National Bus Trader Magazine September 2024 Digital Issue by Bus Tours Magazine

The Magazine of Bus Equipment for the United States and Canada

NYC’s Congestion Pricing’s “Indeﬁnite Pause” (by Matthew W . Daus, Esq) .

Matthew Daus explains where things stand with the indeﬁnite pause for New York’s Congestion Pricing Plan Included is what did not happen, why it did not happen and what is expected next.

Bus Museum Deaccession Plan (by Dave Millhouser)

The Hershey Bus Museum now has more buses than it can deal with. The answer is to reduce the number of buses in the collection Would you like to have an historical bus of your own?

MBMCA Annual Convention in Grand Rapids (by Larry Plachno)

Members of the Midwest Bus and Motorcoach Association and industry vendors gathered in Grand Rapids, Michigan for the Association’s annual convention that also included driving competition, a golf outing and meeting with industry suppliers

It is always best to avoid getting into an accident. Today, politics and news visibility can change a simple accident into a major event. Having someone on your staff who can deal with authorities and the press is always helpful.

MCI Electric Coaches for Marine Barracks

Equipment News

Marine Barracks Washington (MBW) is proud to announce the arrival of three elec-

t r i c b u s e s , t h e ﬁ r s t h e a v y v a r i a n t e l e c t r i c

v e h i c l e s i n t h e M a r i n e C o r p s , s u p p o r t i n g the Depar tment of Defense’s commitment to sustainability and energy efﬁciency The ﬁ r s t b u s a s d e l i v e r e d o n J u l y 1 , w i t h t h e remaining two expected soon

T h e s e e l e c t r i c b u s e s a r e p a r t o f t h e implementation of Executive Order 14057: C a t a l y z i n g C l e a n E n e r g y I n d u s t r i e s a n d Jobs Through Federal Sustainability This d i r e c t i v e m a n d a t e s f e d e r a l a g e n c i e s t o achieve 100 percent zero-emission vehicle acquisitions by 2035, with 100 percent lightduty vehicle acquisitions by 2025 The introduction of these buses at MBW marks a signiﬁcant step toward meeting these goals

“ T h e M a r i n e C o r p s t o o k a s i g n i ﬁ c a n t step forward in moder nizing its passenger t r a n s p o r t a t i o n w i t h t h e re c e i p t o f t h e ﬁ r s t l e a s e d e l e c t r i c b u s b y a f e d e r a l a g e n c y f ro m t h e G e n e r a l S e r v i c e s A d m i n i s t r a t i o n on July 1, marking a pivotal move towards m e e t i n g t h e s t r i n g e n t z e ro - e m i s s i o n t a rg e t s o u t l i n e d i n E x e c u t i v e O r d e r 1 4 0 7 , ” said Dwayne Pierce, director of the Transp o r t a t i o n S e r v i c e s B r a n c h , M a r i n e C o r p s

Installations Command “The Motor Coach Industries (MCI) J4500 electric coach is a cutting-edge addition that supports Marine C

“The MCI J4500 electric bus at Marine Barracks Washington is a representation of our continued commitment to achieve environmental resilience and energy readiness i n t h e M

C o r p s ,

d S c o t t Houldswor th, energy program manager at Marine Corps Installations Command “This is the ﬁrst of many buses that will be elect r i ﬁ e d , re d u c i n g

l f u

underscores the Marine Corps leadership’s

and solidifying commitment to sustainabil-

placement for better weight distribution and handling, enhanced regeneration for energy recovery, exceptional torque and gradeabil-

generation, ethically sourced high-energy batteries that deliver more than 200 miles of range The electric motor is powered by e

, with regenerative braking capturing kinetic energy to recharge the battery system, making these buses highly efﬁcient in start-stop trafﬁc conditions

Marine Barracks Washington is getting three new MCI J4500 electric buses These new electric buses are part of the implementation of Executive Order 14057: Catalyzing Clean Energy Industries and Jobs Through Federal Sustainability The Marines are currently receiving training on how to operate the buses

4 • National Bus Trader / September, 2024

e a n d greenhouse gas emissions in support of our t r a n s i t i o n

vehicle ﬂeet and responsible management of energy resources ”

Gunnery Sgt Brandon M Frongillo, motor transportation chief for MBW, added, “These b u

hands-on experience with a vehicle platform that may eventually be used in ﬂeet operat i o n s T h e d

g both the buses and the local infrastructure, w

n g strategies and troubleshoot issues in potentially austere environments in the future ”

While the arrival of these buses is a signiﬁcant achievement, challenges remain, par ticularly with the infrastructure needed t o s u p p o r t

Region As of July 2024, the only location to charge each bus is within the MBW motor pool on Joint Base Anacostia-Bolling

The Marines are currently receiving training on how to operate the buses, with plans to phase them into MBW operations beginning in August

Gillig Par tners with More Than Half of the 2024 FTA Low-No Emissions Grantees

Gillig LLC, the leading manufacturer of h e a v y

S t a t e

with more than 48 communities nationwide through the Federal Transit Administration’s (FTA) Low-and No-Emission (Low-No) Vehicle grant program These partnerships represent 65 percent of all awards designated for heavy-duty transit vehicles, highlighting G i l l i g ’s p i v o

energy

p a s t t h re e y e a r s T h e L o w - N o E m i s s i o n s p ro g r a m s u p p o r t s t h e t r a n s i t i o n t o w a rd s g r e a t e r s u s t a i n a b i l i t y b y p r o v i d i n g resources to replace, rehabilitate and purc h a s e l o w - a n d z e ro - e m i s s i o n s b u s e s , a s w e l l a s b u i l d i n g t h e n e c e s s a r y i n f r a s t r u ct u re a n d w o r k f o rc e d e v e l o p m e n t n e e d e d t o s u p p o r t t h a t t r a n s i t i o n

The inclusion of Gillig as a par tner in a majority of these projects underscores the company’s leadership in providing innovative, sustainable transit solutions across a wide range of unique city cycles around the c o u n t r y “ We a re t h r i l l e d t o b e t h e t r u s t e d partner for these communities as they make transfor mative investments in their transit systems,” said Bill Fay, Gillig’s vice president o f s a l e s “ O u r c o m m i t m e n t t o q u a l i t y a n d reliability has made Gillig a cor nerstone of t h e p u b l i c t r a n s i t s e c t o r T h i s f u n d i n g empowers our customers to drive America f o r w a r d t o a m o r e s u s t a i n a b l e a n d c o nnected future alongside Gillig ”

Gillig’s diverse range of low- and zeroemission buses ensures that ever y transit a g e n c y c a n s e l e c t t h e o p t i m a l s o l u t i o n t o meet their specific needs Built on Gillig’s proven low-floor platfor m, all models offer seamless fleet integration, ease of mainten a n c e a n d s h a re d c o m m o n p a r t s a c ro s s d i ff e re n t p ro p u l s i o n t y p e s T h i s p l a t f o r m allows the best of transit technology to be d r i v e n f o r w a rd w i t h u n m a t c h e d re l i a b i l i t y, ensuring that every Gillig bus meets the rigorous quality standards for which the company is known

Equipment News

ABC Companies recently announced a “Van Hool on the Move: Capture the Journey” photo contest The contest period extends from July 15 to September 30, 2024 Winning photos will be featured in ABC’s 2025 calendar

t per for mance and long-standing exper tise

Gillig recently announced that it will partner with more than 48 communities nationwide through the Federal Transit Administration’s Low- and No-Emission Vehicle Grant Program Gillig offers a range of low- and zero-emission buses so that each transit agency can select the optimal solution to meet their specific needs This bus stop design reflects Gillig’s commitment to the industry

to support ﬂeets nationwide as they thoughtfully transition to lower emissions This comprehensive approach helps agencies maintain their service levels and per for mance, staying true to the core mission of transit: connecting communities

ABC

Announces Van Hool Photo Contest

ABC Companies is thrilled to announce t h e l

C a p t u re t h e

exciting contest invites Van Hool enthusiasts, owners, drivers and professional photographers to capture their best shots of Van Hool vehicles and share their jour neys T h

ABC’s highly anticipated 2025 calendar

September 30, 2024

Full participation requirements are available at:

hCHUDl

Instagram: https://www instagram com/ p/C9ctBuGNTTy/ Linked In:: https://www linkedin com/feed/ update/urn:li:activity:7218638656188678149

X/Twitter: https://x com/ABC Companies/ status/1812872964091609125

Vicinity Clean Diesel Orders

From Quebec

Vicinity Motor Corp (Vicinity or the company), a Nor th American supplier of comm e r c i a l

l e c t r

h i c l e s , o n J u l y 1 7 announced the receipt of new follow-on purc h a s e o rd e r s f ro m t w o Q u e b e c , C a n a d a transit operators for three Vicinity™ Classic buses

Per the ter ms of the supply agreements, Robert Paquette Autobus et Fils Inc ordered one Les Autobus; Transccobec (1987) Inc ordered two Vicinity Classic Clea n Diesel buses, which will be in service with Canadian public transit agency EXO The Vicinity C l a s s i c b

d Saint-Jérôme

“Our ﬂagship Vicinity Classic transit bus continues to serve as a reliable workhorse for our clients across the continent – driving a solid base of revenue for our fuel neutral, autonomous ready bus segment,” said Brent P h i l i p s , p re s i d e n t o f Vi c i n i t y M o t o r C o r p “Repeat and long-term blue-chip customers like these validate the Vicinity Classic’s status as the market leader in the Canadian midsized, heavy-duty segment, with 90 percent market penetration The Vicinity Classic’s l o w u p f ro n t c o s t – c o m b i n e d w i t h p ro v e n durability and fuel savings – make it an ideal choice for our large base of satisﬁed transit operators

“The Vicinity Classic’s strong market position with transit operators also provides a s o l i d b a s e f o r o u r g r o w i n g p r o d u c t m i x , including the Vicinity Lightning electric transit bus and VMC 1200 Class 3 electric truck As needs evolve, our direct sales model for transit buses and the resulting open line of communication puts us front and center for operators looking to begin their electriﬁcat i o n j o u r n e y W e l o o k f o r w a r d t o w o r k i n g c l o s e l y w i t h Tr a n s c o b e c a n d P a q u e t t e t o deliver these vehicles next year,” concluded Phillips

Lowell to Launch New CAD/AVL and Real Time System

T h e L o w e l l R e g i o n a l Tr a n s i t A u t h o r i t y ( L R TA ) a n n o u n c e s t h e l a u n c h o f i t s n e w CAD/AVL and real-time passenger information system, which will provide real-time bus tracking, trip planning, automatic announcement and service alerts to all riders on a variety of media

Created in 1974, LRTA provides public transportation services to residents and visitors of the Greater Lowell area With 20 ﬁxed routes, its goal is to become the transportat i o n c h o i c e f o r p e o p l e w h o l i v e , w o r k a n d

Equipment News

The Lowell Regional Transit Authority recently announced it was installing the Equans ComputerAided Dispatch and Automatic Vehicle Location (CAD AVL) solution This provides real-time passenger information and also provides passenger counters on the buses Created in 1974, LRTA provides 20 fixed routes in the Lowell area northwest of Boston.

visit the area Located 27 miles nor thwest of Boston, Lowell is the four th largest city in Massachusetts

Selected for this project in 2023, Equans has already installed and commissioned the E q u a n s C o m p u t e r- A i d e d D i s p a t c h a n d Automatic Vehicle Location (CAD/AVL) solution, real-time passenger information (RTPI) and equipped all buses with Automatic Passenger Counters

AV L , L RTA c a n

d operations efﬁciency The Equans CAD/AVL system includes ADA-compliant Automated Voice Announcement (AVA), relieving bus operators from having to announce it themselves The CAD/AVL is fully integrated to the vehicle’s speakers and updates the dest i n a t i o n s

buses interline

Now, the Equans CAD/AVL system prov i d e s a G T F S

G o o g l e , Transit App and LRTA’s Web site, which all u

change occurs Riders can “favorite” their m o s t u s e d s t o p s t o q u i c k l y a c c e s s t h e m f r o m t h e h o m e s c r e e n a n d s e t u p reminders, so they never miss a bus again

