fixed-route bus, access abus stop, or otherwise navigate the regularfixed-route bus system due to a disablingcondition as defined by the ADA. This doesnot include disabilities that only make use ofaccessible transit service difficult or incon-venient.“The paratransit service is origin to desti-

nation,” Babauta said. “Our drivers go outof their way to help people receive the serv-ice they need. Drivers are tuned in to theirclients’ special needs.”SolTrans also offers two subsidized taxi

services. The Solano County Intercity TaxiScrip Program is a flexible option limited toqualified ADA paratransit certified riders.This service provides premium curb-to-curb, same day transportation at a reducedcost for trips within Solano County. Thisprogram is in addition to ADA paratransitbus services available by public transitproviders throughout Solano County.In addition, the SolTrans Local Taxi Scrip

Program provides alternative transportationat a reduced cost for Medicare cardholders,seniors 65 and over, and persons with dis-abilities living in the cities of Vallejo andBenicia.“The subsidized taxi programs are a life-

line,” Babauta said. “When our buses stoprunning about 8 p.m., our paratransit systemshuts down as well. Let’s say someone is ona commuter route, and he or she arrivesdowntown where there is no local route thatwould take that person the rest of the wayhome. He or she would have the option oftaking a taxi. We work with the local taxicompanies to address that transportationneed. We subsidize 50 percent of the ride. “We also subsidize what we call inter-city

taxi service within Solano County, which

allows eligible individuals to buy $100worth of taxi script from SolTrans for $15. Itis a popular service for people who need togo up to Fairfield or Vacaville, or otherplaces within the county. Mostly, these peo-ple are traveling to medical appointments orto work.”While under Babauta’s leadership,

SolTrans now enjoys the support of localand state governments, as well as the riding

public. This wasn’t always thecase, at least in the beginning.“Gaining local support has

been an ongoing process,” Bab -auta said. “A year after Sol Transwas formed, we had to cut serv-

ice. The communities involved in the formerseparate systems, at that point, were verydisappointed. People wondered if theirelected officials made the right decision increating SolTrans and reducing services ineach of the cities. “What people didn’t know at the time was

the cuts were eventually going to happen —

“We have a lot of promotions. We are at community events. We set up booths andwe educate people on transit. We work very closely with the press to let them knowwhat progress we have made.”— SolTrans Executive Director Mona Babauta

Continued On Page 40



APTA EXPO

Heads To houston

Dear Public Transportation Colleagues:

On Octobe

r 12-15, 15,

000 public

transportati

on professio

nals from a

cross the w

orld

will gather

in Houston

for the Am

erican Publ

ic Transpor

tation Asso

ciation’s (A

PTA)

Internationa

l EXPO, the

world’s la

rgest public

transit-rela

ted conferen

ce, held in

con-

junction wi

th the APTA

Annual Meeting

.

The triennia

l APTA EX

PO showcas

es the latest

innovations

, products a

nd services

in

the public tr

ansportatio

n industry. E

XPO is the

must-atten

d event for

the entire

public

transit indu

stry, and of

fers unique

opportunit

ies for all

participants

to enhance

their

organizatio

ns, their ca

reers and th

eir professi

onal networ

ks. This yea

r, we are de

light-

ed that METRO

, the Metropo

litan Transit

Authority

of Harris C

ounty, TX,

will serve

as our host

with the the

me of “Pow

ering Possi

bilities.”

More than 75

0 exhibitor

s will displ

ay the lates

t advancem

ents and sta

te-of-the-ar

t

technology

, including 6

0-plus buse

s and at lea

st two mock

-up rail cars

. With hands-o

n

demonstrat

ions, and a

tremendou

s amount of

exhibitor in

formation a

vailable, yo

u can

walk the sh

ow floor (or

, in other w

ords, you c

an traverse

the 280,00

0 net squar

e feet of

the EXPO

trade show

floor), and

explore the

technologie

s that will

move

your public

transit syst

em or busin

ess forward

.

EXPO is he

ld in conju

nction with

APTA’s A

nnual Meeting

,

which mean

s you can e

xpect a wid

e-ranging li

neup of edu

cation-

al sessions,

general fo

rums, tech

nical tours

and extens

ive net-

working op

portunities

. New in 20

14, EXPO

features se

ven Learnin

g Zones ar

ound the

show floor

, as well as

an area d

edicated to

exhibitors s

howcasing

products a

nd services

related to l

ivable and s

ustainable c

ommuni-

ties, comp

lete streets

and transi

t-oriented

developme

nt.

We look for

ward to m

eeting you

in

Houston!

Sincerely,

Peter Varga and Phillip A. Washington

Peter VargaAPTA Chair, 2013-2014

Phillip A. WashingtonAPTA Chair, 2014-2015

APTA EXPO

Heads To houston


Over 15,000 transit professionals and750 exhibiting companies from aroundthe world will gather in October at the

George R. Brown Convention Center inHouston, TX, for the American PublicTransportation Association’s 2014 AnnualMeeting & EXPO. The event officially runsfrom Sunday, October 12 through Wednesday,October 15. The EXPO takes place every three years. At

this year’s event, attendees can visit exhibitsfeaturing different types of technology, prod-ucts and services, while talking with representa-tives of 750-plus public transportation-related

companies. Company booths will be locatedthroughout the EXPO showfloor.

EXPO hours are as follows:n 10:30 a.m. to 5 p.m.on Monday, October 13; n 9 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.

on Tuesday, October 14; and, n 9 a.m. to 3 p.m.

on Wednesday, October 15.

The EXPO offers a marketplace for the pub-lic transportation industry. Products on displaywill include alternative-fueled buses and trol-

leys featuring the latest in technology. Meanwhile, the APTA Annual Meeting, held

concurrently with the EXPO, features a seriesof educational sessions, forums and other learn-ing and networking opportunities.

Plaza 3 Added To EXPOAlong with the Level 1 showfloor, this year’s

APTA EXPO also features Plaza 3, located onthe third floor of the George R. BrownConvention Center. Plaza 3 includes the EXPOSustainability Showcase that features productsdesigned to meet commitments to environmen-tal quality, social well-being and economic



APTA EXPO

15,000 ExpectedAPTA EXPO

15,000 Expected




growth. Also featured at Plaza 3 are theCOMTO Pavilion, showcasing various DBEexhibitors; The APTA Center, where attendeescan learn more about the association; and vari-ous restaurants.

APTA Registration HoursAdmission to all scheduled APTA Annual

Meeting & EXPO activities requires a namebadge. Attendees must register and pick up theirindividual badges upon arrival. The registrationdesk, located in the George R. BrownConvention Center, will be open during the fol-lowing times: Saturday, October 11 – 8:30 a.m. to 5 p.m. Sunday, October 12 – 7:30 a.m. to 6 p.m. Monday, October 13 – 7:30 a.m. to 5 p.m.

Tuesday, October 14 – 7:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. Wednesday, October 15 – 7:30 a.m. to 3 p.m.

Opening General SessionThe Opening General Session will take place

from 8:30 to 10 a.m. on Monday, October 13, inthe George R. Brown Convention Center’sGrand Ballroom. Attendees will hear an updateon the state of public transportation, and wit-ness the “exchanging of the gavel” ceremonybetween the incoming and outgoing APTAchairs. The session concludes with the officialgrand opening of the 2014 APTA EXPO.The keynote address at this year’s Opening

General Session will be given by Dr. Stephen L.Klineberg, co-director of the Kinder Institutefor Urban Research at Houston’s RiceUniversity. Dr. Klineberg will speak on, “TheChanging Face of Houston: The Prospects forWalkable Urbanism in a Car-Centered City.”

Educational OpportunitiesThere are a variety of educational sessions

scheduled for the 2014 APTA Annual Meeting& EXPO. These sessions will be locatedthroughout the George R. Brown ConventionCenter. This involves three concurrent AnnualMeeting Education Sessions as well as othersessions scheduled at seven Learning Zones.Speakers will discuss topics ranging from

fare collection systems and transit shelters, tomobility management and green solutions.

APTA Technical Tours APTA Annual Meeting & EXPO registrants

are also invited to participate in four technicaltours arranged by Houston Metro. They are asfollows: Arts In Transit; Metrorail OperatingFacility; Metrolift Operations Center; andHouston Transtar-Emergency Management.Those interested are asked to sign up in

advance at the host information desk at theAPTA registration area in the convention center.The tours will take place from 2 to 4:30 p.m. onboth Tuesday, October 14, and Wednesday,

October 15. Visit www.aptaexpo.com for more informa-

tion about the 2014 APTA Annual Meeting &EXPO.

2014 APTA Annual Meeting & EXPO Schedule

(Courtesy of APTA: Current As Of Sept. 11, 2014)

Saturday, October 118 a.m. - 6 p.m.

APTA Committee Meetings8:30 a.m. - 5 p.m.Registration Open

(Exhibitor Registration Opens at 7:30 a.m.)

Sunday, October 127 a.m. - 6 p.m.

APTA Committee Meetings7:30 a.m. - 6 p.m.Registration Open

(EXPO-only Registration Opens at Noon)1 - 2:15 p.m.This is APTA6 - 7:30 p.m.

Welcome Reception

Monday, October 137:30 a.m. - 5 p.m.Registration Open8:30 - 10:15 a.m.



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Opening General Session & EXPO 2014 Grand Opening Ceremonies

8 a.m. - 4:45 p.m.Learning Zone Presentations

10:30 a.m. - 5 p.m.EXPO 2014 Open

1:30 - 3 p.m.General Session

3 - 5 p.m.Public Transportation Innovations

3:30 - 5:30 p.m.AdWheel Awards Ceremony

3:30 - 5:30 p.m.Concurrent Annual Meeting Edu. Sessions:• Linking Transit & Land Use: Building &

Sustaining Transit-Oriented Communities;

• Congress & The Federal TransportationAgenda;

• Big Transportation Infrastructure ProjectsWorldwide;

• Funding for Public Transportation; and,• Local Share Funding Sources Pub. Trans.

5:30 - 6:30 p.m.Young Professionals in Trans. Happy Hour

5:45 - 6:45 p.m.APTF Reception (tickets required)

Tuesday, October 147:30 a.m. - 3:45 p.m.

Learning Zone Presentations

7:30 a.m. - 4:30 p.m.Registration Open

8 - 9 a.m.Business to Business Breakfast

for Exhibitors Only on EXPO Floor8:30 - 10:30 a.m.

APTA’s Annual Awards Breakfast9 a.m. - 4:30 p.m.EXPO 2014 Open1:30 - 3:30 p.m.

Concurrent Annual Meeting Edu. Sessions:• Good Faith Effort: Live or Memorex?

APTA-COMTO DBE Assembly;• Celebrating Tomorrow’s Leaders:

Leadership APTA & The APTF ScholarshipAwards;

• Promising Practices in Asset Management, State of Good Repair & Performance-Based

Planning;• It’s All About Advocacy:

How to Engage the Public and Stakeholders;• Reimagining Transit Services & Orgs:

A Texas Roundup; and,• Comprehensive Approaches to Financing

New Projects.2 - 4:30 p.m.

Houston METRO Technical Tours4 - 5:30 p.m.

General Session5:45 - 6:45 p.m.

Leadership APTA Reception

Wednesday, October 157:30 - 9:15 a.m.

General Session & Breakfast7:30 a.m. - 2:45 p.m.

Learning Zone Presentations7:30 a.m. - 3 p.m.Registration Open 9 a.m. - 3 p.m.

EXPO 2014 Open9:30 - 11 a.m.

Concurrent Annual Meeting Education Sessions:

• Management and Integration of Current and New Technologies;

• The Transit Board Member’s Role inProcurement;

• Top Actions to Mitigate Distracted Driving;• Executive Roundtable: Advancing

Your Front-Line Workforce;•You Are a Powerful Force:

Public Transportation and Real Estate Values; and,

• Arts in Transit.11:30 a.m. - 12:30 p.m.Closing General Session

1 - 5 p.m.FTA’s Major Capital Investment Grant

Workshop2 - 4:30 p.m.