U s e r s c a n q u i c k l

to any stop and tap the bus icon to see its actual location, direction of travel, last stop, o n - t i m e s t a t u s a n d e v e n h

are available on the next bus through new real-time bus occupancy technology The f

able to use this tool on their Web site

One of the key highlights of this project is the implementation of Automatic Passenger Counting (APC) technology in all buses, which will facilitate accurate data collection and analysis LRTA will beneﬁt from reliable ridership data, real-time occupancy status shared with riders and a simpliﬁed annual NTD repor ting process

New Thomas HDX2 Model

manufacturer of school buses in North America, announced signiﬁcant enhancements to its Type D product line with the introduct

AV L s y s t e m o ff

LRTA’s riders never miss their bus E q u a n s ’ C A D

r s m a n y new ways to access real-time infor mation f o r L R TA’s c u s t o m e r s , i n c l u d i n g Tr a n s i t

App, a real-time bus tracking Web site, and digital signage at the Transit ter minal With LRTA’s new Real-time Transit bus app, riders can track buses in real-time, plan trips and receive aler ts when their bus is close to arriving at their stop, or when a service

known for its ﬂat-front construction, unparalleled driver visibility and industr y-leading passenger capacity Thomas Built remains committed to its best-in-class Type D products Moving manufacturing of the buses to the company’s state-of-the-ar t Saf-T-Liner C2 Plant in Archdale, Nor th Carolina, has enabled Thomas Built to take advantage of the technology and capabilities at the facility,

l e a d i n g t o o p e r a t i

, e f ﬁciency gains and enhanced product quality for customers including:

• New exterior look: The HDX2 features a re f re s

, including taller and wider windows, new front

Equipment News

entrance doors

• Improved construction: The HDX2 will employ the C2’s Saf-T-Net construction, utilizing adhesive technologies along with mechanical fasteners for increased safety The C2 plant’s robotic painting capabilities

will enhance paint quality, ensuring a consistent and durable ﬁnish The move to the C2 plant also enables production line undercoating, fur ther improving the overall durability of the buses

• Production rate ﬂexibility: T h e C 2 plant enabled increased production capac-

i t y d u e t o i t s m o d e r n p ro d u c t i o n l i n e a n d automated processes, translating to faster deliver y times for customers

• S t r e a m l i n e d s e r v i c e a n d m a i n t enance: T h e i n t e g r a t i o n o f c o m m o n p a r t s between the C2 and HDX lines streamlines service, reducing the complexity of maintaining mixed ﬂeets with fewer service parts T h e re d u c t i o n o f l i n e s i d e w i r i n g a n d 1 0 0 p e r c e n t h a r n e s s c o n t e n t s i m p l i ﬁ e s t h e serviceability and maintenance of electrical components

“The Type D segment has gone without i n n o v a t i o n f o r s o m e t i m e , ” s a i d K e v i n Bangston, president and CEO of Thomas Built “Moving our Type D operations to our C2 plant is a smar t move that will make our buses more efﬁcient to build and get to our c u s t o m e r s f a s t e r A t T h o m a s B u i l t , w e ’ re focused on what our customers need, and w e ’ re e x c i t e d a b o u t h o w t h i s c h a n g e w i l l make the next iteration of our Type D buses even better This investment in the HDX2 is a lever to continue to develop the product and symbolizes our dedication to providing cutting-edge solutions to our customers and continuing to push innovation in the school bus industr y ”

Orders for the HDX2 will commence in late July, with customer builds happening as early as the ﬁrst quar ter of 2025

Thomas Built Buses continues to innovate its Type D school bus offering For more information on upcoming products, contact your local Thomas Built dealer

Vicinity Automated Bus in Michigan

Vicinity Motor Corp (Vicinity or the company), a Nor th American supplier of comm e r c i a l e l e c t r i c v e h i c l e s , o n J u l y 3 0 announced the ﬁrst public deployment of a Vicinity Autonomous Lightning Electric Transit Bus in partnership with automated driving s o f t w a r e p l a t f o r m p r o v i d e r A D A S T E C a t Michigan’s Sleeping Bear Dunes National Lakeshore, beginning service on August 14

As announced by Michigan Lieutenant Gover nor Garlin Gilchrist at a launch event

a t t h e M i c h i g a n S t a t e C a p

t o l B u i l d i n

, t h ro u g h a N a t i o n a l P a r k S e r v i c e M o b i l i t y C h a l l e n g e P ro g r a m g r a n t , A D A S T E C a n d Vicinity will deploy an automated, electric

l o w - f l o o r, a c c e s s i b l e t r a n s i t b u s t h a t w i l l

t r a n s p o r t p a s s e n g e r s a l o n g a 4 1 - m i l e ro u t e o n P i e rc e S t o c k i n g S c e n i c D r i v e a t

Sleeping Bear Dunes National Lakeshore

T h e d e p l o y m e n t – s u p p o r t e d b y f e d e r a l funding – aims to study how the next generation of automated bus technology per-

f o r m s i n a n o u t d o o r re c re a t i o n a l s e t t i n g

The vehicle will be available for public use

a n d i s f r e e t o r i d e r s w i t h a s e v e n - d a y, a n n u a l o r l i f e t i m e N P S p a s s d u r i n g i t s d e p l o y m e n t p e r i o d

Equipment News

The first public deployment of a Vicinity Autonomous Lightning Electric Transit Bus will start on August 14 at Michigan’s Sleeping Bear Dunes National Lakeshore The bus will operate on a 4 1-mile route on Pierce Stocking

Drive. Those holding an appropriate National Park Service pass can ride the bus free of charge

The partnership brings together Vicinity’s exper tise in medium-duty, accessible, fully e l e c t r i ﬁ e d , l o w - ﬂ o o r t r a n s i t v e h i c l e s w i t h

ADASTEC’s SAE Level 4 automated driving software platfor m, flowride ai Vicinity automated transit buses are capable of respondi n g i n r e a l - t i m e t o c h a n g i n g p a s s e n g e r demands, with capabilities such as flexible routing and dynamic scheduling This initial deployment aims to demonstrate how autom a t e d , e l e c t r i c t r a n s i t b u s e s c a n s i g n i fic a n t l y e n h a n c e t r a f fi c s a f e t y a n d re d u c e congestion in areas with high visitation rates

Brent Phillips, president of Vicinity Motor

C o r p , s

absolutely thrilled to have an Autonomous Vi

service at such a prominent site, representing what we believe could be the future of public transpor tation in time I would like to t

SAE Level-4 automated bus deployments such as this possible When paired with our qualiﬁcation for up to $85,000 in incentives from California’s HVIP program, we are well p o s i t

, autonomous bus solutions ”

Dr Ali Peker, CEO of ADASTEC Corp , stated: “We are proud to partner with Vicinity Motor Corp and the National Park Service to deploy our SAE Level-4 automated driving software, ﬂowride ai at the iconic Sleeping B e a r D u n e s N

o n a l L

s h

re T h e ﬁ r s t automated bus compliant with FMVSS regulations, this deployment aims to showcase how automated transit can enhance safety, efﬁciency and environmental sustainability in public transpor tation ”

ment director, Nor th America at ADASTEC, a d d e d : “

Dunes National Lakeshore is a signiﬁcant m i l e s t o n e f o r u s T h i s p ro j

a d v a n c e d t e c h n o l

, enhancing both the passenger experience and operational efﬁciency We are committ e d t o d r i v i n g f o r w a rd t h e f u t u re o f t r a n sportation with solutions that prioritize safety, sustainability and accessibility ”

“We look forward to working closely with t h e S l e e p i n g B e a r D u n e s t e a m a n d ADASTEC, as well as future automated bus deployment partners in the months to come, a s w e s e e k t o r e v o l u t i o n i z e t h e f u t u r e o f transportation with next-generation solutions that are safer, more efﬁcient and lower-cost,” concluded Philipps

Alexander Dennis Has Supplied an Enviro400 to Goldline Executive Travel

The new Alexander Dennis Enviro400 is the ﬁrst double-decker for the operator and i t w a s b o u g h t i n r e s p o n s e t o g r o w i n g demand for high-capacity vehicles on private hires

The vehicle has been ﬁnished to a prem i u m s p e c i ﬁ c a t i o n d e s i g n e d t o m a k e a n impression with a sleek exterior liver y and b o l d re d - a n d - b l a c k l e

s 8 5 seats, all of which are ﬁtted with three-point seat belts

G o l d l i n e E x e c u t i v e Tr a v e l C h a i r m

n Abdul Rafeeq said: “This is a fantastic addition to our ﬂeet, per fect for any event and

Scenic

e n s u r i n g t h a t l a r g e g r o u p s c a n t r a v e l together in comfort and style When looking for a higher-capacity vehicle, the Enviro400 was the per fect choice for us thanks to the options and bespoke speciﬁcation offered by Alexander Dennis ”

Mark Taylor, regional sales manager for Alexander Dennis, added: “I’m delighted to s u p p o r t t h e G o l d l i n e t e a m i n t h e f u r t h e r growth of their business This order shows the versatility of the Enviro400, which we’ve been able to ﬁnish to a high standard that is bound to make an impression on Goldline’s customers ”

Deutsche Bahn Gets Ebusco 2.2 Buses

E b u s c o , a p i o n e e r a n d f ro n t r u n n e r i n

t h e d e v e l o p m e n t o f e l e c t r i c b u s e s a n d energy storage, has received a fixed order

o f 2 5 E b u s c o 2 2 b u s e s v i a t h e D e u t s c h e

B a h n f r a m e w o r k a g r e e m e n t W i t h t h i s

o r d e r, t h e b u s e s o r d e r e d t h r o u g h t h e framework agreement total to 140 Ebusco

b u s e s

T h e s e 2 5 b u s e s re p re s e n t t h e l a r g e s t

o rd e r u n d e r t h e D B f r a m e w o r k s o f a r a n d

m a r k t h e b e g i n n i n g o f S p e y e r ’s c o m p l e t e fleet electrification The 12-meter, low-floor

b u s e s w i l l e a c h b e e q u i p p e d w i t h a b a t -

t e r y p a c k e x c e e d i n g 4 0 0 k W h , a l l o w i n g them to drive a full day operation on a sing l e c h a r g e

T h e f r a m e w o r k a g r e e m e n t b e t w e e n Ebusco and Deutsche Bahn was originally signed in April 2022 and extended during Busworld in October 2023 With this agreem e n t , E b u s c o i s t h e p r i m a r y s u p p l i e r t o Deutsche Bahn for its 12- and 18-meter electric buses until the end of 2026

Equipment News

Ninety-five percent of the Ebusco buses ordered through the framework are Ebusco 2 2 buses, demonstrating Deutsche Bahn’s strong trust for this highly efficient electric bus The Ebusco 2 2 has established itself as a market leader in electric buses, thanks to its proven track record and continuous optimizations over the years This highly efficient bus can drive up to 550 kilometers on a single charge, making it suitable for city and intercity transpor tation

Deutsche Bahn recently ordered 24 Ebusco 2 2 buses These 12-meter, low-floor buses will mark the beginning of Speyer ’s complete fleet electrification. Deutsche Bahn (DB0 provides rail service in Germany as well as bus services

Peter Bijvelds, Co-CEO and founder of E b u s

we have been a proud supplier of electric

n e r s h i p p e r f o r m a n c e , a n d a re t h e re f o re p e r f e c t l y s u i t e d f o r c i t y a n d intercity transpor tation We are grateful to D e u t s c h e B a h n , a n d l o o k f o r w a rd t o s u pp l y i n g e v e n m o r e e l e c t r i c b u s e s i n t h e c o m i n g y e a r s ”

Transdev Chooses Mercedes-Benz Citaro Hybrid

Tr a n s d e v B l a z e ﬁ e l d h a s o r d e r e d 1 5

Mercedes-Benz Citaro diesel-electric hybrid single-deckers for its Flyer network of routes to Leeds Bradford Airpor t

The deal is worth £4 million and the buses are expected to be delivered at the end of 2024 Choice of hybrid technology represents a change of policy for the Flyer network, which had been par t of a successful bid to the ﬁrst round of the Zero Emission B u s R e g i o n a l A re a s ( Z E B R A )

m e b y the West Yorkshire Combined Authority

with opportunity charging provision for batter y replenishment at the airpor t the operator already has 35 Mercedes-Benz eCitaro

Goldline Executive Travel recently acquired an Enviro400 from Alexander Dennis The double-deck bus was added to the fleet because of a need for a larger-capacity charter bus In addition to premium specifications, the Enviro400 comes with red and black leather trim for its 85 seats with three-point seat belts

battery-electrics on order for other successful ZEBRA work

The business case at publication in January 2 0 2 2 n o t e d t h a t B Y D A D L b u s e s w e r e expected to fulfil the Flyer requirement, subject to a procurement exercise It is understood that the ZEBRA money first allocated to the Flyer routes was reallocated to First Bus some time ago, where it has part-funded additional battery-electrics in that operator’s Leeds fleet

Transdev says that the Citaro hybrids will run on “a combination of electric power and biodiesel’ to keep emissions as low as possible under the alter native approach

T h e t e c h n o l o g y u s e s

motor-generator to support the engine when p

2017, the manufacturer noted that the motor in the Citaro hybrid is the same one used in Mercedes-Benz cars

Speaking about the purchase, Transdev Blazefield Managing Director Henri Rohard says: “We are delighted to confirm this substantial order for new vehicles which will revolutionize the customer experience on our Flyer network while delivering significantly re d u c e d e m i s s i o n s a n d h i g h e r o p e r a t i n g efficiency

“These exciting new buses also feature the very latest in safety technology, including cyclist and pedestrian detection systems which will make the road a safer place for ever yone

“On board each bus will be a full package of customer comfort features, including free Wi-Fi and USB charging, next stop information displays, two wheelchair user bays a n d a h e a r i n g l o o p s y s t e m t o m a k e c o mmunication easier for those with a hearing disability Luggage space will be ‘plentiful,’” adds Rohard

E n e r g y s t o r a g e o n t h e C i t a ro h y b r i d i s charged via regenerative braking Transdev

B l a z e ﬁ e l d n o t e s t h a t t h e c o m b i n a t i o n o f power sources is expected to reduce fuel consumption by 8 5 percent compared to a standard diesel

When the Citaro hybrid was launched, D a i m l e r B u s e s re v e a l e d t h a t t h e e l e c t r i c motor also applies a small torque when the e n g i n e i s a t i d l e , re d u c i n g f u e l u s a g e b y re m o v i n g s o m e l o a d c re a t e d b y i n t e r n a l resistance and auxiliaries

Ebusco Repor ts First Half 2024 Results Financial review First Half of 2024:

• R e v e n u e o v e r t h e ﬁ r s t h a l f o f 2 0 2 4 arrived at €38 0 million

Equipment News

• EBITDA loss of €60 7 million

• Result for the period of negative €64 7 million

• Order book of 1,662 buses

Operational Review First Half 2024

• Ninety-eight buses delivered, including ﬁ r s t E b u s c o 3 0 b u s e s a s s e m b l e d b y contract manufacturers

• Scaling up with contract manufacturers h a s b e e n h a m p e r e d b y s t a r t - u p inefﬁciencies

• Working with contract manufacturers h a s n o n e t h e l e s s p r o v e n t o b e t h e r i g h t choice, with unit economics approaching expected levels

• Ebusco 3 0 showing strong operational p e r f o r m a n c e

efﬁciency

• Reshaping of the executive team completed with recent hires of Co-CEO, COO and CCO

Guidance 2024 and Turnaround Plan

• As already communicated, guidance of 325 million revenue and positive EBITDA no longer achievable

• Reshaped executive team working on Tur naround Plan

• Further guidance provided during third quar ter update and Capital Markets Day

the overall per for mance and deliver y reliability of the company W i

s p re s s re l e a s

, d r a w n t h e c

n c l u s i o n t h a t t h e p r o v i d e d

e s have delayed production compared to the i

s c

s u n a b l e t o re a c h the production output it was aiming for, the strategic shift to re-introduce working with c o n t r a c t m a n u f a c t u re r s h a s p ro v e n t o b e t

r a t e d assembly time

Inefﬁciencies at the in-house production facility in Deurne continue to hinder the ﬁnalization of buses, slowing down factor y output This not only affects revenue but also delays the full execution of the cost reduction program

Ebusco on July 31 provided insight into i t s re s u l t s f o

D i s a p

pointing per for mance to date has resulted management to withdraw 2024 guidance, as communicated on June 25, 2024 To take a c t i o n , t h e r e s h a p e d e x e c u t i v e t e a m i s developing a Tur naround Plan to improve

To improve the performance of the company, the reshaped executive team is developing a Turnaround Plan While the key elements of this plan are clear, details have to be worked out Ebusco has engaged with an exter nal consultant to assess quality of gross margin, especially in view of product

s assessment shows that unit economics per bus will reach the levels allowing the comp

Transdev Blazefield has ordered 15 Mercedes-Benz Citaro diesel electric single-deckers The deal is worth £4 million and the buses are expected to be delivered by the end of 2024. They will be used on Transdev’s Flyer network of routes to Leeds Bradford Airport

lenders and investors have been initiated In this context, the disclosures are referred to as set forth in the interim condensed ﬁnancial statements

Peter Bijvelds, founder and Co-CEO of E b u s c o , c o m m e n t s : “ A s t h e h a l f - y e a r f i g -

u re s re f l e c t , i t h a s b e e n a d i s a p p o i n t i n g

s t a r t o f t h e y e a r A l t h o u g h t h e d e c i s i o n t o

w o r k w i t h c o n t r a c t m a n u f a c t u re r s f o r t h e Ebusco 3 0, as we have successfully done

f o r y e a r s w i t h t h e E b u s c o 2 2 , h a s p ro v e n to be the right choice, we have faced star t-

u p i n e f f i c i e n c i e s t h a t t a k e l o n g e r t h a n

a n t i c i p a t e d t o re s o l v e To a d d re s s t h e s e

c h a l l e n g e s , r e s p o n s i b i l i t i e s w i t h i n t h e

e x e c u t i v e t e a m h a v e b e e n re d i s t r i b u t e d ,

a n d a d d i t i o n a l s t re n g t h h a s b e e n a d d e d

I a m p l e a s e d t h a t M i c h i e l P e t e r s h a s recently star ted as co-CEO and chair man

o f t h e e x e c u t i v e t e a m W i t h t h e a r r i v a l o f

t w o e x p e r i e n c e d e x e c u t i v e s f ro m t h e b u s

industr y, Roald Dogge as COO and Erland

M o re l i s s e n a s C C O , w e a re re a d y t o g e t

t h e c o m p a n y b a c k o n t r a c k b a s e d o n t h e

t u r n a ro u n d w e a re d e v e l o p i n g

P e t e r s a d d s : “ I n t h e l a s t f e w w e e k s I

h a v e h a d t h e o p p o r t u n i t y t o g e t t o k n o w

Ebusco fur ther and sense the commitment

a n d k n o w l e d g e o f t h e p e o p l e W i t h t h e

e x e c u t i v e t e a m i n a n e w c o m p o s i t i o n , w e

h a v e i d e n t i f i e d b o t h t h e n e e d a n d t h e oppor tunities to improve the per for mance of the company Based on the unique con-

c e p t o f t h e E b u s c o 3 0 a n d t h e p r o v e n

c o n c e p t o f t h e E b u s c o 2 2 , w e s h o u l d b e

a b l e t o g e n e r a t e h i g h e r v o l u m e s a n d

h e a l t h y f i n a n c i a l re t u r n s ”

Equipment News

Volare

Strengthens Leadership with New Technologies and Models

Vo l a re , a l e a d i n g n a t i o n a l b r a n d i n t h e production of mini buses, participates in the Lat Bus Show 2024 and presents innovat i o n s i n i t s l i n e o f v e h i c l e s T h e re a re f o u r new products, such as the Fly 12, aimed at the char ter and school segments; Attack 8 Robust, in a competitive version; Attack 10, which will star t to be marketed in the four th q u a r t e r o f t h i s y e a r, a n d A t t a c k 9 h y b r i d ethanol, with production star ting in 2026

“In our 26-year histor y, one of our trademarks has always been to think ahead This demonstrates our strategy of focusing on innovation, sustainability, decarbonization and efﬁcient mobility,” emphasized Ricardo P o r t o l a n , Vo l a re ’s d i re c t o r

c o m m e rc i a l operations, Domestic Market and Marketing A c c o rd i n

t h e e x e c u

v e , t h e a i m i s t o consolidate the position of leadership and vanguard with unprecedented products that will provide signiﬁcant beneﬁts to customers, passengers and society in general

“These markets have a growing demand for vehicles that are even more robust, economical and, at the same time, have greater t r a n s p o r t c a p a c i t y S

the robustness of a real Volare with capacity f o r 1 7

carr y up to 39 people, including driver and assistant; a Fly 12 that can be conﬁgured in the Char ter version, with a capacity for 47 people, and in the School version, for up to 64 seats, something unprecedented for a mini bus,” he said

Attack 9 Hybrid, the ﬁrst ethanol electric mini bus

O n e o f Vo l a re ’s b i g g e s t

Lat Bus 2024 is the presentation of the ﬁrst h

national technology, the Attack 9 Hybrid –Electric/Ethanol The model is a viable solut i o n f

Extender technology This allows the batt e r i e s t o b e re c h a r g e d u s i n g a g e n e r a t o r set with a 1 0 three-cylinder, ﬂexfuel turbo e n g i n e r u

1 2 – t h e l a r g e s t c a p a c i t y m i n i b u s o n t h e market – and the economical and compet-

i t i v e A t t a c k 8 R o b u s t a n d A t t a c k 1 0 , m o d -

e l s d e v e l o p e d t o s e r v e s e g m e n t s w i t h a n i m p o r t a n t s h a r e o f t h

i l i

n m

s u c h a s a g r i b u s i n e s s a n d s t u d e n t a n d b u s i n e s s c h a r t e r t r a n s p o r t a t i o n

H O R S E , a d i v i s i o n o f H O R S E P o w e r t r a i n Limited, a world leader in hybrid solutions and low-emission combustion engines, and with WEG, a Brazilian multinational manuf a c t u r e r o f e l e c t r o n i c e q u i p m e n t , w h i c h o p e r a t e s i n t h e c a p i t a l g o o d s s e c t o r w i t h a f o c u s o n m o t o r s , re d u c e r s a n d e l e c t r i c drives, generators and energy transfor mers, products and systems for electriﬁcation, automation and digitalization

The model has a high degree of nationa l i z a t i o n a n d c o m b i n e s t h e a d v a n t a g e s a n d b e n e f i t s o f a c o n v e n t i

n a l m i c ro b u s p o w e r e d b y d i e s e l a n d a 1 0 0 p e r c e n t electric vehicle powered by batteries The p o w e r t r a i n o f t h e A t t a c k 9 H y b r i d – E l e c -

t r i c / E t h a n o l o ff e r s t h e b e n e f i t s o f a n e l e c -

t r i

The technology implemented in the vehicle offers lower levels of NVH (noise, vibration and harshness) and reduced maintenance, including the brake set, as it uses a regenerative system, which also recharges the batteries when braking The model also stands out for its autonomy, which can reach 450km, and the reduced volume occupied by only three packs of batteries, which store

transpor ting people

Volare will introduce its Fly 12 model at the Lat Bus show The Fly 12 is the largest capacity minibus on the market It can be configured in a charter version for 47 passengers Volare is a leading builder of minibuses based in Brazil

The energy that powers the electric motor is generated by an ethanol engine, that is why the Attack 9 can be used in any region of the country, contributing to the ecosystem, as it is neutral in the CO2 cycle and allows carbon credits to be obtained