Houston METRO Technical Tours


they just happened after SolTrans wasformed. During the past few years, we havereally worked hard to rebuild the confidenceof the people SolTrans serves. “Now, we are out there in the community.

We have a lot of promotions. We are at com-munity events. We set up booths and weeducate people on transit. We work veryclosely with the press to let them know whatprogress we have made.“SolTrans’ board members are now say-

ing that they are hearing a lot of positivecomments about the system. This indi-cates both communities, Vallejo andBenicia, have reallycome to embrace thesystem. I think over-all, we have a strongrelationship with thecommunities that weserve. In addition,local and regional governments have beensupportive.”When it comes to customer service, in

addition to responding to customers’

requests and inquiries, etc., making surestrong safety and maintenance programsare in place is key, according to Babauta.

“With regards to safety, we recently wereawarded an APTA Gold Award,” Babautasaid.The award was announced by APTA at the

organization’s annual Bus & ParatransitConference in May in Kansas City, MO. Itwas a Gold Award for Safety for privatecompanies providing contracted transporta-tion management and services. According toAPTA, “(National Express Transit andSolTrans) created a vision for building itssafety culture and developed a safety actionplan.”“Last July we switched contractors,”

Babauta said. “National Express Transitcame in and really transformed the safetyprogram, reducing the number of preventa-ble accidents.“We want to make sure the community

and the people we carry everyday know thatwhen they board our buses they are going tohave a safe ride. As a part of ensuring a safeand secure experience, we installed videosystems in all of our buses last year. As aresult, people feel a lot safer and secure onthe bus. “We have taken a comprehensive app -

roach to customer service, from both thesafety perspective and also the mainte-nance perspective. We have really trans-formed our maintenance program. Wemake sure buses are reliable and break-downs have vastly been reduced.“Furthermore, SolTrans signed onto

www.511.org last year, where customers canget online and plan their trips before board-ing the bus. In addition, we just recently goton Google Transit.”Currently, National Express Transit

employs about 110 people to operate theSolTrans system, in addition to 10 peoplewho work for SolTrans at its administrativeheadquarters.“The system’s employees are the heart

and soul of what we do every single day,especially the operators who are out in thefront line,” Babauta said. “Many of theseemployees worked for the two separate tran-sit systems before SolTrans was created.When the two systems merged, many ofthem stuck around. I take my hat off tothem. Through all the chaos of consolida-


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“Policymakers are beginning to realize that transitreally is a solution to reducing our dependency onfossil fuels and improving the environment, while

helping to shape healthier communities.”

Public Transit Demand Increasing:Continued From Page 33



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tion, they stuck it out and remained commit-ted, making sure the people they had servedfor years continued to be served well.”One of SolTrans biggest challenges look-

ing ahead is how to extend services to meetthe growing demand.“Just within the past year on our local sys-

tem, we have seen demand increase by morethan 15 percent,” Babauta said. “A year afterSolTrans was formed, it was realized therewere sustainability issues. As a result, theboard had to make the tough decision of cut-ting service. Since I have been here, we haveaddressed the sustainability issues. “We now have healthy financial reserves,

and we are in a position to put back some ofthe service that we cut, which amounts toabout 7,000 revenue hours. We now operateabout 82,000 revenue hours on an annualbasis. Over the past few months, I have beentalking with my board about how we wouldhandle an additional 7,000 hours of servicein a way that would make sure our perform-ance is as strong as it is right now. “How we put back that service, while also

preserving our strong performance, is criticalin making sure we continue to be competi-tive for grant funds. Performance is becom-ing a bigger factor for grant funding, espe-cially here in the San Francisco Bay area.”Babauta said typically, when discussing

adding service, people will say they wantexpanded hours and service on Sunday.However, the solution of what is the bestway to add service is not that simple.“We all know in the industry that late

service and service on Sunday are typicallythe least productive times for a transit sys-tem,” Babauta said. “It becomes a matter ofhow do we meet that need, while also tryingto make sure that we perform well.“Long-term funding is also an issue. We

have money right now to expand the service,but there is going to be a continued demandfor more and more service. How do we fundthat? Giving back 7,000hours doesn’t even comeclose to what the com-munities really wantand/or need.”Looking into the

future, Babauta feelspublic transit is begin-ning to play a moredominant role in state and national policies.“Here in California, and nationwide as

well, I think policymakers are beginning torealize that transit really is a solution toreducing our dependency on fossil fuels andimproving the environment, while helpingto shape healthier communities. We arebeginning to see that in legislation that is

being passed in terms of dedicated fundingsources, to make sure transit continues to befunded efficiently and services to the com-munities are sustained, at the least.”Contact: Solano County Transit (SolTrans),

311 Sacramento St., Vallejo, CA.Phone: 707-736-6990.

Website: www.soltransride.com.

Located in the southeast corner ofSouth Dakota, Sioux Falls, popu-lation about 160,000, is served by

Sioux Area Metro (SAM), which oper-ates 12 fixed-routes and four “school trip-

per” routes.“Our urban system issplit evenly betweenfixed-route and para-transit service, withabout 20 vehicles run-ning for each daily,”said SAM GeneralManager Eric Meyer -son. “Our routes run

Monday through Saturday. We also recent-ly began running a couple of additionalhours during the week. We run as late asaround 9 p.m. on weeknights on five of ourmore popular routes.”According to Meyerson, the fixed-route

service logs an average of around 730,000

Sioux Falls, SD

H



miles per year, while theparatransit service travelsnearly 650,000 miles eachyear.“All our newer buses use

clean diesel fuel,” Meyerson said. “SiouxFalls officials are undergoing a study look-ing at the entire city fleet,exploring the possibility ofusing alternative fuels, such ascompressed natural gas (CNG),hybrid-electric, etc.”SAM carries more than 1

million passengers a year on itsfixed-route service and about150,000 paratransit ridersannually.

Meyerson explained that,aside from Sioux Falls andRapid City, most of SouthDakota is very rural. While theSioux Falls economy andquality of life is attractingpeople from other parts of thestate, they are likely to not bewell versed in urban living,including the use of publictransportation.“While we haven’t done any official

studies on ridership, anecdotal evidence

indicates our passengers are mostly transit-dependent,” Meyerson said. “However,

choice ridership will likely increase asMillennials and Baby Boomers are tendingto embrace public transportation more and

getting away somewhat from depending oncars.

“I think younger people aremuch more interested in theurban lifestyle. In order to suc-cessfully navigate the urbanlifestyle, transit has to be a bigpart of that package. I think theoutlook for the growth of pub-lic transportation is lookinggood.“There is a theory that one

of the reasons for the change inattitudes about public trans-portation has been television.When I was growing up, thefamilies on TV were all subur-ban families, like the ‘BradyBunch,’ etc. More recently,however, there have beenshows like ‘Seinfeld’ and‘Friends’ that take place in

cities. Younger people relate to these showsand the lifestyles they depict, which mightbe a significant factor in the growing


“I think younger people are much more interested in the urban lifestyle. In order tosuccessfully navigate the urban lifestyle, transit has to be a big part of that package.”

— SAM General Manager Eric Meyerson

SAM’s fixed-route service logs approximately 730,000 miles per year, while the paratransit service travels nearly 650,000 miles each year.


acceptance of public transportation.”SAM’s paratransit operation is an origin-

to-destination shared ride service for per-sons who are unable to use accessiblefixed-route bus service. Passengers must becertified eligible as per guidelines estab-lished in the Americans with DisabilitiesAct (ADA).“We offer a good, quality para-

transit service,” Meyerson said.“We have great drivers and niceequipment. We also use some ofthe larger vehicles for this serviceas we do a number of group trips.“SAM is a customer-driven public tran-

sit system. I think we are blessed beinglocated in South Dakota. People here arefriendly and helpful and there is a strongwork ethic. This all translates into highquality customer service. Our dedicatedand skillful employees are key to the entireoperation. They are the ones who makeSAM successful. We have just over 100employees.”SAM is funded primarily at the local

level and with federal matches.“The biggest challenge has been the

reduction of available federal funding forcapital purchases,” Meyerson said. “This

makes it very difficult to replace vehicles.We have had to make some operationaldecisions just based on the availability ofcapital funding.“Nonetheless, the city of Sioux Falls has

been phenomenal. City officials are reallycommitted to making transit work. When

the federal money was reduced, the citycame through and found funding, which Ithought was exemplary. The state govern-ment is not really a major factor.”Given Sioux Falls location in the upper

Midwest, winters can be brutal. Whilemany areas of the country experiencedcolder temperatures and more snowfallthan usual last year, in Sioux Falls harshwinter weather is often the norm. The coldand snow typically does not have much ofan impact on SAM’s day-to-day operations.“Our city crews do a phenomenal job of

keeping the roads clear,” Meyerson said.“As a result, during the past two years, we

haven’t had to cancel a single trip due toweather. “Sometimes when the weather is excep-

tionally severe, we might make some minorchanges for routes that travel through hillyportions of the city. All of our vehicles arekept indoors at night, so we really don’t

have issues with them not starting.Many residents have lived here a longtime and are used to dealing with theweather.”Meyerson said SAM’s goals for the

future include improving the fixed-route network.

“We want to build up some frequencies,work on more direct routes and expandservices into some areas,” he said “The cityis growing rapidly. We have been gaining3,000 residents a year, on average. We haveone of the lowest unemployment rates inthe country. It is a high quality of life city.We have really good parks and it is just apleasant place to live, work and raise afamily.”

Contact: Sioux Area Metro, 500 East Sixth St.,

Sioux Falls, SD 57103-7016.Phone: 605-367-7151.

Website: www.siouxfalls.org/sam.aspx.



“When the federal money was reduced, thecity came through and found funding, which Ithought was exemplary. The state government isnot really a major factor.”



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as a part of the ERI program, including theentire top line of executive managers,”McBride said. “Also retiring were three-fourthsof line supervisors and one-third of mechanicsand bus drivers. It was an amazing turnover.”While the ERI may have cost the city and

Metro many employees with years of experi-ence, there is a silver lining as youngeremployees who have been thrust into top levelmanagement and other positions are bringinga fresh perspective to the transit system inmany ways, McBride explained.“The ERI program has provided an oppor-

tunity to see things from a different perspec-tive in implementing improvements and find-ing new ways to doing things,” he said.“Many of the younger employees are comingto their jobs without a lot of baggage, such asbeing locked into doing things just because itis the way it has always been done.”Currently, Metro has 120 employees.

McBride explained the system’s structure isthat of administrative people, a maintenancedivision and operations division. Metro has athird-party contractor for its demand andresponse services.

“Bus drivers, by far, make up the majorityof our employees,” he said. “The point ofentry into our system is at the TransportationCenter, where we have customer service staffprocessing permits, passes, etc. Dispatchsupervisors are the heartbeat of the organiza-tion. We also have our top echelon of man-agers, like myself.“I’m not the one out there providing serv-

ice. I depend on operation supervisors to makethe day-to-day decisions. They deal with thevarious issues that drivers bring to them. Wehave a really strong group. They are the heart-beat of the organization, making sure thingsrun smoothly. I never underestimate, and trulyappreciate what they do.”When hiring new drivers, Metro has an

extensive testing and interviewing process inplace. Operator candidates need not have priorexperience or hold a commercial driverslicense (CDL) to be considered. However,excellent customer service skills are a must.“We look at a candidate’s ‘soft skills’ very

closely,” McBride said. “We examine his orher customer service skills and personality.We find out if a candidate wants to embraceinteracting and communicating with our riders.”New hires start out as part-time drivers, with a

view to becoming full-time drivers after training.

“While the new driver is training and work-ing part time, we will determine if that personis the right fit for Metro,” McBride said.Despite the challenges and with the inher-

ent excitement of transitioning to a regionalsystem, McBride is optimistic about the futureof public transit in Kalamazoo, as well asnationwide.“I am extremely optimistic about the viabil-

ity and importance of public transit in the nearfuture,” he said. “I see bus rapid transit (BRT)routes as a possibility for the future ofKalamazoo. “I think the demographics of our nation are

such to embrace public transportation.Populations are shifting away from the sub-urbs and outlying areas into the urban core,which is a positive trend for public transit. Weare also seeing the Millennials not embracingthe car as much, while using other modes oftransportation, be it the bicycle, public transitor walking. Also, Baby Boomers looking foroptions to move into the urban center is anoth-er positive development.”

Contact: Metro Transit, 530 N. Rose St., Kalamazoo MI 49007. Phone: 269-337-8222.

Website: www.kmetro.org.

Kalamazoo Metro Transit:Continued From Page 22



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Bike Rack Advertising Panels

From Handi-Hut:LANTA Uses Solar Power For Shelters

Russell Cress Company Inc. has announced national distribution of itsBike Rack Advertising Panels, available to transit companies throughoutthe United States. Large and small systems can place advertiser’s information on the

front of buses that already have bike racks installed.

“These low-cost panels, 14 inches by 47 inches, present a way toderive additional income continually with a very small investment inhardware,” said company officials.According to the company, the Chicago System, CTA has had success

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and interior frames for buses. Custom design and fabrication services of hardware for mass transit

displays and advertising are also available. Visit www.russellcressco.com for more information.

Solar-powered bus shelters are now among LANTA’s (Allentown,PA) fleet of more than 90 covered waiting areas for users of the pub-licly-funded bus service.The new shelters use solar cells to convert sunlight to electricity,

storing the power in batteries to illuminate the waiting area for cus-tomers, as well as the advertisements that help pay for shelter main-tenance, according to Lehigh and Northampton TransportationAuthority Planning Director Owen O’Neil.Handi-Hut, of Clifton, NJ, provider of LANTA’s solar shelters,

estimates that avoiding the need to install in-ground power lines toshelters can save its customers $5,000 to $7,000.

“At about $9,400, each ‘green’ kiosk costs $3,000 more than amodel powered by a standard electrical connection. All of LANTA’sshelters use electricity to light the interiors as well as the ad panels,”O'Neil said.Visit www.handi-hut.com for more information.



Holdsworth Fabrics - rolling on with Camira We hope you’ve heard our name is changing from Holdsworth to Camira.

Weaving the original wool moquette fabrics, �at cloths and ancillary trims, bearing the hallmarks of sustainability and innovation.

You can be sure we’ll keep the wheels turning and the world moving.

www.camirafabrics.com | www.holdsworthfabrics.com | 616 288 0655


BITZER To Highlight Products During Chillventa 2014 In Germany

BITZER, a specialist in refrigeration com-pressors, will showcase its key 2014 innova-tions during the international trade fair inNuremberg, Germany, known as Chillventa2014. The event takes place October 14-16.

Chillventa is a show for refrigeration, airconditioning and heat pumps. One of the newproducts the company will be showcasing is itsfurther optimized CRII capacity control. Thesystem delivers adjustable capacity control forthe ECOLINE reciprocating compressors withfour, six and – now for the first time – twocylinders.

“Depending on the operating conditions andrefrigerant, a special control algorithm allowscompressors to be infinitely adjusted,” accord-ing to a news release. With the CRII, BITZER has a range of con-

trol between 10 and 100 percent for two-, four-and six-cylinder compressors. The increasedswitching frequency, however, ensures smallerfluctuations in controlled value, temperature aswell as pressure and, in combination with theexpanded range of control, optimizes systemefficiency.Volker Stamer, BITZER director of sales for

stationary products, said, “With the CRII sys-tem, we are offering our customers a whole newlevel of flexibility and supporting customizationto suit all possible ECOLINE compressor oper-ating conditions. This increases system efficien-cy while protecting the environment.”BITZER is also expanding its range of CO2

compressors. With the introduction of the4PTC-6K model for lower displacements andthe 4DTC-25K and 4CTC-30K models forhigher displacements, the series for transcriticalcompressors now ranges from 183 to 1,092cubic feet of displacement per hour at 60 Hz.Fair visitors can see an expanded product rangeand a new CO2 series at the BITZER stand.

For the first time, the company is presentingto the public an open-drive screw compressor inthe OS series. The model is based on the con-struction of the OS series and, for now, isdesigned for use with NH3 (ammonia) in medi-um and low temperature applications. The CSVH3 series is a new development in

the field of speed-regulated compact screw com-pressors. BITZER has added two more powerful

larger models to its existing CSVH series. TheCSVH37 compact screw compressor has a cool-ing capacity of 1,878 kBtu/h (+41/122°F) with adisplacement of up to 33,902 ft3/h.

One of the new products the compressor specialist BITZER will be showcasing at

Chillventa is the optimized CRII capacity control.

Trade fair visitors can see a new CO2 series at the BITZER stand.




The larger CSVH38 has a cooling capacity of2,254 kBtu/h (+41/122°F) with a displacementof up to 40,823 ft3/h. BITZER has developed anew housing size that allows this level of per-formance. The series is based on the engineeringand electronics of the CSVH2 series and has arange of applications, from air cooled liquidchillers to heat pumps.The CSVW2 is also a compact screw com-

pressor, specially designed for liquid chillerswith a low condensing temperature. Its engi-neering is based on the CSVH2 compact screwcompressor and combine strengths with newcapabilities at low load conditions. For high coefficient of performance (COP)

for this type of application, and a good ESEER,BITZER has integrated a permanent magnetmotor. The drive technology is especially bene-ficial in liquid chillers with a water cooled con-

denser. The internal volume ratio (Vi) of thecompressor was also adjusted to allow theCSVW2 series to achieve more efficiency in thelower speed and load range than the CSVHseries. The company modified the frequencyinverter accordingly.“In the scroll compressor segment, the

BITZER Advanced Header Technology(BAHT) for compressor tandems or trios is apioneer in the design of air conditioning andheat pump systems. The newly developed suc-tion gas header plays a key role, as it spcifical-ly directs oil to one of the compressors andthen, inside the compressor tandem or trio dis-tributes it evenly among other compressors. Italso works when uneven compressors are com-bined and allows frequency of a single com-pressor to be adjusted in the unit,” according toa company release.The unit does not require active oil manage-

ment with an oil separator or a lead compressorinto which the oil can flow back. Also, when oneor two compressors are shut off, oil distributionis maintained.

BITZER said Advanced Header Technologyoffers the following benefits:

n Only one suction line for many compressorcombinations without an individual combina-tion of restrictor washers;

n Reliable functioning at high and low suc-tion gas volume flows;

n Uneven capacity adjustment through differ-ent displacements in the unit;

n Different compressor housing sizes (GSD6and GSD8) can be combined in one unit; and,

n Less warehousing, simpler installation and

error prevention in the production of multi-com-pressor units.“The lower oil carry-over rate of the ORBIT

scroll compressors, and the new suction gasheader, promote longer operation with equalizedoil levels in the compressors, even in demandingconditions. This includes the integration ofreversible heat pumps and iced evaporators,”said the company. “The oil needs to be able toreturn to the suction line.”

Visit www.bitzerus.com for more information. “Images: BITZER US, Inc.”

BITZER has added two, more powerful, larger models to its existing CSVH series;

the CSVH37 and the CSVH38

The BITZER Advanced Header Technology (BAHT)for compressor tandems and trios.


Trans/Air Manufacturing, a Dallastown, PA,U.S. manufacturer of transportation climatecontrol systems, now offers a Driver AirDiverter for the Trans/Air Flush MountedFM55 Evaporator.

The Driver Air Diverter is designed specifi-cally to ensure the comfort of the driver andcan be added as an option to Trans/Air’s frontflush mounted FM55 evaporator. The designconsists of four multidirectional rectangularlouvers to direct air to the passenger compart-ment and a separate adjustable ball louverwhich directs air directly to the driver.The company says advantages of the Driver

Air Diverter include easy aftermarket installa-tion and compatibility with mirrors on allOEM front bulkhead options.

Trans/Air manufactures a full line of climatecontrol systems. Units, parts, service, warran-ty, and new or aftermarket installations are

available through factory owned operations ora network of distributors throughout NorthAmerica.

For additional information on any ofTrans/Air’s products and services, visitwww.transairmfg.com.


Altro Transflor Wood Safety™

Slip resistant, wood-look flooring for transportation applications.

www.altrotrans�or.com

Altro Transflor Wood Safety™

™

Booth #3129

2014 Busline_sfs.indd 1 6/20/2014 3:34:30 PM

Trans/Air’s new Driver Air Diverter

Trans/Air Offers New Driver Air Diverter For Flush Mount 55 Evaporator

From Marathon Brake Systems:High Performance Brake Linings And Disc Pads

Marathon’s industry OE approved KVTbrake linings and DiscStar air disc pads aredesigned for transit and coach lines. KVT andDiscStar are quiet, long life materials that arefriendly to drums and rotors, according toMarathon.

KVT Transit Brake Linings:A Quiet, Long Life Friction Material

Designed For Intracity And Intercity Bus Fleets

OE Transit Approved KVT is formulated tohandle the high heat of multiple stopping of acity bus and the heavy-duty demands of a motorcoach. KVT is an organic, non-asbestos brake lining

that combines stopping power and quiet opera-tion with a long lining life. KVT meets federalregulations for brake effectiveness, fade andrecovery in accordance with FMVSS 121 testprocedure and is rated for 28,660 lb. axle loads.

DiscStar Air Disc Pads:A High Performance Brake Pad Designed

For Air Disc Brakes, With Wear And Low Noise Characteristics

Marathon now offers a high performance airdisc pad, DiscStar.

Designed specifically for air disc brakes,Marathon’s DiscStar disc pads were created tohandle the extreme conditions of transit bus andcoach applications. DiscStar disc pads providestopping power, a long pad and rotor life andsignificant noise reduction, according to a newsrelease. Visit www.MarathonBrake.com for moreinformation, or call 800-223-5201.


Garavelli Enterprises, Inc. is a business tobusiness global supplier. Its Airport SeatingAlliance division has supplied seating to interna-tional and regional airports and other transporta-tion facilities for over 20 years. The company designs, manufactures and sup-

plies commercial seating for passenger waitingareas in airports, first class lounges, train sta-tions, bus terminals, hospitals, cruise ship termi-nals, conference centers, doctors’ offices, andcasinos worldwide. Customers include Amtrak Penn Station

NYC, Chicago Union Station, Washington,D.C. Union Station, American Airlines, GSAmilitary bases, Social Security offices, LongIsland Railway, Port Everglades Cruise ShipTerminals, Bellingham Bus Terminal and LynxBus Terminal.“Airport Seating Alliance works closely with

architects, general contractors, designers andairport management to provide just-in-timedelivery, assembly and installation of waitingarea seating. The company’s methods, proce-dures and project management programs chartthe progress of multiple projects to achievedelivery schedules. Airport Seating Alliancesupplies only high quality seating. Its line con-

sists of seating in perforated steel, extruded orsheet aluminum, contour molded wood, injectionmolded and roto-cast polypropylene for indoorand outdoor seating. It has an extensive selectionof fabrics and vinyls that meet all internationalcommercial safety standards,” said companyrepresentatives. Some of the company’s models offer

polyurethane molded cushions designed to with-

stand extreme use where passenger traffic is veryhigh. In addition to seating, the company cooper-ates with other companies to supply airport inte-rior products such as waste receptacles, planters,check-in counters and children’s play modules. All of its products are unique in design, func-

tion and provide user comfort while being easy tomaintain. It has innovative custom seating solu-tions for the international and domestic traveler.

Visit the company’s website at www.airportseatingalliance.com for

products and specifications, or send e-mail to:[email protected].