Fly 12, a 45-passenger model

Volare Fly 12 creates a new categor y of v e h i c l e s a n d i s c o n s i d e re d a t r u e “ s u p e r micro” bus With a total length of 11,730mm, width of 2,480mm and height of 3,330mm, t h e m o d e l h a s t h e c a p a c i t y t o c a r r y u p t o 45 passengers, in addition to the driver and assistant driver, with efﬁciency and driveability, with reduced acquisition and operational costs In the school bus conﬁguration, it can transpor t 64 students, as well as a driver and assistant driver

Thanks to its 22-inch wheelset, front and rear axles with greater capacity and 213 hp engine, the Fly 12 provides the agility and ﬂuidity of a micro bus, with the robustness of a conventional model

“Fly 12 imposes presence, respect and stands out among the mini buses Its robustness and vocation for heavy work are latent,” says Por tolan According to the executive, it can be used for heavy urban transport and e v e n b u s i n e s s c h a r t e r i n g , w i t h g r e a t e r space, comfor t and safety

The model is also equipped with Executive seats, USB sockets, auxiliary seat and pneumatic seat for the driver The vehicle has a 150-liter fuel tank, side windows with tinted glass, a 100,000 BTU air-conditioning s y s t e m , a d e f r o s t e r w i t h c o o l i n g , a D TA accessibility system, AM/FM radio, luggage c o m p a r t m e n t , a f u l l p a r t i t i o n w a l l w i t h a hinged door, a pantograph service door, an overhead luggage rack and an open spare t i re i n f ro n t o f t h e re a r w h e e l o n t h e r i g h thand side

Attack 8 Robust – Competitive version

B y d e s i g n i n g t h e A t t a c k 8 R o b u s t i n a competitive conﬁguration, Volare is breaking yet another market paradigm by offering a small, versatile model that represents lower acquisition and operating costs and delivers robustness, agility and reliability With only 6,535mm in total length and a capacity for 17 passengers, it is suitable for transpor t in severe applications, such as the different i n d u s t r i a l a n d r u r a l a re a s o f n o r t h e r n a n d n o r t h e a s t e r n B r a z i l , a n d t h e a g r i c u l t u r a l regions of the Southeast and Midwest

The competitive version of the Attack 8 R o b u s t h a s s m a l l e r e x t e r n a l d i m e n s i o n s ( 6 , 5 3 5 m m l o n g , 2 , 2 3 0 m m w i d e a n d 31,50mm high), with Executive seats, auxiliar y seat and hydraulic seat for the driver It has an 80-liter fuel tank, side windows with movable glass, a 65,000 BTU CC165WCT

Equipment News

t e r w i t h cooling, a DTA accessibility system, a pant o g r a p h s e r v i c e d

g spare tire

The school transport segment has grown s

applications To meet the higher capacity demands, with lower acquisition and opera t i n g c o s t s , Vo l a

Escolar The model is suitable for char ter,

capacity for 37 people and up to 54 people in the school version (in addition to the driver and assistant driver)

“With the Attack 10, we tried to optimize the investment and the operator’s savings by developing a vehicle with lower maintenance and component replacement costs, such as 17 5-inch tires instead of 19-inch tires, an extruded aluminum ﬂoor, conventional air-conditioning system (not ducted) and Executive seats The focus is on bids, where municipalities need more capacity, with a competitive price and easy maintenance,” Por tolan emphasizes

, w i t h capacity for 37 passengers (seated in Executive seats), with USB sockets, as well as a n a u x

e r ’s seat The vehicle has a 150-liter fuel tank, movable side windows with tinted glass, a 8 5 , 0 0 0 B T U

y s t e m , a defroster with cooling, DTA accessibility system, AM/FM radio, a luggage compartment, a full partition wall with a hinged door, a pantograph service door and an open spare tire on the right-hand side

With 26 years on the market, Volare is a business unit of Marcopolo S A whose purpose is to produce mini buses for the school, charter, tourism, rural and urban segments The vehicles range from six to 12 tons and are produced according to each customer’s needs There are more than 40 service centers in Brazil and 20 abroad, with specialized technical assistance A pioneer in the manufacture of ﬂight commercial vehicles, the company has manufacturing units in Caxias do Sul/Rs and Sãeus/ES

Marcopolo Presents Vehicles at Lat.Bus Show

M a rc o p o l o , o n e o f t h e w o r l d ’s l e a d i n g developers of mobility solutions, unveiled new vehicles at Lat Bus 2024 in line with the global trend towards decarbonizing transpor t Lat Bus is the largest event of the bus industr y in Latin America, which was held August 6-8 at the São Paulo Expo

The company will present, in total nine m o d e l s a t t h e e v e n t w i t h t h e b r a n d s M a rc o p o l o a n d Vo l a r e W i t h t h

brand there are ﬁve models: the new Viaggio G8 1050, Paradiso G8 1200, Paradiso G8 1350 and Paradiso G8 1800 DD, all road, a n d t h e u r b a

electric with an unprecedented and innova

8 has already sold more than 4,000 units of which 2,150 are double-decker models In addition, 850 were destined for the inter national market The success of buses in this c

renewal of ﬂeets by bus companies, which are looking to increase passenger comfor t and safety “The success of Generation 8 in Brazil and abroad is a reality We are focused a n d w o r

initially with production in Brazil, now in Mexico and Colombia, and expor t to countries such as South Africa, where we recently got our customers and par tners together for a launch event,” says André Vidal Ar maganijan, CEO of Marcopolo

Among the innovations presented at the event, Marcopolo highlights the hybrid and electric models, which complement the portf

sustainability of the sector “In addition to the Attivi Integral model, 100 percent electric produced by Marcopolo, one of the innovations presented at Lat Bus will be the hybrid model that uses ethanol as a source for the generation of energy for the batteries,” he said Marcopolo currently has around 1,000 electric buses in circulation, either its own solutions or those developed in partnership with third par ties In Latin America, in addition to Brazil, the brand’s products are pres e

Mexico “In addition to electric, hydrogenpowered buses, such as the Audace Fuel C

sources studied and tested in recent times Public programs and incentives are fundam e n t a l f o r t h

more and more,” Ar maganijan analyzes

Marcopolo is the leader in the Brazilian bus body market In the ﬁrst half of this year, 6 , 2 0 1 u n i t s w e

1,058 abroad The company’s consolidated p

percent manufactured in Brazil and 17 perc e n

urban buses and mini buses, favor per formance in the market

Currently, the main foreign markets for Marcopolo are Latin America and the African continent “The international presence positions the company as a global player, which increases our competitiveness and leads us to constantly innovate Foreign markets a l s o o ff e r g ro w t h o p p o r t u n

w h e r e d e m a n d f o r p u b l i c t r a n s p o r t i s expanding,” concludes the executive

Viaggio G8 1050

The Viaggio G8 1050 model presented at Lat Bus has a Mercedes-Benz O500 RS 1938 Euro 6 chassis, with a total length of 13,200mm, a width of 2,600mm and a height of 3,750mm, with capacity for 46 passengers in semi-sleeper seats, with reversible USB A and type C sockets and a seat belt

T h e d r i v e r ’s s e a t i s a n E r g o d e s i g n p n e umatic model The vehicle is equipped with a lift for accessibility, 120,000 BTUs hot and c o l d a i r c o n d i t

tank capacity of 500 liters, full LED headl i g h t s a n d f ro n t a n d re a r f o g l i g h t s , a

and video system with DVD with USB on the dashboard, three monitors in the passenger area of 15 6 inches in size and microphone plug in the passenger area and for the driver, as well as a radio built into the multiplex

Paradiso G8 1800 DD

At Lat Bus 2024, Marcopolo is presenting a Paradiso G8 1800 DD model with a different inter nal conﬁguration that functions as a real showroom, with new equipment and technologies to demonstrate to customers a n d v i s i t o r s t h e n e w d e v e l o p m e n t s a n d future innovations that weill be available to operators, such as the use of Artiﬁcial Intelligence to operate the air conditioning system, cameras with 360-degree vision and remote control of sound, lights and temperature via Bluetooth

Equipment News

B150R 8x2 Euro 6 chassis, 15,000mm in total length, 2,600mm in width and 4,100mm in heighth, with a capacity for 50 passengers and a Mobile Seat Device (DPM) for accessibility Externally, it is equipped with full LED headlights, front and rear fog lights, 13x128x13 f ro n t d e

rearview mirrors with camera (ERV), parking sensor, reverse camera, passenger area monitoring system and extra ﬁlming camera connected to the passenger area monitors

In addition to the external advantages, it is inside that the Paradiso G8 1800 DD from L

s sleeper, semi-sleeper master, semi-sleeper, executive, SF executive seats, and on the

reversible USB A and/or type C socket, and

(sleeper and sleeper bed seats) All seats on the lower deck have audiophones, and some seats also have adjustable cell phone suppor t with USB sockets Four setas, two

deck, have a massager

i t h a d o o r ( l i k e o n a i r p l a n e s ) d e c o r a t i v e c e i l i n g o n the upper deck, intercom, inter nal lighting

f o r c h ro m

t h e c a b i n , i n t h e l o u n g e a n d i n t h e p a s -

s e n g e r a r e a , t w o 6 5 - l i t e r l i q u i d h e a t e r s

n e x t t o t h e s t a i r s , 1 1 0 V e l e c t r i c a l o u t l e t s

i n t h e p a s s e n g e r a re a a n

The vehicle is also equipped with a vacuum-operated toilet on the left-hand side of the lower deck, a 195,000 BTU hot/cold airconditioning system, a vibrating pneumatic driver’s seat, a driver’s cabin with refrigera t e d a i r w i t h o u t h

the luggage compar tment and a variety of cur tains and seat covers

playback with USB in the upper deck passenger area and lounge (lower deck), with ﬁve monitors on the upper deck and one in t h e l u

plug in the passenger area and for the driver, Head Unit, radio embedded in the multiplex and Shark radio antenna, satellite Inter net

are other advantages

Paradiso G8 1350

with a capacity for 46 passengers in semisleeper seats, with reversible USB A socket and type C in the driver’s seat (ergodesign pneumatic), DPM lift, 700-liter fuel tank, anticollision sensor in the rearview mirrors and toilet in the back, on the right-hand side

The model is equipped with full LED headlights, front and rear fog lights, air conditioning s y

cooling driver’s cab defroster, multiplex system, with built-in radio It has an audio and video system with dVD video playback with USB on the dashboard, three monitors in the passenger area of 15 6 inches in size, microphone plug in the hall and in the driver’s cab, 8x80x10 front destination sign, Bio Lighting internal light, 70-lier refrigerator at the end of the aisle and 110V electrical outlets in the passenger area

Paradiso G8 1200

3,800mm high

reversible USB A and type C socket in the driver’s seat (ergodesign pneumatics), DPM lift, 500-liter fuel tank and toilet in the back on the right-hand side

The model is equipped with full LED headlights, front and rear fog lights, air conditioning s y

colling driver’s cab defroster, 4 3-inch multiplex system, with built-in radio The vehicle also has an audio and video system with DVD play-

Marcopolo will present its range of vehicles at the Lat Bus show in Sao Paulo Based in Brazil, Marcopolo offers a wide range of over-the-road buses in different sizes Some have optional sleeper bus interiors for use on longer routes

back with USB on the dashboard, three monitors in the passenger area of 15 6-inch size, microphone plug in the passenger area and in the driver’s cab, front destination sign, Bio lighting internal lighting, 70-liter refrigerator at the end of the aisle and 110V electrical outlets in the passenger area

Attivi Integral with Unprecedented Interior Marcopolo’s Attivi Integral on display at Lat Bus 2024 innovates with an internal configuration that is unprecedented in the Latin American market in terms of comfort, safety, practicality and standard of finish, with a new dashboard made entirely of PU (without fiberglass), greater use of recyclable materials such as aluminum and better ergonomics for the driver The model, presented at the last edition of the fair, received updates and several upgrades in software, in the calibration of the energy management system, in the cooling system that resulted in lower energy consumption and greater efficiency