From Bitimec: 1 Detailer;

8 Minute Bus Wash “Bitimec bus washing equipment allows one

detailer to soap, wash and rinse a full size coachin eight minutes, and up to 40 buses a day.” The‘pallet size’ bus-wash machines are auto -nomous, affordable, self-contained bus washsystems which turn a single operator into a‘wash-crew,” said company representatives. “The Speedy Wash power bus washers come

in electric/diesel/battery and hybrid power ver-sions. Prices range from $20,000 to $50,000installed,” said the company.Visit www.bitimec.com for more information.

From Garavelli Enterprises, Inc.:Commercial Seating For Passenger Waiting Areas




Guy Charron Joins MCI As V. P. Regional Sales Eastern Canada

Guy Charron has joined MCI as vice president,regional sales Eastern Canada, succeeding JoeSimard, who is retiring after an eight-year careerat MCI and 31 years in the industry. Charron is responsible for MCI and Setra new-

coach sales, as well as the sale of pre-ownedcoaches to privateand public operatorsin Quebec and theMaritime provinces.He reports to Patri -cia Ziska, MCI vicepresident of NewCoach Sales.Charron was for-

merly president ofWorld Bus Corporat -ion, a joint venturebetween entities inMexico and Canada

to develop an urban bus for the Latin Americamarket. Before that, he was with Corbeil Buses, aschool-bus manufacturer founded in Quebec byhis grandfather in 1936. Charron also has a 21-year career as a production supervisor at an urban-bus plant in the Saguenay region of Quebec, thathad been owned by several manufacturers, includ-

ing MCI from 1987 through 1993. Charron, who studied manufacturing engineer-

ing, began his career at GMC Trucks in 1977, andworked for a time at GM’s diesel division in pow-ertrain purchasing. A native of Montreal, he isfluent in French, English and Spanish.MCI’s Canadian group includes regional sales

vice presidents Guy Tessier, responsible forWestern Canadian provinces, and John Leone,Ontario; Chad Sadowy, MCI technical solutionsmanager; and Doug DePape, MCI parts solutionsmanager. In addition, the MCI Sales and ServiceCenter in Montreal serves area operators withfactory-trained technicians and offers mainte-nance, repair and regional parts supply.

Charron can be reached [email protected].

Wiebe Joins MCI As Contracts Manager

Bruce Wiebe, a senior contracts professional,has joined MCI as contracts manager. Wiebe isresponsible for all of MCI’s public sector pro-curement preparation and submissions as well ascontract management. He is based in Winnipeg,Manitoba, and reports to Tom Wagner, vice pres-ident of public sector sales. Reporting to Wiebe are MCI’s three contract

administrators, Dale Majury, Mike Harpin andBrad Driedger, who comprise the sales and opera-

tions team in Winnipeg. This team also plans andupdates forecasts for production and inventoryplanning, working closely with MCI sales repre-sentatives and public sector customers on leadtime and product specifications. Wiebe, who had a 17-year career with IBM,

Winnipeg, was most recently a negotiating con-sultant for new deal opportunities and changeorders for existing contracts in a variety of fieldsincluding public sec-tor. He also has salesexperience from hisprevious IBM rolesas software accountmanager and leasingsales specialist, alongwith technical expe-rience through hisrole as a technicalsolution manager.Prior to IBM, Wiebeheld a number ofpositions with Manit -oba Hydro and began his career at NorthAmerican Life Assurance as an APL programmerafter graduating from the University of Alberta. Wiebe earned a B.Sc. in math from the

University of Alberta and an MBA in finance fromthe University of Manitoba. He has a C.M.A. fromthe Society of Management Accountants.

Bruce WiebeGuy Charron

PERSONNEL NEWS FROM MCI



Seoul City Tours in Seoul, South Korea, hasrecently bought three Supreme Classic AmericanTrolleys for use in its custom tour services.

Seoul City Tours offers tailored packages toforeign visitors looking to enjoy Seoul in a trol-ley. Tourists are provided access to popular des-tinations and attractions with headsets offering avariety of languages to experience Seoul. Thecompany recently displayed the latest vehicle inits fleet at the Seoul Expo in April.All Classic American Trolleys feature vehicle

amenities with the appearance of a classic trol-ley. Available in gasoline, diesel, LPG, andCNG, the trolleys are manufactured by SupremeCorporation in Goshen, IN, with a passenger

capacity from 22 to 39. They are Altoona tested,meeting all U.S. and Canadian DOT codes.These vehicles are designed to operate in variousenvironments and feature climate control sys-tems. Additional options such as handicap acces-sibility, removable sidewalls and a conductor’s

platform are available.In 1998, SVI partnered with Supreme

Corporation to become the exclusive worldwidedistributor for both Classic American Trolleysand Classic American Trams. Since then, over500 trolleys have been manufactured at Supremeand sold throughout the United States, Guam,Asia and South America.

Visit www.specialtyvehicles.com.


From Specialty Vehicles: Three Supreme Classic American Trolleys Purchased By Seoul City Tours

Santa Barbara Metropolitan Transit District (MTD)General Manager Sherrie Fisher Retires

Santa Barbara (CA) Metropolitan Transit District (MTD) GeneralManager Sherrie Fisher has announced her retirement. Fisher began hercareer at MTD in May, 1974, when she was hired as the agency’s firstfemale bus driver. She continued as a bus driver until 1979, when shemoved into an administrative role as MTD’s scheduler and planner. She was next promoted to manager of planning and marketing, fol-

lowed by manager of risk, personnel, and operations. In 1988, whileretaining that position, she was also appointed assistant general manager.MTD’s Board of Directors selected her as acting general manager in 2003and as general manager in 2004. MTD faced a crisis in 2013, when MTD drivers, supervisors, mechan-

ics, and utility workers (represented by Teamsters Union Local 186)expressed concerns about the impact of California’s Public Employees’Pension Reform Act of 2013 (PEPRA) on bargaining rights. This disagreement threatened MTD’sannual federal funding and could have resulted in a major service cut. However, the differenceswere eventually resolved with no loss of funding. Visit www.sbmtd.gov for more information.

Sherrie Fisher


TEMSA Global and CH Bus Sales,Inc. recently signed an agreement toextend their exclusive distributor part-nership. Since February 2010, CH BusSales has been the exclusive distributorof TEMSA motorcoaches in the UnitedStates, and more recently in Canada,offering sales, service, and after-salessupport. “Until recently, CH Bus Sales offered

two mid-size models to U.S. operators,the TEMSA TS 30 and TEMSA TS 35.Now, with the newly introduced full-size coach, the TEMSA TS 45, CH BusSales is able to offer a more diverseproduct offering to the U.S. market,”according to a press release from thecompany.Dincer Celik, general manager at TEMSA

Global, said, “We are pleased with the progressCH Bus Sales has made in this market the lastfew years and look forward to a long term rela-tionship.” “TEMSA and CH are the only providers of

integral monocoque manufactured coaches inthree different lengths, 30, 35, and 45 feet,” saidrepresentatives.“TEMSA Global, an automotive company in

Turkey, manufactures and distributes buses andcoaches with its own brand in domestic and

international markets. TEMSA Global has atotal annual production capacity of 11,500 vehi-cles in one shift at its Adana Production Plant,

comprised of 4,000 buses and coaches,and 7,500 light trucks. TEMSA sells itsproducts to 64 countries in addition toTurkey. In France alone, more than 3,000TEMSA branded buses are on the roads,”according to the company.“The company’s major markets in

Europe include Germany, Italy, Austria,Sweden, Lithuania and the Beneluxregion, and TEMSA has increased itsmarket share in the United States throughincreased product diversification,” saidofficials.CH Bus Sales also offers full service

after-sales support, warranty assistance,and parts availability. Administrativeheadquarters are based out of Faribault,MN, with full-service facilities and cus-tomer delivery locations in Orlando, FL;

Las Vegas, NV; and Dallas/Fort Worth, TX.Company representatives say the companylooks to expand to other locations in theNortheast and West Coast next year.

Visit www.chbussales.com andwww.temsa.com for more information.



GREENINGTRANS IT# C U T A n i a g a r a

Join us in Niagara Falls November 15-19, 2014

Dynamic sessionsEngaging keynote speakersLargest transit tradeshow in CanadaUnique technical toursEnjoyable companion programBeautiful Niagara Falls

FIND OUT MORE AND REGISTER TODAY.

VISIT CUTA.CA

CUTA Fall Conference and Trans-Expo

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CM

MY

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CMY

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Pictured left to right are Dincer Celik, general manager of TEMSA Global, and Bob Foley,

president & CEO of CH Bus Sales.

TEMSA Global And CH Bus Sales Extend Distributor Agreement




Espar Climate Control Systems is now manu-facturing the legacy Carrier AC 310 and AC 350roof mounted AC Systems in North America.In 2010, ESPAR’S parent company, Eber -

spaeche, purchased the assets of the CarrierSutrak for Europe, the Middle East, Africa, Indiaand Mexico. Espar Climate Control Systems, a

provider of fuel operated heaters in NorthAmerica since 1974, initially accepted theresponsibility to provide support for theEberspaecher AC systems being imported onVan Hool, Volvo and TEMSA coaches. Espar is now manufacturing the LEGACY AC

310 and AC 350 Roof Mounted AC Systems,which the company said are popular in theschool bus and shuttle coach markets. These sys-tems are currently distributed though AmericanCooling Technology/Pro Air and TransArctic.

Espar officials said the company is develop-ing other systems for varied markets requiringprimarily roof mounted AC Systems.Espar Products is the manufacturer of fuel

operated heaters, designed for mobile applica-

tions such as truck, bus, off-highway, marineand automotive. Espar also manufacturesrooftop mounted AC systems for the motor-coach, transit and school bus markets, as wellas the IMobile Flex Cool Freezer containersfor the transportation of temperature sensitivegoods.

Visit www.espar.com for more information.

Espar Now Manufacturing Legacy Carrier AC 310 AndAC 350 Roof Mounted Systems In North America

Stout’s TransportationTakes Delivery Of

2 Temsa TS 35 Coaches

Stout’s Transportation, Trenton, NJ, hasbeen serving the tri-state area, and beyond, formore than 60 years. The company bought its first Temsa in the

fall of 2013, a Temsa TS 30 mid-size coach. “The company liked the look and ride of the

TS 30 and found it was new, different and fitwell within our operation,” said Harry Stout,owner/CEO of Stout’s Transportation. The company has recently taken delivery of

two TS 35s, in addition to the TS 30.“The world class Temsa TS 35 is a fully inte-

gral mid-sized coach that offers a luxurious andspacious interior for passengers and driver. TheTS 35 is constructed from stainless steel for

extra durability and safety. An American drive-line is combined with European quality andcraftsmanship to create a high quality drivingexperience. The TS 35 has independent frontsuspension and automatic transmission, con-tributing to a smooth, comfortable ride,” saidcompany officials.CH Bus Sales, Inc., is the exclusive distrib-

utor of Temsa motorcoaches in the UnitedStates and Canada. It is a privately owned cor-poration.

Visit www.chbussales.com andwww.temsa.com for more information.