It also has an exclusive dashboard with an unprecedented design, favoring visibility a n d s a f e t y W i t h 1 2 , 9 5 0 m m i n l e n g t h , 2,550mm in width and 3,675mm in length, and a capacity for 89 passengers, between sitting and standing The seats have been r e ﬁ n i s h e d , n o w i n t h e u p h

l s t e r e d C i t y model, with a headrest and a new design

and pattern, in addition to USB type A sockets in the passenger area and the driver’s ergodesign pneumatic chair

For greater safety, comfort, convenience and total accessibility, it has a wheelchair ramp, air conditioning systems, Multiplex and m o n i t o r

13x80x10 window destination sign, extra ﬁlming camera connected to the passenger area monitor, 15 6-inch Orbe ﬁxed monitor and radio/DVD media playback on the dashboard

The Marcopolo Attivi Integral has a power train with a Per manent Magnet Assisted Reluctance Synchronous electric motor, with 192kW/385kW of power and 1 360/2 940 Nm of torque, direct current charging with

voltage socket charging system and batter-

range of up to 250 kilometers It is equipped with full air suspension, ﬁre suppression system, rear-view mirrors with cameras on the right and left sides, front fog lights q

American Bus Association

Bus Equipment People

The American Bus Association (ABA) is proud to announce the appointment of Fred Ferguson a s i t s n e w p re s i d e n t a n d c h i e f executive ofﬁcer, effective July 29 Fergu-

s o n b r i n g s m o r e

t h a n 1 5 y e a r s o f

e x t e n s i v e e x p e r ience in public policy, strategic com-

m u n i c a t i o n s a n d

l e a d e r s h i p w i t h i n

t h e g o v e r n m e n t , non-proﬁt and private sectors

Ferguson joins A B A f o l l o w i n g h i s

n o t a b l e t e n u r e a t

V i s t a O u t d o o r I n c , where he was vice president of Public Affairs and Communications At Vista Outdoor, he was responsible for communications strategies for signiﬁcant M&A transactions totaling more than $3 billion His experience includes testifying before Congress and executive branch committees on seven occasions and l e a d i n g a s u c c e s s f u l l o b b y i n g c a m p a i g n resulting in a multi-year, $42 million business oppor tunity

In his new role, Ferguson will lead ABA

i n t o i t s n e x t e r a , f o c u s i n g o n u n i t i n g d i v e r s e s t a k e h o l d e r s t o d r i v e s h a r e d c a u s e s a n d i m p r o v e d o u t c o m e s H e i s

c o m m i t t e d t o a d v o c a t i n g f o r t h e m o b i l i t y industr y, connecting the industr y and supp o r t i n g t h e c o m m u n i t y t h ro u g h t h e A B A F o u n d a t i o n , w o r k f o rc e d e v e l o p m e n t a n d i n d u s t r y c o u n c i l s

Additionally, Ferguson will serve as president of the National Bus Trafﬁc Association He will also serve as president of the ABA Foundation and will work to expand scholarships, research and continuing education for the motorcoach and tour industries

Outgoing CEO Peter Pantuso expressed his conﬁdence in Ferguson’s leadership: “I a m t h r i l l e d t o h a n d o v e r t h e re i n s t o F re d Ferguson His vast experience and proven track record in public policy and strategic communications ensure that ABA is in skillful hands ”

“As we move forward and into this new era for travel and transportation,” said Terry Fischer, chair of ABA’s Board of Directors, “it’s imperative that our members’ voices be h e a rd a t a l l l e v e l s o f g o v e r n m e n t Fred’s years of experience in advocacy and com-

munications make him the perfect leader to navigate these new roads ahead ”

Ferguson is equally enthusiastic about his new role at ABA “ABA sits at the crossroads of so many dynamic businesses and industries,” said Ferguson “I’m most excited about bringing together this diverse coalition to connect more people with more places My top priority is getting to know the ABA s

and learn so that we can seamlessly execute

process of building our long-ter m strategic plan and expanding our Association’s value proposition for current and new members alike ”

Inter national Motorcoach Group (IMG)

(IMG) announced Phelps Hope as the new president, effective September 3

Hope has extensive experience in hotel, meetings, events and association management As EVP operations and chief development ofﬁcer for the Asian American Hotel Owners Association (AAHOA), he managed o

p growth Previously, he led global meetings and events at Kellen, managing more than 300 events annually with $30 million in revenues He also owned Aspen Productions and Absolutely Atlanta, specializing in corporate events and destination management

I M G C h a i r m a n M i k e D i c k s o n s t a t e d , “While change in the top leadership is a difﬁcult process for any organization, I believe IMG is ver y lucky to have found Phelps to continue leading IMG in setting the standard for the network and the industr y ”

Hope said, “I am truly excited to join IMG as the new president and am deeply honored to build upon the exceptional work of outgoing President Bronwyn Wilson as we shape the future of our organization for our stakeholders and par tner members within the motorcoach and transportation industry The chance to work with such a dedicated and distinguished membership, renowned for setting industr y standards, is incredibly inspiring to me ”

W i l s o n added: “The IMG network is in an outstanding position today and Hope will continue t

have had the honor to lead and serve

Daimler Truck Nor th America

Kevin Bangston has been appointed to the position of president and CEO of Daimler Tr

and CEO of Thomas Built Buses and Freightl

new position he will be responsible for Daimler Truck Financial Services (DTFS) in the USA, Canada and Mexico B

and is well-equipped to lead the DTFS North A

America (DTNA) in 2001 working in corpo-

led to inter national leadership positions in Ger many, Indonesia and Japan

“I am extremely happy and proud that we can bring Kevin into the Daimler Truck Financial S

Unger, CEO of Daimler Truck Financial Services GmbH “With his leadership skills, his experience and deep knowledge of the transpor tation industry, Kevin will further develop our business and lead our transformation i n N o r t h A m e r i c a from pure ﬁnancial to a complete commercial vehicle service provider ”

“Kevin’s proven leadership track record and broad experience across both DTNA and the larger Daimler Truck organization p o s i t i o n s h i m w e l l f o r s u c c e s s i n h i s n e w position,” said John O’Leary, president and CEO of DTNA “We look forward to having h i m a s a m e m b e r o f o u r D T N A O p e r a t i n g Committee (OpCom) and working together to continue to provide our customers and d e a l e r s t h e i n d u s t r y l e a d i n g s e r v i c e a n d suppor t they expect and deserve ” B a n g s t o n s u c c e e d s R i c h a r d H o w a r d who has decided to retire effective July 31 a f t e r a s u c c e s s f u l c a r e e r a t D T N A a n d DTFS Over a span of more than 31 years, Howard held leadership positions in Africa, Asia, Europe and Nor th America “We cann o t e x p r e s s h o w t h a n k f u l w e a r e f o r R i c h a rd ’s a c h i e v e m e n t s d u r i n g h i s w h o l e career His leadership, motivation, dedica-

Kevin Bangstrom

Fred Ferguson

tion and deep knowledge of the truck industry has always been essential for our culture and our success We wish him all the best for his future,” said Unger and O’Lear y

The succession of Bangston at Thomas Built Buses and Freightliner Custom Chassis Corporation will be communicated in due course In the meantime, Bangston will cont i n u e t o s u p p o r t b o t h b u s i n e s s e s o n a n interim basis

Flix Nor th America

Flix Nor th America Inc , the entity overseeing operations for both FlixBus and Greyh o u n d a c r o s s N o r t h A m e r i c a , h a s announced the appointment of James W Bristow as general counsel, effective August 1 , f u r t h e r b o l s t e r i n g i t s s e n i o r l e a d e r s h i p team In his role, Bristow will be responsible

f o r l e a d i n g t h e

c o m p a n y ’s l e g a l department, coun-

s e l i n g C - s u i t e e x e c u t i v e s o n a l l

l e g a l m a t t e r s a n d

o v e r s e e i n g F l i x ’s

l e g a l a n d c o m p l i -

a n c e a c t i v i t i e s

a c r o s s N o r t h

A m e r i c a H e w i l l

r e p o r t t o K a d i r

“Kai” Boysan, chief executive ofﬁcer of Flix Nor th America

B r i s t o w b r i n g s t w o d e c a d e s o f l e g a l experience to Flix, including managing corporate litigation functions, regulator y compliance and labor- and employment-related legal matters He joins Flix after almost 10 years at Dallas/based EnLink Midstream, a publicly traded leader in the energy sector, where he served in various roles, including associate general counsel, director of regulator y affairs and director of training and compliance

P r i o r t o h i s t i m e a t E n L i n k M i d s t re a m , B r i s t o w w a s a s e n i o r a s s o c i a t e o f B a k e r Botts LLP, an Am Law 100 inter national law

ﬁ r m A n a l u m n u s o f H a r v a rd L a w S c h o o l ( J D ’ 0 5 ) a n d t h e U n i v e r s i t y o f Te x a s a t Austin (B A , B B A ’02), he is proud to have won multiple D CEO Magazine Corporate Counsel Awards (2021, 2023), Bristow was n a m e d a “ R i s i n g S t a r ” b y S u p e r L a w y e r s ever y year from 2010 to 2014

Bristow s u c c e e d s Tr i c i a M a r t i n e z , w h o j o i n e d F l i x a s t h e N o r t h A m e r i c a n g e n e r a l c o u n s e l a f t e r t h e a c q u i s i t i o n o f G r e yhound Mar tinez is leaving to pursue other o p p o r t u n i t i e s

“We are thrilled to welcome James to the F l i x t e a m w i t h h i s i m p re s s i v e l e g a l b a c kg r o u n d a n d d e e p e x p

advance on our strategic priorities We look f o r w a r d t o h i m f u r t h e r s t r e n g t h e n i n g t h e capabilities of our legal function and building on our strong culture of integrity and legal and regulator y compliance,” said Boysan “I also want to express my gratitude to Tricia for her invaluable contributions to the company and wish her continued success in her next chapter ”

Bristow is the third new member to join Flix North America’s senior leadership team t h i s m o

h e appointments of Scott MacDonald as chief ﬁnancial ofﬁcer and Karina Frayter as head of public relations and corporate communications

“

for m intercity bus travel in Nor th America,”

such talented leaders as James, Scott and K

t r u l y i n n o v a t i v e p r o d u c t o f

a ff o rd a b l e a n d s u s t a i n a b l e t r a v e l e x p e r i -

e n

James W Bristow

Flat Rock Playhouse

In 1937, a group of struggling performers organized as the Vagabond Players The r e s i d e n t s o f H e n d e r s o n C o u n t y w e lc o m e d t h e m w i t h o p e n a r m s A s w e s t e r n North Carolina continued to grow, so did the Playhouse. In 1961 the General Assembly ofﬁcially designated FRP The State Thea t re o f N o r t h C a ro l i n a F R P n o w b o a s t s a dynamic year-long season including musicals, concerts, plays and performances for y o u n g a u d i e n c e s T h e P l a y h o u s e h a s a b o a rd - d r i v e n d u a l m i s s i o n o f p ro d u c i n g high-quality performing arts recruiting toptier professional performers via the Actors Equity Association, as well as professional artisans and designers FRP also provides ongoing education and mentoring in the performing arts

Flat Rock Playhouse is situated on a 14a c r e c a m p u s i n t h e Vi l l a g e o f F l a t R o c k , North Carolina. It boasts two performance stages – the Playhouse Mainstage and the Studio Theater; extensive workforce housing for talented artists and production crews; the Vagabond School of Drama inclusive of P l a y h o u s e , J r f o r K - 1 2 a n d a n a t i o n a l l yrecognized, pre-professional apprentice program; the Lowndes House – the historically preserved home of the FRP Box Ofﬁce and beautiful gardens including the Leiman Garden of Remembrance

L o c a t e d i n F l a t R o c k , N o r t h C a r o l i n a and neighboring Hendersonville, there are a w i d e r a n g e o f t h i n

d a y. E x p l o r e h i k i n g a n d

, scenic overlooks and mountain waterfalls, a thriving downtown of shops, boutiques, galleries, museums and two dozen restaurants Relax at a mountaintop winery, visit one of the nation’s largest craft breweries, follow a craft trail or take the family apple picking, and the cherry on the day stop along Hendersonville’s newest and sweet-

to do Best of all, this scenic mountain des-

gettable experience that will resonate long after the ﬁnal note is sung

C AT S - O c t

extravaganza of fantasy and theater magic, CATS has enchanted audiences for decades with its ﬁercely energetic dancing, showbiz razzle-dazzle and unforgettable lyrics drawn from T.S. Elliot's Old Possum's Book of Practical Cats As one of the most popular Broadway blockbusters of all time and winner of seven Tony Awards, this certiﬁed classic has brought cheer to millions of theater lovers of all ages. You and your family are sure to l e a v e t h e t h e a t e r t a p p i n g y o u r t o e s a n d 'feline' groovy

Flat Rock Playhouse is excited to offer a Family Friendly Fall for your groups Great group discounts are available for 15 or more guests. Do not forget to b e on the lookout for the 2025 season which will be announced later this year.