Austin Mohawk and Company Inc.2175 Beechgrove Pl.Utica, NY 13501 USAToll Free: 800-765-3110 Fax: 315-793-9370E-Mail: [email protected]

Web Site: www.austinmohawk.comProducts: A selection of pre-manufactured structures of bus and tran-sit shelters. Built to last with high quality aluminum or steel. Sheltersare durable, attractive, and can be equipped with budget-consciousfeatures such as new LED solar lighting. These bus shelters serve the

needs of a community, enhance urban design,and promote infrastructure. All Austin Mohawkshelters meet or exceed International BuildingCode (IBC) standards. The company also offersfast turnaround times and professional installa-tion anywhere in the continental United States.Austin Mohawk has spent more than 80 yearsbuilding prefabricated structures. Its productline-up includes pre-manufactured buildings,shelters, press boxes, and overhead metalcanopies. Custom built structures are modular,functional, and aesthetically pleasing. The com-pany is known for its design options, engineer-ing, and lead times. Austin Mohawk is a VeteranOwned Business. 13

BikeLid LLCP.O. Box 4083430 Evergreen Point Rd. Medina, WA 98039 USA206-963-7585 Fax: 206-726-8488Web Site: www.BikeLid.comProducts: Durable and secure Class 1 (long-term) public bicycle parking (bike locker).Tough, lightweight, graffiti resistant polyethyl-ene shell, reinforced by steel, is attached byspring-loaded hinge to a steel bike guide/frame,which provides one or two full-sized bicyclesprotection. Bolts to any ground surface.Moldable in virtually any color.


Columbia Equipment Co. Inc. has been specializing in Passenger Shelters for53 years! When it comes to prefabricated bus and train station shelters, wewrote the book! Columbia shelters are in use from coast to coast and all aroundthe world. May we build a shelter for you too? Please contact:

Shelter Shelter Shelter

Columbia Equipment Company, Inc.180-10 93rd Avenue / Jamaica, N.Y. 11433Phone: 718-658-5900 / Fax: 718-526-4110

800-742-1297 / [email protected]


Standard locking mechanism is secured bythe bicyclist’s own lock. Optional pre-stalledlocks include external U or monoblock locks,and internal key, combination, or on-demandelectronic locks, including Park-by-Phone.Installed across the country, from Portland,OR, to Portland, ME, 13

Brasco International, Inc.32400 Industrial DriveMadison Heights, MI 48071 USAToll Free: 800-893-3665E-Mail: [email protected]: www.brasco.comCompany Officers : Daniel Padilla,President; Doug Pew, Executive VicePresidentProducts: 100 percent in-house designand fabrication, made in Detroit, MI.Products include bus stop shelters, BRTstation shelters, bike shelters, transit shel-ters, solar powered LED safety bollards,windscreens, advertising boxes, solar pow-ered ad box retrofits, custom glass etching,roof retrofits, benches, bike racks, wastereceptacles, shopping cart corrals, adver-tising signs, solar lighting retrofits, shadeshelters, leaning rails, covered walkwaysand canopies. 14

Columbia Equipment Co., Inc.See Ad On Page 54180-10 93rd Avenue Jamaica, NY 11433 USAToll Free: 800-742-1297 718-658-5900 Fax: 718-526-4110E-Mail: [email protected] Site: www.columbiaequipment.comProducts: Columbia Equipment Co., Inc. isthe original manufacturer of pre-fabricatedaluminum bus shelters in North America,

according to the company. It has been special-izing in this field since 1961. Columbia offersstandard and custom designs in a variety ofsizes and configurations and in all priceranges. Product line includes bus stop shel-ters, train station shelters, windscreens, smok-ing shelters, walkway canopies, informationkiosks, ticket vending shelters and customstreet furniture. 12

Daytech Limited70 Disco RoadToronto, ON M9W 1L9 CANADAToll Free: 877-329-1907 Fax: 416-675-7183E-Mail: [email protected] Site: www.daytechlimited.comProducts: DAYTECH Limited is a NorthAmerican manufacturer of pre-fabricatedtransit shelters, bike shelters, canopies, streetfurniture and transit signage. It has over60,000 product installations in every cornerof the continent, from Florida to Alaska, andoffers a wide assortment of standard products.In addition, DAYTECH can customize shel-ters for exact requirements. 13

Duo-Gard Industries Inc.40442 Koppernick Rd.Canton, MI 48187 USAToll Free: 800-872-4404 Fax: 734-207-7995E-Mail: [email protected] Site: www.duo-gard.comProducts: Duo-Gard transit shelters provideversatility in size, styles and services thatmeet goals for aesthetics, performance andeconomy. This versatility is also found withDuo-Gard’s canopies, walkways, windbreaks,stairway enclosures, furniture, bike racks andother structures needed to complete a project.10

EDF, Inc.P.O. Box 228 Jenison, MI 49428 USA616-796-1260 Fax: 616-396-0944Web Site: www.edfsolutions.comProducts: EDF, Inc. manufactures the EnRoute line of steel framed passenger waitingshelters for permanent installation. Optionsavailable are windscreen enclosures, benches,display cases and solar powered LED light-ing. All steel components are E-coated andpowder coated. 12

Enseicom Inc.See Ad On Page 55225 NormanMontreal, QC H8R 1A3 CANADA

514-486-2626 Fax: 514-486-6465Toll Free: 800-663-0673E-Mail: [email protected] Site: www.enseicom.comProducts: Enseicom manufactures electricsigns, billboard structures and street furni-ture in North America. Staffed with a full in-house graphic and technical design teamoverseen by civil and structural engineers,Enseicom is constantly designing, redesign-ing and developing products with superiordurability and serviceability, all the whilemaintaining state-of-the-art green technolo-gy including solar and wind power applica-tions. Its products are installed throughoutNorth America, The Dominican Republicand Jamaica. 13

Handi-Hut, Inc.See Ad Top Left Of This Page3 Grunwald St. Clifton, NJ 07013 USA973-614-1800 E-Mail: [email protected] Site: www.handi-hut.comCompany Officers: Mel Cohen, President &CEO; John Cozza, Vice PresidentProducts: Handi-Hut has been designing andmanufacturing bus stop, bicycle and smokingshelters since 1970, as well as overheadcanopies. All shelters are shipped in pre-fab-ricated sections that are easily installed on-site and make low cost shipping possible.Shelters can be made with advertising panelsor stand alone ad panels that retrofit to exist-ing shelters.

New dusk-to-dawn solar light kit attachesin minutes to any shelter with just 8 screwsand costs only $595. The illuminated shelterprovides security and promotes the bus stop.14

ICON Shelter Systems, Inc.7900 Logistic Drive, Suite CZeeland, MI 49464 USA616-748-0985 Fax: 616-748-0985E-Mail: [email protected] Web Site: www.iconshelters.comProducts: ICON designs, engineers and fab-ricates pre-engineered open, outdoor struc-tures. The line of urban transit shelters arespecifically designed for use as transportationwaiting structures. ICON manufactures allstructures in steel, and offers a heavy powdercoat finish over liquid epoxy e-coat primer.Benches and Lexan® windscreens are avail-able for each model. 08




Madrax / Thomas Steele1080 Uniek Dr.Waunakee, WI 53597 USA608-849-1080 Fax: 608-849-1081E-Mail: [email protected] Site: www.madrax.com, www.thomas-steele.comProducts: Madrax is a maker of heavy-duty,high quality bike racks that are innovative,practical, and aestheticallly pleasing. ThomasSteele manufactures benches, litter recepta-cles, and tables that create good environmentsfor people at work and play. 12

Mountain Shelter Solutions6950 Base LineWallaceburg, ON N8A 1A1 CANADA877-588-8858 Fax: 519-627-6475E-Mail: [email protected] Site:www.mountainsheltersolutions.comProducts: Provides transit shelters, smokingshelters, bicycle shelters, covered walk-ways, canopies, advertisement signs and allstreet furniture. The company offers both

power and off-grid options. All shelters aremade with aluminum extrusions and compo-nents. Only stainless steel hardware is usedduring assembly. The company powdercoats to AAMA2604 and 2605 standards;top in the industry. Mountain ShelterSolutions ships to, and can install anywhere,in North America. 12

Poligon by PorterCorp4240 136th Ave., Holland, MI 49424 USA616-399-1963 Fax: 616-399-9123Web Site: www.poligon.comProducts: Standard and custom shade cover-ings for applications in steel, fabric and wood.Structures include transit shelters, walkwaycovers, pavilions, trellises, signs and fabricshade. Streamlined process to make findingthe perfect product easy and efficient. Anexperienced sales staff can guide customersthrough the entire process and will work withthem from initial design to completed instal-lation. Wide selection of standard shelters canbe fully customized. Ability to create newdesigns is offered for a unique structure.Protected with the powder coat finish Poli-

5000®. Frame finishes are available in 24smooth colors and 10 textured colors. Thecompany also offers a variety of roof typesand colors. 12

Tolar Manufacturing Co.258 Mariah Cir., Carona, CA 92879 USAToll Free: 800-339-6165 Fax: 951-808-0041E-Mail: [email protected] Web Site: www.tolarmfg.comProducts: Since 1991, Tolar Manufacturing hasbeen recognized as a leading manufacturer oftransit shelters, kiosks, benches and trash recep-tacles. 08

Transitshelter.com1953 N. 17th Ave., Melrose Park, IL 60160 USA847-678-8425 Fax: 847-678-8471E-Mail: [email protected] Web Site: www.transitshelter.comProducts: Transitshelter.com is a street furni-ture, urban decor project of TafcoCorporation. Products include bus shelters,windscreens, smoking shelters, kiosks andstreet decor. 10


Safety Steps full line of transportation steps are designed specifically for the transportation industry

Anti-tip design makes it impossible to tip over with normal use

Transportation models provide a 6”, 8”, 10” or 12” boost

The 10" and 12" steps have brackets for extra durability

Rugged all-aluminum welded construction

All models are lab tested to hold over 1,000 pounds, but weigh a mere 7 pounds

Non-slip angled rubber leg tips and gripper strips keep your passengers and your Safety Step securely in place

Durable powder coat finish available black, silver or safety yellow

To view all our transportation steps or to order online,

visit our website:www.safetystep.netor call (888) 448-4237

SAFE, STURDY & DURABLESafety Step will meet all your transportation needs…


Avail Tech, Inc.1960 Old Gatesburg Rd., Suite 200, State College, PA 16803 USAPhone: 814-234-3394Website: www.availtec.comProducts: A fully integrated suite of products, designed to meet the spe-cific needs of small- to medium-sized transit properties. Avail’s offeringsinclude automatic passenger counters and fare collection products. 14

Brush Industries 301 Reagan St., Sunbury, PA 17801 USA Phone: 570-286-5611 Website: www.brushindustries.comProducts: Long life magnetic recording heads and card readers for thesmart card and magnetic stripe card industries. 14

Cubic Transportation Systems5650 Kearny Mesa Rd., San Diego, CA 92111 USAPhone: 858-627-4587Website: www.cts.cubic.com.Products: An integrator of payment and information technology andservices for intelligent travel solutions. Turnkey solutions support allpublic transport modes including bus and bus rapid transit. Every year,nearly 7 billion rides are taken worldwide using Cubic fare collectionsystems. 14

Diamond Manufacturing Inc.(See Ad At Left)2330 Burlington, N. Kansas City, MO 64116 USAToll Free: 800-343-1009 E-Mail: [email protected]: www.diamondmfg.comCompany Officers: Todd Cull, General ManagerProducts: Diamond Manufacturing offers a line of fare collectionequipment to the transit industry. It supplies traditional, manual fareboxes, donation boxes and a fare box with a remote fare dump option.Diamond’s traditional fare boxes are the round units (Models H, E-5,D), which are designed to accept coins, tokens and tickets; and, rec-tangular units (Models RV, SV, XV, NV), which are designed to acceptdollar bills, coins, tokens, tickets, passes and similar fare media.Donation boxes come in three sizes to fit most applications. Theseunits can be mounted in a variety of ways: on the modesty panel orstanchion pole in either a vertical or horizontal position. Models F-1and F-24 remote dump fare boxes can be mounted away from the driv-er with a push button dump feature. These models can be paired withsmart card readers. 14

Electronic Data Magnetics, Inc.210 Old Thomasville Rd., High Point, NC 27260 USAPhone: 800-336-8115E-Mail: [email protected]: www.electronicdata.comProducts: RFID and Magnetic Striped products on thin gauge paper and




plastics. EDM provides both high and low coercivity magnetic stripecards and tickets, while offering encoding services. 14