Jesus Christ Superstar, in Concert - September 5 - 22. Sir Andrew Lloyd Webber ’s iconic rock opera Jesus Christ Superstar, is heading to the Rock Born of the evocative 1970 concept album, this groundbreaking product i o n , w

c k radio play that immerses audiences in a form

Electrifying music and gut-punching vocal stylings unite to help narrate the last seven days of Jesus’ life through the eyes of Judas Iscariot In music industry parlance, it is all killer, no ﬁller. Expect a powerful and unfor-

A Flat Rock Playhouse Christmas – Novemb e r 2 9 - D e c e

b e jolly The tradition continues with the same great holiday cheer to put you in the Christmas spirit. All new renditions of your holiday favorites will help you get those sleigh bells jinglin,’ and chestnuts roasting There is truly no better way to kick off your holiday s e a s o n H u r r y o n o v e r w i t h

and excitement of this seasonal spectacular that will have you feeling merry and bright Ring-a-ling-a-ding-dong-ding, y’all. C

NYC’s Congestion Pricing’s “Indeﬁnite Pause”: What Didn’t Happen, Why and What’s Next?

by Matthew W. Daus, Esq.

courtesy of J C Rebis Jr

The MTA announced in April 2024 that congestion pricing would b e g i n i n N e w Yo r k C i t y o n J u n e 3 0 , 2 0 2 4 . F o l l o w i n g m a n y months of hearings, pushback and more discussions, the MTA finalized its tolling structure and planned to begin the congestion charge in Manhattan below 60th Street. It would be the first congestion pricing program in the United States, aiming to raise revenue for the MTA and reduce congestion in the City’s Central Business District (CBD) The MTA aimed to generate $1 billion per year over the next five years to finance $15 billion in bonds for its capital plan The money was to be used for projects like the Second Avenue Subway extension and the Interborough Express (IBX), as well as accessibility enhancements and new bus and subway purchases However, on June 5, 2024, New York State Governor Kathy Hochul suddenly directed the MTA to postpone congestion pricing implementation indefinitely

In explaining her decision, Governor Hochul said that New York City and New Yorkers have not yet fully recovered economically from the pandemic and that she does not want to impose an additional financial burden on working-class New Yorkers Since Governor Hochul’s announcement, the New York State Legislature has been looking for ways to fill the MTA’s $1 billion revenue shortfall for the 2025 fiscal year, and MTA leadership has said it will likely shrink its capital budget and postpone important projects

Congestion pricing has many supporters. Advocacy groups local to New York City had worked for years to push for congestion pricing Some groups supported the program overall but took issue with some of the speciﬁcs. Taxi, For-Hire Vehicle (FHV) and bus operators, for example, pushed for discounts and exemptions because they are part of the public transit ecosystem Others argued for exemptions for electric vehicles (EVs) on the basis that they do not contribute to pollution in the same way regular vehicles do

The program also drew pushback from local New Yorkers, elected ofﬁcials in New York and New Jersey, the United Federation of Teachers and the Trucking Association of New York, all of whom brought lawsuits against the MTA and the Federal Highway Administration (FHWA) Many of these lawsuits fault the FHWA’s Final Environmental Assessment (EA) because, among other things, it did not account for the ﬁnal tolling schedule adopted by the MTA Most litigants are demanding congestion pricing be halted until the U.S. Department of Transportation conducts an environmental impact study (EIS) – a lengthy, often years-long process

On June 14, 2024, FHWA issued a re-evaluation ﬁnding that the conclusions in the Final EA remain valid in light of the ﬁnal tolling schedule, and that no further environmental review is warranted.1

The report found that the tolling structure would result in 17 percent fewer vehicles driving into the CBD every day

While this indefinite delay plunges congestion pricing into uncertainty, it could be an opportunity to get it right The New York State Legislature could take the chance to revise the enabling legislation to focus less on a specific dollar amount and more on alleviating congestion, improving public transportation and helping the environment. By focusing on congestion reduction, environmental benefits and a more equitable tolling structure, the MTA and the New York State Legislature could create a program that addresses the city’s needs while garnering wider support, ultimately making congestion pricing a win for both commuters and the city itself

The Indeﬁnite Pause

Governor Hochul’s last-minute decision to stop congestion pric-

was based on not wanting to impose an additional ﬁnancial burden on working-class New Yorkers and reafﬁrmed her commitment to improving New York’s transportation infrastructure She also said the state had set aside funding to backstop the MTA capital plan and was exploring additional funding sources.2 That is just part of the story

Indiana was photographed on West 34th Street in Manhattan. It was bringing a group to the famous Macy’s Department Store

Photos

While Governor Hochul recently highlighted concerns around congestion pricing’s equity impacts on low-income New Yorkers, the University Transportation Research Cent e r a t t h e C i t y U n i v e r s i t y o f N e w Yo r k (UTRC) researched this issue in depth last summer The report, Equity Impacts of NYC Congestion Pricing on Taxi & For-Hire Vehicle Drivers & Passengers, makes three main o b s e

already pay a surcharge to the MTA. As of the ﬁrst quarter of 2024, taxi and FHV riders have paid more than $1 5 billion in conges-

tion surcharges since 2019 Second, the taxi and FHV ridership has not yet fully recove re d

could lead to signiﬁcant job and income loss for taxi and FHV drivers. Third, additional c h

become a ﬁnancial burden for those who live in transit deserts and require taxis and FHVs to travel throughout the city should not be subject to extra charges

The compelling reason for the about face, however, was purely political Democrats are

facing difﬁcult House races in New York suburbs, and Republicans have planned to use congestion pricing as a political wedge. Before her announcement, the governor had reportedly notiﬁed the White House and House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries (of New York), who is trying to win back a Democratic m a j

declaring neutrality in the congestion pricing policy debate, Jeffries’s spokesperson said he “

pause of limited duration ”4

The Lawsuits – An Update (Some Dismissed)

While many support congestion pricing, e

some groups are ﬁghting to stop congestion pricing entirely As of June 2024, eight lawsuits were ﬁled against the FHWA and MTA seeking to nix congestion pricing The legal challenges raise concerns about the environm

particularly on those lacking viable public

residents in surrounding areas The outcome of these lawsuits could signiﬁcantly inﬂu-

policy in New York and beyond.

In a signiﬁcant legal development, U S D i

key claims in three lawsuits challenging congestion pricing The decision, issued June 2 0 , 2

public transit improvements

The lawsuits, which were brought by various groups of coalitions including residents, U n i t e d F e d e r a t i o n o f Te a c h e r s P re s i d e n t M i c h a e l M u l g re w, S t a t e n I s l a n d B o ro u g h President Vito Fossella, and federal, state, and local politicians argued that the MTA a n d i t s s t a t e a n d f e d e r a l p a r t n e

conduct an adequate environmental review as required by the National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA) 5 Judge Liman ruled that the extensive NEPA review process, which spanned four years and produced a 45,000page administrative record, was more than adequate J u d g

found no legal cause to halt the congestion pricing program based on the NEPA claims

improving transit services for low-income residents who predominantly rely on public transportation The decision dealt only with the non-constitutional claims in these cases, leaving the state and federal constitutional claims to be litigated

Between scheduled buses going to the Port Authority Terminal and charter buses with groups, there is always a constant flow of buses into and out of Manhattan. Here is a ShortLine bus operated by Hudson Transit Lines It was parked at the ShortLine lot on West 39th Street

Local transit buses would not have been affected by the Congestion Pricing plan because they were exempt from tolls. However, income from Congestion Pricing would go to the New York MTA to help with local transit service including buses, subways and commuter rail Shown here is a NYC MTA CNG-powered Orion bus.

T h e re c e n t c o u r t ru l i n g c o u l d p a v e t h e way for implementing congestion pricing in New York City and set a precedent for the other lawsuits, which raise many of the same claims. The State of New Jersey was the ﬁrst to ﬁle a suit in July 2023, alleging congestion pricing would unfairly burden New Jersey c o m m u t e r s w i t h a d d i t i o n a l c o s t s , a n d increase congestion and pollution in New J e r s e y i n v i o l a t i o n o f N E PA a n d t h e U . S . Constitution 7 The constitutional challenges include claims that congestion pricing violates the right to travel. That question has been addressed by various courts The right to travel is a fundamental right recognized by the Constitution, and it includes the right of a citizen to move freely between states H o w e v e r, t h i s r i g h t d o e s n o t n e c e s s a r i l y mean that one can travel without any restrict i o n s o r c o s t s T h e g o v e r n m e n t h a s t h e authority to impose tolls on roads as a way to fund their construction and maintenance The imposition of tolls has generally been seen as a legitimate exercise of state power, p ro v i d e d i t d o e s n o t d i s c r i m i n a t e a g a i n s t interstate commerce or violate other constitutional rights

The Mayor of Fort Lee, New Jersey sued in November 2023, claiming congestion pricing would lead to increased trafﬁc and pollution in Fort Lee, as drivers might reroute to avoid the fees, particularly affecting areas around the George Washington Bridge.8 The Fort Lee case is stayed pending the resolut i o n o f t h e N e w J e r s e y c a s e , w h i c h i s expected soon.

R o c k l a n d C o u n t y a n d t h e To w n o f Hempstead, Long Island ﬁled similar lawsuits earlier this year, arguing that the tolling program lacks a rational basis, is an unaut h o r i z e d t a x , a n d v i o l a t e s c o n s t i t u t i o n a l r i g h t s 9 T h e p l a i n t i ff s a re c h a l l e n g i n g t h e constitutionality of congestion pricing under the Equal Protection Clause of the New York State and U S Constitutions The contention is that the toll policies discriminate against

drivers from outside the CBD These cases are both still in their early phases.

The most recent lawsuit was filed by the Trucking Association of New York in May 2 0 2 4 , a l l e g i n g t h a t t h e t o l l i n g s c h e m e i s unconstitutional and unfairly burdens truck drivers who only make up four percent of all vehicle traffic in the CBD 10 They contend t h a t t h e p l a n d i s p r o p o r t i o n a t e l y a f f e c t s trucks with higher tolls each time they enter the congestion zone, unlike passenger vehicles which are charged a flat rate regardless o f t h

rg u e that toll revenue will be allocated to the city’s s u b w a y s ,

trucking industry cannot use The suit seeks a d e c l a

l i n g p r o g r a m i s unconstitutional and an injunction barring it from taking effect The claim that trucks a r e b e i n g d i s p r o p o r t i o n a t e l y b u r d e n e d could carry water In 2022, a Rhode Island District Court judge determined that Rhode Island violated the U S Constitution’s dorm a n t c o m m e rc e c l a u s e b y o n l y a s s e s s i n g tolls on large heavy-duty commercial trucks, many of which come from out of state 11 That case is currently on appeal, but it shows that, even though road tolls have been around for a while, they must apply proportionately to road users, and not have a disparate impact on interstate commerce.