Evolis Card Printers3201 W. Commercial Blvd., Suite 110 Fort Lauderdale, FL 33309 USAPhone: 954-777-9262Website: www.evolis.comProducts: Fare products for public transportation companies and agen-cies to better control their revenues. Products help optimize efficiency. 14

Genfare, a Division of SPX Corporation751 Pratt Blvd., Elk Grove Village, IL 60007 USA Phone: 847-593-8855E-Mail: [email protected] Website: www.genfare.comProducts: SPX Genfare provides customized fare solutions to transitagencies of all sizes throughout North America. Genfare integrated sys-tems encompass the latest in electronic validating fareboxes, smart cardand mobile payment options, ticket vending and point of sale card distri-bution systems. These are all managed by sophisticated local and web-based data processing systems. 14

INIT, Innovations In Transportation, Inc.1420 Kristina Way, Suite 101, Chesapeake, VA 23320 USA Phone: 757-413-9100Website: www.initusa.comProducts: MOBILEticket is a smart phone application that helps transitauthorities connect with their riders, reduce operating costs, and moveinto the future of open payment systems. With MOBILEticket, riders canbuy and use their public transit passes from their mobile phones. 14

LECIP Inc.1011 East Touhy Ave., Suite 140, Des Plaines, IL 60018 USAPhone: 312-626-2528Website: www.lecip.comProducts: Automated fare collection systems includingfareboxes, smart card systems, transfer voucher issuancemachines and digital fare displays. 14

MJM Innovations1501 Sulgrave Ave., Suite 200, Baltimore, MD 21209 USAPhone: 410-664-0700E-Mail: [email protected]: www.mjminnovations.comCompany Officers: Jeffrey VenickProducts: MJM Innovations’ EzTransport automatedfare collection solution streamlines fare collection foragencies. State-of-the-art card technology makes it pos-sible to totally automate the collection of fares, whetherit’s a contactless smart card or magnetic swipe card. TheEzTransport solution includes a back-end software man-agement system, in-vehicle fare collection and a transac-tion processing platform. These technologies can imme-diately save time and money. The EzTransport solutionworks for paratransit, deviated route and fixed-route. 14

MEI, Inc.3222 Phoenixville Pike, Suite 200Malvern, PA 19355 USAPhone: 610-203-6587Website: www.meigroup.comProducts: MEI is a manufacturer of electronic noteacceptors, coin mechanisms and other unattended trans-action systems. Today, MEI electronic payment systemsare relied upon for over 2 billion transactions per weekin more than 100 countries worldwide. 14

Scheidt & Bachmann USA, Inc.31 North Ave., Burlington, MA 01803 USAPhone: 781-262-6655Website: www.scheidt-bachmann.deProducts: The company’s fare collection systems division is a global suppli-er in fare collection technology. It has been providing local and regional tran-sit solutions since 1978. All products and services appear under the brandFareGo. 14

TransitFare & Systems 125 Don Hillock Drive, Unit 2, Aurora, ON, L4G 0H8 CANADAPhone: 416-993-2503E-Mail: [email protected]: www.transitfare.comProducts: A developer of integrated fare management solutions for smallto medium sized transit operators. The company’s solutions integrate faremanagement, ticket issuing and validation, revenue management, andfinancial and ridership reporting. The TFS1200B is the company’s latestonboard ticket issuing device. It is a key component of an integrated faremanagement solution. TransitFare & Systems officials work with publicand private transit operators in the North American, South American,African, Asian and European markets. 14

Xerox7160 Riverwood Dr., Columbia, MD 21046 USAPhone: 443-259-7196Website: www.xerox.com/transportationProducts: An integrator of computer-aided dispatch/automatic vehiclelocation systems (CAD/AVL), Intelligent Transportation Systems (ITS),and fare collection solutions for public transportation services, publicworks and school bus fleets. 14


Call for specifications. Easily added to seatingrequirements within vehicle bid packages.

Think FMVSS 302 Protects Passengers and Equipment?

Think FMVSS 302 Protects Passengers and Equipment?

SAFGUARD™ XL Fire-Resistant Cushioning…• Complies with advanced F.T.A. fire safety criteria.• Minimize risk and liability related to vehicle

fire safety.• O.E.M. and maintenance seat retrofit applications.

Telephone: 800-234-2734Fax: 724-537-9003e-mail: [email protected]

F.R. Cushioning(meets FMVSS 302)

CR SAFGUARD™ XL Fire-Resistant Cushioning

Both seats above were subjected to BS 5852 Source 2 Ignition.





WEH Technologies Inc. Call us: 832 331 00 21

» www.weh.us

» WEH® CNG FUELING COMPONENTSTop quality for maximum RELIABILITY

WEH® offers a wide range of NGV1 compatible products for safe and easy CNG vehicle refueling:

» Fueling Nozzles» Receptacles» Breakaways

» Check Valves» Filters» Hoses

Wise Coach, Nashville, TN,Purchases 3 2014 Van Hool TXs

“I started working as a coach cleaner when Iwas 16, and fell in love with the business,” saidAlan Wise, owner of Wise Coaches ofNashville, TN. “By my early 20s I figured outthat I love travel and liked the people in the busbusiness, and decided there was no reason Icouldn't run my own company successfully.”

Starting in 1997, Wise has built a fleet of 25full-sized motorcoaches and 15 mini-coaches,and offers nationwide charter and tour services,as well as convention shuttles and militarytransportation. “Our business model isn’t ‘rocket science’ —

we offer the best equipment and service we pos-sibly can. Nashville is a high quality market,and we work hard every day at being the best.We listen to our customers because our future

depends on responding quickly to theirthoughts and needs,” Wise said. The company recently took delivery of three

2014 Van Hool TXs. ABC Companies is a provider to the trans-

portation industry with product and serviceofferings including new and pre-owned full sizehighway coach equipment, mid-size shuttletransport vehicles, and advanced design heavy-duty transit equipment. ABC offers an after-sale service network for

service and repairs, collision services, extensiveOEM and quality aftermarket parts for transit,motorcoach and heavy-duty equipment from 11locations throughout the United States andCanada. Private and municipal financing andleasing options are also available through thecompany's financial services group.

Call 800-222-2875 or visit www.abc-companies.com.

Van Hool Drawing Wins Be Ready, Be Buckled Safety Contest

U.S. Transportation Secretary Anthony Foxxand FMCSA Administrator Anne S. Ferrorecently participated in a ceremony honoringthe winners of the 2104 “Be Ready. BeBuckled” safety belt contest. The national contest, sponsored by the U.S.

Department of Transportation is an effort tostress the role of seat belts in saving lives. Theartwork of the winners as well as that of 10other students will be included in the 2015 “BeReady. Be Buckled” art contest calendar, avail-able this fall.Heather Li, a third grade student in Orlando,

FL, won top honors in the third through sixthgrade age group. The winning entry had a VanHool TX45 motorcoach in the foreground. Herfather, Yao Li, works at ABC Companies PartsDivision. The ceremony was held at the U.S.

Department of Transportation headquarters inWashington, D.C., and was followed by a spe-cial program for the winners at the SmithsonianNational Air and Space Museum on theNational Mall.

NEWS FROM ABC



DBE Certif ied

$$ FIND MONEY $$Advertising Sign PanelsFor Your Bus Bike Racks

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We also supply Bus: King, Queen, Tail & Interior Frames,

Custom Design and Fabrication Services For Mass Transit Displays and Advertising

Russell Cress Company Inc.145 Lodi Street, Hackensack, New Jersey 07601

Thousands of Bike Rack Signs In The Field Now!Thousands of Bike Rack Signs In The Field Now!

From ARI-HETRA:Heavy-Duty Drum & Disc Lathe

ARI-HETRA introduces the WS-BL2000Heavy-Duty Drum and Disc Lathe designedspecifically for bus, truck and trailer wheels.“The model WS-BL2000 Brake Lathe pro-

duces an evenly cut drum(Max. Drum TurningDia. 33.5 in.), rotor(Max. Disc Turning Dia.20 in.) or flywheel. Theextra-large 60 mm diam-eter arbor and oversizedspindle dampens vibra-tions allowing it to workwithout the use of a tail-stock - even for dualwheels with the drumattached,” said companyspokespeople.Advanced functions

include powered in/outand left/right table mot ion, continuous or inter-mittent variable feed in both working directions(to avoid spiral effect) and spindle rotationspeed (20-120 RPMs) controlled by a dial. TheWS-BL2000 variable spindle speed helps con-trol acceleration and deceleration, useful whenturning heavy brake components. The machine

allows turning and grinding of tapered flywheelsurfaces with an optional cutting adaptor. Theadjustable travel end stops on both tables. Theergonomically positioned and easy-to-use con-

trol panel, the built-inoiler and tilt up safetyguard are also elementsthat make the WS-BL2000 a good choice.ARI-HETRA is a pri-

vately held companyoffering the heavy-dutymobile lifting equip-ment, exhaust extractionsystems, and wheel serv-ice equipment.Its systems are used

in over 40 differentindustries. Customersinclude airlines and air-

port authorities, fire departments, militarybases, transit, bus and coach companies, utili-ty companies, school districts and otherheavy-duty automotive repair facilities.

Visit the website at www.ari-hetra.com for further details, or call at: 800-562-3250.

Motorcoach MarketingCouncil Will Auction A 2015 TEMSA TS 35 During Travel Exchange

The Motorcoach Marketing Council hasannounced its 2015 Silent & Live Auction willinclude a 2015 TEMSA TS 35 coach donatedby CH Bus Sales. The coach will be availableto view at the Sneak Preview — UMA EXPOFloor Opening on Monday, January 19.“On behalf of the Motorcoach Marketing

Council, I wish to thank CH Bus Sales/TEMSAfor their generous donation to our auction,”said Chairman Peter Shelbo. “The auction isour number one funding mechanism to helpcontinue the council's mission of providingquality marketing tools to every motorcoachoperator in North America.”The year 2015 marks the fifth year for the

Motorcoach Marketing Council’s Silent & LiveAuction on the expo floor during the UnitedMotorcoach Association’s Travel ExchangeConvention. The Motorcoach Marketing Council is an

operator-driven coalition of motorcoach opera-tors, coach vendors, state, regional, and nation-al associations, suppliers, vendors and traveland tourism partners.


Vanner Senior Engineer-Power ConversionSpecialist Alexander (Sasha) Isurin and AlecCook, vice president engineering and chieftechnology officer, were the recipients of theBest Paper Award at the 2014 Institute ofElectrical and Electronics Engineers (IEEE)Transportation Electrification Conference andExpo in Detroit, MI.Isurin presented the paper titled,

"Philosophy of Topology and ComponentsSelection for Cost and Performance Con -verters" at the conference, where he detailedthe critical requirements of electronics equip-ment for the automotive industry — cost, reli-ability, and electromagnetic compatibility. “We’re very honored that Sasha’s and

Alec’s paper was selected as the conference'sbest paper,” said Steve Funk, president ofVanner Incorporated. “The automotive andcommercial vehicle energy management mar-ket is extremely competitive and to have IEEErecognize the significance of their findingsspeaks volumes about the quality engineeringteam we have here at Vanner. It also reinforcesVanner’s business model and its commitmentto bring cost-effective advanced energy man-

agement for vehicles to market. With newtopologies coming from Vanner’s engineeringdepartment, we bring to market cost-effective

designs with 100 percent on-time delivery.”Sasha Isurin presented the paper at the con-

ference that focused on methodologies engi-neers must use and topologies to consider in

power product design. It was part of a multi-day conference intended to advance IEEE'smission of providing sustainable technologiesfor humanity.

Vanner Incorporated is a privately heldcompany producing commercial vehicle ener-gy management systems since 1977. Vannerdevelops energy solutions for transit andcoach buses, ambulances, trucks, mobileoffice and military vehicles. Over 1,200Vanner hybrid beltless alternators are now inservice worldwide providing conversion of600VDC to 24VDC.

Visit www.vanner.comfor more information.



TriMark s Global Manufacturing and Engineering Services offer expertise, ideas, and resources for your product development projects saving your company time and money. Products; door and access systems including latches, handles, linkages, hinges and electronic keyless entry systems.

500 Bailey Avenue New Hampton, IA 50659 800-447-0343 ~ Fax: 641-394-2392 www.trimarkcorp.com

Exclusive Distributor for Prima Industries (Correggio, Italy) handles and locking devices in North America.

Visit TriMark at

Booth 2567

IEEE Honors Vanner Of Ohio Engineering Team At ITEC14 Conference

Visit Busline Magazine At APTA EXPOBOOTH #2306



Company Website Page # Company Website Page #

5 Star Specialty Programs www.5starsp.com 13ABC Companies www.abc-companies.com 7ABC Companies/ Muncie Baker www.abc-companies.com/transit_parts.asp 6Aesys www.aesys.com 60Alexander Dennis Inc. www.alexander-dennis.com 19Altro Transflor www.altrotransflor.com 48American Cooling Technology, Inc. www.actusa.us.com 38APTA EXPO www.aptaexpo.com 67ARBOC Specialty Vehicles www.arbocsv.com 32ARI-HETRA www.ari-hetra.com 20Atlantic Detroit Diesel-Allison www.atlanticdda.com 14Auto Meter Products, Inc. oem.autometer.com 63Bauer Compressors www.bauercng.com 39Bauer’s Intelligent Transportation www.bauerscertifiedpreowned.com 33Bitimec www.bitimec.com/ 42Bitzer www.bitzerus.com 35C.E. Niehoff www.ceniehoff.com 47Camira Fabrics www.camirafabrics.com 46Chestnut Ridge Foam www.chestnutridgefoam.com 59Clean Seal www.cleanseal.com 31Columbia Equipment www.columbiaequipment.com 54Crosspoint Kinetics crosspointkinetixs.com 9CUTA www.cutaactu.ca 52De Leo Textiles www.deleoco.com 53Diamond Manufacturing www.diamondmfg.com 58Dixie Electric Ltd. www.dixie-electric.com 62Ensiecom www.enseicom.com 55Espar Climate Systems www.espar.com 16Euramtec Corporation www.euramtec.com 49Freightliner www.freightlinerchassis.com 3Garavelli Enterprises, Inc. www.airportseatingalliance.com 41

Handi-Hut, Inc. www.handi-hut.com 56Hometown Trolley www.hometowntrolley.com 29Marathon Brake Systems www.MarathonBrake.com 44Midwest Bus Corporation www.midwestbus.com 30Mile-X www.mile-x.com 53Monochem www.worldwidemonochem.com 22Motor Coach Industries www.mcicoach.com 23Onspot www.onspot.com 63PEX German O.E. Parts LLC www.pexna.com 57Prevost Car www.prevostcar.com 5Protective Insurance Company www.protectiveinsurance.com 21Relational Bus Systems www.rbs2000.com 12Russell Cress Company, Inc. www.russellcressco.com 61Safety Step www.safetystep.net 57Service Insurance www.serviceins.com 61Shriver Insurance Agency www.shriverinsurance.com 70Sutrak www.sutrakusa.com 50TEMSA www.temsa.com 15TIB www.tibinsurance.com 45Transit Sales International www.transitsales.com 17TriMark www.trimarkcorp.com 62Turtle Top www.turtletop.com 11UMA Motorcoach Expo www.motorcoachexpo.com 69Vanner Power www.vanner.com 18, 51Vehicle Inspection Systems www.VISCheck.net 36,37Voith Turbo Inc. www.usa.voithturbo.com 43Volvo www.prevostcar.com 72Vossloh North America www.vossloh-north-america.com 2WEH Technologies Inc. www.weh.us 60Willingham Inc. www.willinghaminc.com 40

RAPID RESPONSE • RAPID RESPONSE • RAPID RESPONSE • RAPID RESPONSE • RAPID RESPONSE



Motor Coach Industries

MCI® J4500

A 10-year industry best-seller, the MCI J4500 provides premiumworkhouse reliability, low total cost of operation and significantfuel economy gains, thanks to powertrain optimization. Recentlyredesigned for heightened curb appeal and a more elevated pres-ence, the 2015 J4500 will feature a new ZF independent front sus-pension, offerng a turning radius nearly seven feet tighter thanbefore. A new Bendix braking system delivers car-like control,along with a collision mitigation feature.

Motor Coach Industries; 200 East Oakton St., Des Plaines, IL 60018; 847-285-2000; 800-428-7626; Fax: 847-285-2013 • Email: [email protected];

Website: www.mcicoach.com

Model..............................................................................................MCI® J4500Passenger Capacity ......................................................................................56Length ........................................................................................................45.58’Height.......................................................................................................140.75”Headroom.................................................................................................78.25”Wheelbase ....................................................................................................315”Engine ......................Cummins ISX 12L, 425 hp engine w/engine brake;

optional Detroit Diesel Transmission................Allison B500 6-speed automatic transmission

with prognostics capability with fuel savingRELS-Reduced Engine Load at Stop

Brakes...................................................Bendix® ADB22X™ Air Disc BrakesFuel Tank Capacity...............................................................................183 gal.Fuel Options .................................................................................Clean DieselDEF Tank Capacity........................Cummins/Detroit Diesel 15 gal/10 galGVWR.................................................................................................54,000 lbs.

Motor Coach Industries

MCI® Commuter Coach

Available in clean-diesel, hybrid and CNG, the MCI CommuterCoach is built for highway speed. It’s ideally suited for commuterexpress service with forward-facing seating, a 42 percent greaterseating capacity than a typical transit bus. Buy America-compli-ant and Altoona-tested, the model offers a highly competitive per-seat price, plus low cost of operation, and the best mean distancebetween failure (MDBF) rate over all other types of bus models,according to MCI.

Motor Coach Industries; 200 East Oakton St., Des Plaines, IL 60018; 847-285-2000; 800-428-7626; Fax: 847-285-2013 • Email: [email protected];

Website: www.mcicoach.com

Model ..........................................................................MCI® Commuter CoachPassenger Capacity .................................................................................57, 49Length.......................................................................................................45’, 40’Height..............................................................................................................137”Wheelbase...........................................................................................318”, 279”Headroom ..................................................................................................78.25”Turning Radius ..................................................................................47’, 44.70’Interior Height..........................................................................................78.25”Fuel Tank Capacity ......................................................................164 gal. CNG,

114.6 Diesel Gallon Equivalent (DGE)Chassis .............................................................................................MonocoqueFuel Options..........................................................Clean-diesel, hybrid, CNGTransmission Options................................................................Allison B500,

Allison EP 50 Hybrid driveEngine Options....................................................Cummins ISL, ISX or ISL GBrakes ......................................................Air, Meritor all-wheel EX-225 disc

with unitized hubs and preset GVWR...........................................................................50,000 lbs., 46,000 lbs.



ABC Companies

New Flyer MiDi®

ABC Companies now distributes the New Flyer MiDi® transit busdirect to private bus and shuttle operators in the United States. ABCprovides after-sales service through its established service locationsand select independent dealerships. All New Flyer products purchasedthrough ABC will be fully supported by New Flyer’s warranty, genuineNew Flyer spare parts, and lifetime customer care programs.The New Flyer MiDi® is a medium-sized, low-floor bus that is ideal

for use in medium-duty transit and shuttle services. The streamlineddesign offers passengers accessibility with one or two doors anduser-friendly features including low, step-free entries, a widevestibule, and large windows. Available in 30’ and 35’ lengths.

ABC Companies1506 30th Street NW; Faribault, MN 55021 USA

Phone: 507-334-1871; Fax: 507-334-0246 E-mail: [email protected].

Website: www.abc-companies.com.

Model.......................................................................................New Flyer MiDi® Capacity............. 30’ - One Door - up to 27 seats, up to 26 standees

Two Door - up to 24 seats, up to 30 standees35’- One Door - up to 35 seats, up to 31 standees

Two Door - up to 32 seats, up to 33 standeesLength................................................................................................30’ and 35’Width....................................................................................................................8’ Height .............................................................................................................10’1” Engine ...............................................................Cummins ISB Diesel, 250 HPTransmission.............................................................Allison B300R, 6-speedChassis..............................................Weight-optimized Steel chassis with

Aluminum body structureHVAC........................Thermo King roof-mounted heater/air conditionerWheelchair Accessibility ...........Entrance 32” width/ step height 10.4”

knelt/ADA Compliant with 2 forward-facing wheelchair positions with tie downs and 3-point belts

Brakes ......................................................4 wheel disc brakes (pneumatic)

ABC Companies

New Flyer Xcelsior®

ABC Companies now distributes the New Flyer Xcelsior® transit busdirect to private bus and shuttle operators in the United States. ABCprovides after-sales service through its established service locationsand select independent dealerships. All New Flyer products purchasedthrough ABC will be fully supported by New Flyer’s warranty, genuineNew Flyer spare parts, and lifetime customer care programs.Since its introduction in 2008, more than 4,400 Xcelsior® buses with

a variety of propulsion systems - in 35’, 40’ and 60’ lengths - have builtor are on order. The objective to deliver life-cycle savings and improvethe experience for passengers and drivers has been accomplished. The vehicle features better fuel economy, lighter weight, disc brakes

and the industry’s first LED headlights, combined with New Flyer’s prod-uct reliability and aftermarket parts and services.

Model................................................................................New Flyer Xcelsior® Capacity (with Wheelchair barrier protection............................................

35’ - up to 32 seats, up to 33 standees40’ - up to 40 seats, up to 43 standees60’ - up to 59 seats, up to 64 standees

Length ....................35’5” Over Body/40’2” Over Body/60’0” Over BodyWidth ...............................................................................................................102” Height............................................................................................126” over A/C Propulsion ........................................Transmission/Hybrid Drive - Allison;

Voith and ZF options availableHybrid Drive - Allison hybrid drive; BAE HybriDrive®

Engine Options ....................................................................................................35’ - Cummins ISL 280/Option-Cummins ISB 280 (Hybrid) / ISL-G 280 (CNG)40’ - Cummins ISL 280/Option-Cummins ISB 280 and

ISL 330 (Hybrid)/ISL-G 280 (CNG)60’ - Cummins ISL 330/Option-Cummins ISL 330 (Hybrid)/ ISL-G 320 (CNG)HVAC ........................................................................................................................35’ - Thermo King RLF-1 (A/C and heat or heat only)

for Diesel and Hybrid, Thermo King T-15 for CNG40’ - Thermo King RLF-1 (A/C and heat or heat only) for

Diesel and Hybrid, Thermo King T-15 for CNG60’ - Thermo King Dual RLF (A/C and heat or heat only) for Diesel and

Hybrid, Thermo King RLF front unit and T-15 evaporator rear unit for CNG


Nova Bus

Nova LFS Smart Bus

Nova Bus is driven by the cities of its customers and strives todesign Smart Buses that meet their needs. The value-added offerincludes an extensive list of Smart Features engineered to providethe best in terms of safety, accessibility and life cycle cost.The entire line of vehicles at Nova Bus is based on a single

proven platform that requires minimal maintenance and farexceeds APTA’s White Book crashworthiness requirements,according to the company. Its built-in Swivel Zone offers conven-ient access space to accommodate any type of mobility device.The completely redesigned Nova eCooling system has shown fuelsavings of up to 31 percent when combined with the latest trans-mission technology. At the end of the day, Smart Features addvalue to a transit service where it really counts.And as a Volvo Group company, Nova Bus has a network (to

develop complete transit solutions) who can handle the toughestchallenges. From standard 40-foot buses to high-capacity articu-lated BRT vehicles, from clean diesel to hybrid-electric and natu-ral gas drives, the Smart Buses have the capacity to respond toservice demand at any time. That’s why Nova Bus vehicles are aSmart choice.