T h e s e l e g a l a c t i o n s h i g h l i g h t t h e c o mplexities of implementing congestion pricing in a city as dynamic as New York, where the balance to reduce trafﬁc, generate revenue for public transportation and ensure equit a b l e t re a t m e n t o f a l l re s i d e n t s a n d b u s inesses remains a contentious issue. If and w h e n c o n g e s t i o n p r i c i n g m o v e s f o r w a rd , these pending lawsuits, and those that may be ﬁled, could alter the program or delay its implementation further

More Lawsuits & Progressive Politics?

Advocates and legal experts have quest i o n e d w h e t h e r H o c h u l h a s t h e u n i l a t e r a l

York State Legislature and signed into law i

( T B TA ) ,

f t h e M TA , t

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t a b l i s

e n t r a l b u s i n e s s d i s t r i c t t o l l i n g p ro g r

f e rr i n g t o t h e c o n g e s t i o n p r i c i n g p r o g r a m

T h a t l a n g u a g e s e e m s m a n d a t o r y r a t h e r

t h a n o p t i o n a l 12 A r t i c l e 7 8 o f t h e N Y C i v i l

P r a c t i c e L a w a n d R u l e s m a y p r o v i d e a n

a v e n u e t o c h a l l e n g e t h e T B TA’ s f a i l u re t o implement congestion pricing, as required

b y l e g i s l a t i o n p a s s e d i n 2 0 1 9 .

O n J u n e 1 2 , 2 0 2 4 , N Y C C o m p t r o l l e r

B r a d L a n d e r, w h o m a y b e r u n n i n g f o r

m a y o r, a n n o u n c e d h e w a s a s s e m b l i n g a coalition to explore legal action against the

S t a t e o f N e w Yo r k o v e r H o c h u l ’ s c o n g e stion pricing delay This coalition will likely w a i t u n t i l t h e o r i g i n a l s t a r t d a t e o f J u n e

3 0 , 2 0 2 4 , t o t a k e a n y a c t i o n T h e c o a l i t i o n

b e l i e v e s i t h a s a f e w l e g a l a n g l e s i t m a y u s e I t c o u l d s u e u n d e r t h e N e w Yo r k

S t a t e ’ s C l i m a t e L e a d e r s h i p a n d C o m m unity Protection Act, which requires all state a g e n c i e s t o c o n d u c t b u s i n e s s i n a m a n n e r keeping with an overarching goal of reduci n g g r e e n h o u s e g a s e m i s s i o n s . T h e r e i s also the 2021 Green Amendment approved b y N e w Yo r k v o t e r s , a ff i r m i n g a c o n s t i t utional right to clean air, water and the environment On the federal level, the coalition b e l i e v e s H o c h u l ’ s m o v e c o u l d v i o l

landmark Americans with Disabilities Act F

program is the original 2019 statute,

The MTA’s Next Move

The MTA Board is scheduled to meet on June 26, 2024 – just four days before congestion pricing was supposed to go into effect It is unclear whether a vote on congestion pricing is legitimately on the table, and how

Snow can make travel in Manhattan difficult during the winter months

This Hudson Transit ShortLine MCI was photographed on State Street near South Ferry.

This Van Hool, operated by Triple D Travel, was bringing a group to Loew’s Theaters when photographed on West 42nd Street near Eighth Avenue in New York.

such a vote would go However, if congestion pricing is on the agenda, it could pose a separate problem. Board members have a ﬁduciary duty to act in the Authority’s best interest, and slashing its funding would go against that duty

L e s s t h a n a d a y a f t e r H o c h u l ’ s announcement, MTA Board members Dan G a ro d n i c k , M i d o r i Va l d

and David Jones criticized the Governor ’s d

who have come out against the Governor ’s decision were recommended by New York City Mayor Eric Adams. Five members are

Congestion Pricing 2 0 –An Opportunity for a Better Program?

This delay is a chance for the MTA to reexamine the tolling scheme and for the New Yo

establishing congestion pricing Under that law, the MTA must use congestion tolls to bring in $15 billion to fund capital projects Instead of focusing solely on raising a speciﬁc dollar amount, this pause presents an opportunity to design a plan that more effect

environmental impacts from vehicles

The New York State Legislature can reexamine where congestion pricing revenue may be allocated and consider moving fund-

initiatives but also address concerns from k e y s t

Guiding Principles for Mobility Policy and Congestion Mitigation published by the International Association of Transportation Regulators (IATR), wich supports exemptions for for-hire vehicles, taxicabs, TNCs and buses, as they are part of the public transit ecosystem If not exempted, the IATR supports the passenger fees from taxi and for-hire trips being placed into a lockbox to fund and subsidize ﬁrst-and-last mile links with public transit, Mobility-as-a-Service (MaaS) platforms and subsidized (or if possible “free rides”) using wheelchair accessible taxicabs and for-hire vehicles as part of the MTA’s p

Access-A-Ride

almost universally applauded the conges-

In a June 10, 2024, press conference, MTA CEO Janno Lieber explained that, without the funds provided by congestion pricing, the MTA would prioritize keeping the aging transit system operating safely Lieber said Hochul’s decision would force the MTA to shrink its current capital budget and could affect its next budget and ripple into day-today operations The capital budget includes work for the Second Avenue Subway extension, the Interborough Express, accessibility improvements, and new bus and subway purchases 16 Most likely, the debate at the M TA w i l l i n v o l v e s o m e b o a r d m e m b e r s voicing their displeasure with the decision, but then engaging in a debate on what projects to delay or cut

through service quality improvements They might also consider contributing more funds to Access-A-Ride, increasing subsidies for

exemptions for taxis, for-hire vehicles, buses and other shared mobility – all of which are

portation ecosystem The MTA and the New York State Legislature could also take time to talk with those behind the lawsuits and

ment the program.

The MTA can look at successful congestion pricing programs in other cities around the world to learn from their experiences For instance, London and Stockholm have implemented congestion pricing with various exemptions and adjustments that New York City could consider. These cities have i n

vehicles, such as taxis, buses and EVs, which not only support public transport and green

During the pause, engaging with the litigants currently challenging the congestion pricing plan in court could also be a product

directly, the MTA could potentially develop a more robust and widely accepted program This might involve convening regular meet-

MTA reﬁne the tolling structure, perhaps by incorporating more nuanced exemptions, discounts, and pollution and congestion miti

needs of different communities.

I f c o n g e s t i o n p r i c i n g i s m e a n t t o p u s h p e o p l e t o w a r d s p u b l i c t r a n s i t a n d a w a y from private vehicles, then ensuring that the subways and buses are attractive options for riders is crucial Creating a safe, clean and comfortable public transit system should be a top priority for the MTA. Increasing the p re s e n c e o f s e c u r i t y p e r s o n n e l , i n s t a l l i n g better lighting, and ensuring frequent and t h o ro u g h c l e a n i n g o f t r a n s i t v e h i c l e s a n d stations can make the system more appeali n g t o r i d e r s . T h e M TA c a n a l s o c o n s i d e r how it might continue its work on important infrastructure projects with creative delivery mechanisms.

In January, the New York City Bar Association Transportation Committee, which I c h a i r, w

Hochul and state, city and MTA leadership about the potential budgetary burden the Interborough Express (IBX) would put on the MTA’s capital budget. The letter cited “high cost, project status relative to other announced MTA capital priorities and rightof-way uncertainties unresolved by the work to date,” as reasons why the MTA might cons

implementation

The Transportation Committee recommended shifting responsibility for the project’s further development from the MTA to a new joint state-city multi-modal partnership This entity could have more ﬂexibility

As you might expect, Greyhound Lines operates numerous buses in and out of New York City This Greyhound MCI was photographed on West 40th Street near 10th Avenue. Behind the Greyhound is an MCI operated by MTA New York City Transit

evening The location is on 6th Avenue near

New York City

to develop a lower-cost project concept and to shape an innovative ﬁnancing and public-private partnership strategy, which could lessen or eliminate IBX’s competition with o t h e r p r i o r i t i e s f o r M TA c a p i t a l p ro g r a m capacity and management’s attention A formal role for the city recognizes the project’s dependence on coordination with multiple m u n i c i p a l f u n c t i o n s a n d a p p r o v a l s Together, the state and city could empower t h i s n e w e n t i t y t o f o s t e r o t h e r i n n o v a t i v e l o c a l m o b i l i t y s e r v i c e s a n d s u p p o r t r a i l freight operations and ancillary infrastructure on the IBX corridor

Considering the new funding shortfall

t h e M TA f a c e s , i t m a y m a k e s e n s e f o r t h e

Governor, the MTA and the New York State Legislature to consider creating a separate a u t h o r i t y t o d e l i v e r t h e I B X t h a t d o e s n o t rely on the MTA and its now extremely overb u rd e n e d c a p i t a l p ro g r a m I t w o u l d b e a shame to completely scrap this program, so if the legislature takes the MTA funding gap up in a special session this summer, thought should be given to passing a law to create a

1https://new mta info/project/CBDTP/reevaluation

separate quasi-governmental authority to handle and ﬁnance this major project, as the MTA has their hands full already running an aging system and dealing with subway safety issues and crime

The MTA can create a public transit system that not only supports the goals of congestion pricing but also enhances the overall quality of life for New Yorkers This holistic approach would ensure that congestion pricing is part of a broader strategy to improve u

a m o re liveable and sustainable metropolis

The story of congestion pricing is far from over, and is likely to come to fruition in early 2025. Even though congestion pricing is currently on pause, likely for political reasons, there is a strong likelihood it will be implem e n t e d

November 2024 elections If Donald Trump is elected President, I predict that before January 20, 2025, the program might be started for fear that the incoming President-Elect

2https://www nytimes com/2024/06/05/nyregion/congestion-pricing-pause-hochul html

3 https://www nytimes com/2024/06/05/nyregion/congestion-pricing-pause-hochul html

4 https://www eenews net/articles/hill-dems-bemoan-new-york-congestion-pricing-about-face/

might remove federal approval of the program If President Joseph Biden is re-elected, I

mented sometime during the ﬁrst or second quarter of 2025 to provide for cushion and recovery politically from angry New Yorkers i

Hochul’s possible re-election bid in 2026. In the meantime, the MTA is looking for additional funding and could even attempt to increase the existing congestion surcharge on taxis and FHVs via an act of the legislat

where (such as from cannabis sales, casinos, a payroll tax or other sources). Those advocating for the taxi and FHV industry must remain vigilant, increase their efforts and ensure congestion pricing is implemented equitably for drivers and riders alike Governor Hochul called for ideas for additional f u n d i n g A l l s t a k e h o l d e r

opportunity to present their ideas to help

projects without relying on the taxi and FHV industry q

5 Mulgrew et al v The City of New York et al Case No 1:24-cv-01644-LJL (US District Court for the Southern District of New York); New Yorkers Against Congestion Pricing Tax et al v United States Department of Transportation et al, Case No: 1:24-cv-00367-LJL (Southern District of New York); Chan et al v United States Department of Transportation et al , Case No 1:2023cv10365 (US District Court for the Southern District of New York)

6 Id

7 State of New Jersey v U S Dep't of Transportation, No 23-cv-03885 (US District Court for the District of New Jersey)

8Sokolich v U S Dep t of Transportation, No 23-cv-21728 (US District Court for the District of New Jersey)

9County of Rockland et al v Triborough Bridge and Tunnel Authority et al, Southern District of New York (White Plains), Case No 7:24-cv-02285-CS; Town of Hempstead et al v Triborough Bridge and Tunnel Authority et al, Eastern District of New York (Central Islip), Case No : 2:24-cv-03263-ARL

10Trucking Association of New York v Metropolitan Transportation Authority et al Southern District of New York Case No 1:24-cv-04111

11American Trucking Associations Inc et al v Alviti, Case No 22-1795, U S Court of Appeals for the First Circuit

12https://nysfocus com/2024/06/06/hochul-congestion-pricing-mta-lawsuit

13https://www amny com/transit/congestion-pricing-lander-assembling-plaintiffs-lawsuits/

14https://nysfocus com/2024/06/06/hochul-congestion-pricing-mta-lawsuit

15https://nysfocus com/2024/06/06/hochul-congestion-pricing-mta-lawsuit

16https:https://www nytimes com/2024/06/10/nyregion/mta-janno-lieber-congestion-pricing html

B u s M u s e u m

D e a c c e s s i o n P l a n

by Dave Millhouser

The Antique Automobile Club of Ameri c a ( A A C A ) M u s e u m ’ s (https://www aacamuseum org/mob t/) Bus Collection Committee has been faced with a difficult situation: The museum ' s historic fleet has reached 60 buses and there is only inside storage for less than half of that number

B a s e d i n H e r s h e y, P e n n s y l v a n i a , t h e m u s e u m p a r k s b u s e s n o t c u r r e n t l y o n exhibit at a nearby facility. The George Sage Annex has limited floor space, so many are parked outdoors The situation is complicated by the fact that the annex is on a flood plain In 2011, a historic flood seriously damaged a number of buses

Even coaches stored outdoors incur costs of insurance, security and maintenance. As a result, museum leadership decided on a p l a n o f “ D e a c c e s s i o n ” t o , g r a d u a l l y a n d rationally, reduce the number of buses in the c o l l e c t i o n t o a l e v e l t h a t w e c a n

properly preserve

“Deaccession” is a formal, legal process that museums adhere to when curating their collections, with specific protocols

Many of the buses have personal stories o r u n i q u e h i s t o r i c s i g n

, a n

e criteria are being used to prioritize which are chosen for the program Substantial effort is being made to find a good home for every coach that does not fit current needs

“Unfortunately, we’re the victims of success During the past five years our historic collection rose from roughly 30 coaches to 60 We’re out of safe storage space, and preserving coaches is costly,” according to one member of the Bus Committee.