Nova Bus; 260 Banker Road, Plattsburgh, NY 12901 USAPhone: 800-350-6682; Email: [email protected]

Website: www.novabus.com

Model...............................................................................Nova LFS Smart BusSeating Capacity.............................................................................................41Length..............................................................................................................40’Width ..............................................................................................................102”Height ...........................................................................................124” with A/CEngine ..................................................................................................CumminsType of Fuel......Clean diesel, diesel hybrid-electric and natural gasTransmission ..............................................................ZF, Allison, Voith, BAEChassis......................................................................Integral Stainless SteelFuel Capacity ............................125 gal. (diesel), 82 or 125 gal. (hybrid),....................................................................................18.765 SFC (natural gas)Fuel Options ......Clean diesel, diesel hybrid-electric and natural gasFloor ...............................................................................................................LowBrakes.................................All-wheel air disc ABS with traction control

Alexander Dennis

Enviro500

The new ‘Go-Anywhere’ low height Enviro500 Double Deckfrom Alexander Dennis Inc. offers a combination of high capac-ity, maneuverability and passenger comfort. Still with over 80seats and capable of carrying almost 100 passengers, it bringsa new dimension to public transport and builds on the reputa-tion that has made the Enviro500 a winner in New York, LasVegas, San Francisco, Washington, D.C., Seattle, Vancouver,Ottawa and Toronto. The new reduced height model ushers in a stylish look for

the ADI Double Deck Range, whether it is for transit or interur-ban operations.

Alexander Dennis Inc31566 Railroad Canyon Road #342Canyon Lake, CA 92587-9446 USA

Tel: 951-244-9429Fax: 951-755-0318

Model ...................................................................................................Enviro500Seating Capacity.............................................................................................80Length ............................................................................................42’ 5”/ 12.9mWidth ..................................................................................................8’ 3”/ 2.5mHeight ................................................................................................13’ 6”/ 4.1mEngine .............................................................Cummins ISL 330HP & 380HPType of Fuel ...............................................................................................DieselChassis ........................................................................................ADI Enviro500Air Conditioning ..........................................................................Thermo KingWheelchair Lift Option ......................................................................Ricon 1:6Steering .............................................................................................................ZF



Home of the Best Full-ServiceTravel Plaza in Northern Illinois

Featuring…

(815) 562-5840

Seating for 175, Homestyle Cooking, Daily Specials, Buffet, Soup & Salad Bar, Full Menu, Carry-Out

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TriMark Corporation:

Quality Handles, Latches, Striker Bolts,Linkages, Electronic Access, AndComplete Door Access Systems

A designer and manufacturer of hardware products, TriMarkCorporation is an employee-owned company. Its products are for on- andoff-highway vehicle markets including bus/mass transit, recreational vehi-cle, agricultural, truck, construction, specialty vehicle (fire/rescue/utilitybody), power sports, armored vehicle and industrial enclosure markets. “TriMark offers a range of handles, latches, striker bolts, linkages,

electronic access, complete door access systems and related componentsof truly exceptional quality. TriMark’s main strength is the hardwareused on doors that secure occupants because of the sophistication andmandatory requirements to meetfederal standards for strength andsafety,” said company officials. TriMark’s Mass Transit Access

Hardware Solutions are a combi-nation of products and systemsthat were developed by TriMark,and the Prima Industries products(handles and locking devices) forwhich TriMark is the exclusiveNorth American distributor. Access panels, baggage doors, exteriordoors, window systems and ignition systems are some of the areas whereTriMark products are a viable off-the-shelf solution for this market.“One of TriMark's strategic strengths is the ability to provide complete

door systems; our keyless access control system adds a further dimensionof functionality, convenience and security to our systems. This selectionof compatible components allows for complete keyless entry for on- oroff-highway vehicle applications,” according to representatives.

TriMark’s products include latches, handles and linkages for mechan-ical products and RF transmitter FOBs, keypads, I/O modules, powerlock actuators and a variety of accessories for electronic products. Visit www.trimarkcorp.com for more information.

Go Riteway Sponsors Ozaukee Washington Land Trust (OWLT)

On June 16, one of GO Riteway’s motorcoaches introduced a new lookto promote the Ozaukee Washington Land Trust’s (OWLT) new fundrais-ing initiative, Washington County-Opoly. Washington County-Opoly is a board game created to support the non-

profit organization’s mission including their summer youth corps pro-gram. Played much like the long-time favorite Monopoly, County-Opolyis marked with local land-marks and businesses whoparticipated as sponsors inthe fundraising effort.

GO Riteway’s origin as aground transportation com-pany began 56 years ago when the Bast Family founded Riteway BusService, Inc. With three generations of family members at the lead, itcontinued to expand and provide dependable and safe transportation forbusiness travelers, tourists, students and local residents. It operates out of 14 locations in Wisconsin with a fleet that includes

school busses, motor coaches, shuttle coaches, limo coaches, limousines,executive sedans and vans. GO Riteway is the official transportationprovider of the Milwaukee Bucks, and embraces green technology,receiving 12 green awards and certifications since 2009.Visit www.goriteway.com for more information.


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Tell us you saw this ad in Busline Magazine, and 1 driver and 1 tour guide will receive a

FREE MEAL!Please call ahead to the phone number listed by

the McDonald’s of your choice.

BOWMANSDALE2112 Bumble Bee Hollow Rd.Off Rt. 15 • Mechanicsburg, PA

717-697-5383CAMP HILL

4230 Trindle Road • 717-737-3896CARLISLE

60 Noble Blvd. in Super Walmart717-960-9400

608 E. High St. • 717-249-77211176 Harrisburg Pike • 717-243-7774905 Walnut Bottom Rd. • 717-249-0694

CEDAR CLIFFExit 19 off I-83 • Camp Hill, PA

717-737-6404CHAMBERSBURG

1075 Lincoln Way East • 717-263-4601NORTH CHAMBERSBURG

2891 Philadelphia Avenue (US 11 N.)717-263-2970CLEONA

493 W. Penn Avenue • 717-272-5677COLUMBIA

1788 Columbia Ave., off Rt. 30717-684-7048DILLSBURG

898 North US Rt. 15 • 717-432-9500EAST MANCHESTER

4245 North George St. • 717-266-3170ELIZABETHTOWN

1284 S. Market St. • 717-367-6471ENOLA

Enola Rd., Exit Rt. 1115 S. off Rt. 81 • 717-732-4228

EPHRATA140 N. Reading Rd.• 717-733-1660

GETTYSBURG517 S. Steinwehr Ave., Bus. Rt. 15

717-334-59201090 York Rd.• 717-337-1030

GREENCASTLERt. 16 and I-81 • 717-597-2589

HALIFAX3761 Peter's Moutain Rd.• 717-896-2535

HANOVER991 Carlisle St., Rt. 94 • 717-632-7531350 Eisenhower Dr.• 717-632-00051448 Baltimore St. • 717-630-0337

HARRISBURG2929 Paxton St. • 717-561-8050

4605 Jonestown Rd. 717-652-7035

7845 Linglestown Rd.717-545-8580

Rt. 83 and Union Deposit Rd.717-564-9320

4403 N. Front St. • 717-238-1048Harrisburg East Mall/Rt. 83 & Paxton St.

717-561-0703Eisenhower Blvd. I-283, Exit 1

717 -939-69725590 Allentown Blvd., Rt. 22Exit 26 off I-81 • 717-652-9123Kline Plaza, 101 S. 25th St.

717-232-0008Uptown Shopping Center

720 Division St. • 717-236-6226Harrisburg Airport • 717-948-39006535 Grayson Rd. in Wal-Mart

717 -561-0445HERSHEY

Rts. 39 and 322 • 611 E. Main St.,Hummelstown • 717-566-6041

JONESTOWNRt 72 & I-81 • 610-562-8462

LANCASTER1880 Hempstead Rd. • 717-509-6988Willow Valley Square • 717-464-51191829 Oregon Pike • 717-569-78981434 Manheim Pike • 717-394-3417

Rt. 30 and Centerville Rd.Lancaster, PA • 717-393-952368 East Town Mall, Rt. 30ELancaster, PA • 717-394-8957

1755 Columbia Ave.Millersville Exit off Rt. 30, Rt. 462

717-397-5112575 N. Franklin St., next to McCuskey

High School • 717-394-79382034 Lincoln Hwy East in Wal-Mart

717-390-1099King & Water Streets • 717-299-6699

Manor Shopping Center1296 Millersville Pk. • 717-293-5706

LEMOYNERts. 11 and 15 North across fromRadisson Hotel • 717-761-7992

LEBANON1202 W. Maple St. • 717-273-8691

757 E. Cumberland St. • 717-273-90231725 Quentin Rd., Lebanon, PA

717-306-6565LEWISTOWN

US 522 & US 22 • 717-248-5255121 Electric Avenue • 717-248-4447

LITITZ990 Lititz Pike, Rt. 501 N.

717-627-4666LITTLESTOWN

430 North Queen St. • 717-359-8946LYKENS VALLEY

4660 Rt. 209 • 717-362-8416MANHEIM

711 Lancaster Rd., Rt. 72717-664-4944

MECHANICSBURGWesley Dr. Exit, Rt. 15

717-761-7525KMart Plaza, 5600 Carlisle Pike

717-766-96756250 Carlisle Pike in Wal-Mart

717-591-9864MERCERSBURG

11924 Buchanan Trial West717-328-0111

MIDDLETOWN2270 W. Harrisburg Pike • 717-944-9535

MIFFLINTOWNRt. 322 and Rt. 35, Mifflintown Exit

717-436-9779MYERSTOWN

295 West Lincoln Avenue (Rt. 422)717-866-2278

NEW CUMBERLAND101 Limekiln Rd. • 717-774-1027

NEW HOLLAND828 W. Main St. • 717-354-9300

NEW OXFORD6040 York Rd., Rts. 30 and 94

717-624-4266

NEWPORTRt. 322 and Rt. 34, Newport Exit

717-567-9344PALMYRA

901 E. Main St. • 717-838-6815PINE GROVE

l-81 , Exit 31 • 717-345-6400RED LION

897 West Broadway • 717-246-1802655 Lombard St., Cape Horn Plaza

717-246-7801SCOTLAND

3347 Black Gap Rd. • 717-263-7507SHIPPENSBURG

333 East King St. • 717-532-7945SHREWSBURY

Exit 1 off I-83 • 717-235-4663SILVER SPRING

Rt. 114 and Shadow Oak Dr.Mechanicsburg, PA • 717-697-3460

SPRINGETTSBURYHallam Exit off Rt. 30, Rt. 462

717-757-9655WAYNESBORO

302 East Main St. • 717-762-9201YOCUMTOWN

Exit 14A off I-83 • 717-938-5705YORK

2125 York Crossing Dr & Rt 74717-767-1381

Exit 4, I-83, 133 Leader Heights Road717-747-9191

York Galleria Mall • 717-757-302660 Arsenal Rd. • 717-699-4600Exit 6W off I-83 • 717-845-93603141 Carlisle Road, Dover

717-767-2594144-158 S. George St. • 717-846-1021

Rts. 30 & 74 in Wal-Mart717-764-8923

380 Memory Lane • 717-757-2912


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When you pair unbeatable operational efficiency with the highest standard for service in the industry, you have one powerful machine on your hands. The Volvo 9700 uniquely combines the proven performance and fuel efficiency of the Volvo D13 engine with the exceptional and experienced network of Prevost professional service. But it doesn’t stop there. This workhorse ups the ante on fuel economy with integrated features, like the I-Shift transmission, which ensures that the engine runs at the ideal speed for maximum fuel savings. Advanced safety features and passenger comfort round out the list of features that make the Volvo 9700 the best investment your business can make.

VOLVO PERFORMANCE BACKED BY unparalleled SERVICE. TALK ABOUT A WINNING COMBINATION.



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