“ I n a n i d e a l w o r l d w

restore, every antique coach. Sadly, we ‘can’t

save every puppy in the pound ’ Resources are limited, so the Bus Committee made the decision to reduce the number of buses to a level where they can afford to take care of them ”

Over the years the museum received criticism from some for not acquiring certain buses, and from others for having too many (including one individual who made both criticisms)

The Bus Committee welcomes members suggestions and questions. The display at Spring Fling demonstrated that a substantial percentage of the fleet runs (including one bus nearing its 100th birthday).

The oldest bus in the group is this 1924 Fageol It was painted for and operated by Peninsula Charter Lines in California It reportedly is in very good overall condition and at one time had been restored. This photo was taken while the bus was on display inside the museum.

Sadly, some do not A few are remaining victims of the 2011 flood, and others that are static displays due to limited resources All have historic (and often emotional) value, hence the effort to find homes

tions can contact Jim Michaud at jim@busappraiser com If one of t he b uses on t he list has meaning to you, please make an offer Several bids have already been received.

Below is the first group that is being deaccessioned.

216)

This extremely rare antique bus was run by Peninsular Bus out of California It runs and drives well This is a standard-shift bus with gas "Hercules" motor This bus has been restored at one time to its original state. Bus needs a good cleaning, but otherwise, it is in very good overall condition

FaceBook Link: https://www.facebook.

8/20/24

1945 FORD MODEL 59-B (FLEET NUMBER 221)

This bus was run by Peninsular Bus out

ing, but otherwise, it is in very good overa l l c o n d i t i o n

FaceBook Link: https://www facebook c

8/20/24

1947 GM PDA-3703 “LITTLE SPIKE” (FLEET NUMBER 157)

The one that started it all "Little Spike" i s o n

buses on the planet. It currently does not run a

transmission Was restored several years ago but was involved in a flood and needs a full restoration at this time including floor work PLEASE NOTE: Some photos are from before the flood happened.

FaceBook Link: https://www facebook

8/20/24

1948 FITZJOHN MODEL DVR (FLEET NUMBER PIGEON)

Extremely rare bus. This vehicle is currently in the stages of restoration No interior N o w i n d o w s H a s s i x - c y l i n d e

engine and four-speed standard transmission but does not run or drive

FaceBook Link: https://www.facebook.

8/20/24 1

BOWL” (FLEET NUMBER 711)

Complete unit but needs work The interior is rough. Exterior and undercarriage has some rust Not sure if it runs All original Engine is a Detroit Diesel 6V-71 with an Allison V-731 automatic transmission.

FaceBook Link: https://www facebook

The 1948 Fitzjohn Model DVR is a rare bus

The 1945 Ford 59-B also came from the fleet of Peninsula in California. Sometimes called the “ubiquitous Ford Transit,” or the bus equivalent of the Bimey Safety Car, a huge number of these were operated in smaller cities and on smaller routes in the World War II era Typical of this model, the power train includes a gas engine and a three-speed transmission.

Known as “Little Spike,” this 1948 GM PDA-3703 bus was discovered tucked away in the back of a garage by Spike Michaud He restored the bus and it operated for Michaud Bus Lines to numerous bus events. Like typical GM coaches of this era, the powertrain includes a 4-71 Detroit Diesel engine and a four-speed transmission. Unfortunately, it was involved in the flood at the museum annex.

The 1975 T6H-4523A is a later version of the popular GM “Fishbowl” transit bus model Typical of this model it has two doors and a powertrain that includes a six-cylinder Detroit Diesel engine and an Allison automatic transmission This particular bus could use some work to bring it back

NUMBER)

This was THE first all-electric bus (protot y p e )

are in decent shape There are no batteries in this vehicle. **Does not run**

FaceBook Link: https://www facebook

The stunning beauty of lovingly preserved country manors surround the architecturally rich downtown of Martinsburg as you explore Berkeley County, West Virginia. The rich history of our past is evident at every turn. Hike our trails, paddle our lakes, and wine and dine downtown.

Be g i n y o u r a d v e n t u r e b y i m m e r s i n g yourself in the grandeur of the largest working windmill in North America, the Vermeer Windmill Take a guided tour and watch them mill ﬂour, or step out on the deck to see Pella from new heights After visiting the boyhood home of Wyatt Earp within Pella Historical Museums, make sure to leave time to visit the Scholte House which Pella’s Founder Dominie Scholte built for his bride Maria. At Maria’s Tea Room, located at the Scholte House, step into Maria's world and discover her heartfelt emotions upon arriving in this new land, all while enjoying a traditional Dutch coffee time with some of Pella’s favorite treats. At Sunken Gardens, notice the pond is in the shape of a wooden shoe, walk along the brick path and learn about the Tuttle Cabin, where the ﬁrst pioneers settled in Marion County

C u r i o u s a b o u t t h e g a t h e r i n g n e a r t h e crosswalk or where are those chimes coming from? Uncover a living piece of Pella's history with the captivating Klokkenspel Plaza

T h e K l o k k e n s p e l p o r t r a y s p e o p l e a n d moments of Pella’s history – make sure to catch four figures on the street side and then walk to the courtyard to finish watching the last four figures Catch a show at the historic P e l l a O p e r a H o u s e o r w a l k a l o n g t h e p i cturesque canal at the Molengracht Plaza and enjoy the authentic Dutch architecture attributes in every detail

Tulips are in full bloom for the Tulip Fest i v a l , h e l d M a y 1 - 3 , 2 0 2 5 P e l l a p r o u d l y showcases its Dutch roots with many events i n c l u d i n g a d a i l y a f t e r n o o n a n d e v e n i n g p a r a d e a n d l o t s o f a u t h e n t i c D u t c h c o st u m e s A s s e a s o n s c h a n g e a n d t h e s n o w begins to fall, Christmas magic ﬁlls the air as guests are invited to attend the Christmas To u r o f H o m e s , D e c e m b e r 4 - 6 , 2 0 2 5 , t o explore beautifully-decorated Pella homes Afterward, savor the sweet aroma of spiced treats and shop from local artisans as you explore Kerstmarkt. Kerstmarkt is a Dutch Christmas market located along the Moleng r a c h t C a n a l ﬁ l l e d w i t h h o l i d a y c h e e r Guests are invited to browse the Festival of Trees, take a horse-drawn carriage ride, and m e e t S i n t e r k l a a s a s h e a r r i v e s i n a s p e c i a l celebratory parade.

Pella is a hub of agricultural innovation and a must-visit destination for agri-tourism enthusiasts. Home to Vermeer Manuf a c t u r i n g , a g l o b a l l e a d e r i n agricultural equipment, the city boasts a rich history of pioneering farming solutions Step into the Ve r m e e r M u s e u m & G l o b a l Pavilion to witness ﬁrsthand how o n e m a n ' s v i s i o n t r a n s f o r m e d into a worldwide enterprise. Disc o v e r t h e f u t u r e o f f a r m i n g through Vermeer's collaboration with Lely, a Dutch innovator in automated livestock care Pella

Pella, Iowa

A Dutch haven in the heartland, where tulips bloom and charm abounds

offers a unique opportunity to explore the heart of American agriculture and experience the spirit of innovation ﬁrsthand.

Indulge your senses in a Dutch culinary adventure Pella's bakeries and meat markets are a foodie's paradise, tempting you with the mouthwatering aroma of freshlybaked goods and savory delights Savor class

c D u

unique combination of dried beef and gouda on a raisin bun, crispy stroopwafels and the

lunches, or for a truly authentic experience, enjoy a Dutch dinner at Central College

Discover a hidden gem in Pella: charming boutiques owned and operated by friendly locals From chic fashion and trendy accessories to unique home decor and delightful paper goods, you will ﬁnd something special to treasure Experience the warmth of smalltown hospitality as you explore these delightful shops and uncover one-of-a-kind ﬁnds.

Create unforgettable memories in Pella with fun and quirky photo ops. Snap a selﬁe

Pieter Pella a virtual handshak, and capture the charm of the Molengracht drawbridge Do not forget to admire

Windmill Share your Pella adventures with the world and inspire others to visit this delightful town

Pella is home Pella is a tradition Pella is vibrant Immerse yourself in a world of vibrant culture, stunning architecture and warm hospitality

Experience the magic ﬁrsthand and see why it has been lovingly called "America's Dutch Treasure " q

The Midwest Bus and Motorcoach Association is a regional bus group that has done a great job of filling a gap in the industry With the exception of California and a few Eastern states with large cities, most states do not have the number of buses and operators for a large bus association This was noted by Cherie Hime who is located in Wisconsin Dells, Wisconsin, a popular bus tour d e s t i n a t i o n S h e w o r k e d o n g a t h e r i n g together bus operators from several Midweste r n s t a t e s t o c re a t e a n o rg a n i z a t i o n l a rg e enough to be effective for the members and draw the attention of industry suppliers

As a result, MBMCA’s Annual Convention has been growing and attracting more bus operators and industry suppliers every year. Convention locations change from year to year with this 2024 event at Grand Rapids, Michigan from July 22 to 24

I n d o o

t e d i n t h e Embassy Suites Downtown, located a little n o r t h w e s t o f d o w n t o w n G r a n d R a

the corner of Monroe and Newberry In spite o f b e i n g i n -

location Just west across Monroe from the hotel is Sixth Street Park with its trees and g

the Grand River, which provides a name for the city and features a riverside walk Newberry Street crosses the Grand River on a traditional old truss bridge that adds a touch of history to the area

For the transit people, I might mention that transit in Grand Rapids is provided by a n o p e r a t i o n a p p r o p r i a t e l y n a m e d T h e R a p i d T h e y o ff e r t h re e D o w n t o w n A re a Shuttle routes known as DASH Two of the routes pass by the Embassy Suites on Monroe with the Counterclockwise route stopping at the front door of the hotel and the Clockwise route stopping across the street at the park These DASH routes use smaller buses and allow passengers to ride for free.

M o n d a y, J u l y 2 2 , w a s re s e r v e d f o r t h e competition setup and a board of directors meeting Tuesday morning got off to an early start when those participants registered for the Golf Outing and Competition headed off to the Scott Lake Golf and Practice Center Located a few miles east of Grand Rapids in Comstock Park, the golf course was originally founded by Oliver and Annette Hoag in 1962 By 1998 they built their third nine, a practice center and a six-hole short course Two sons o f t h e f o u n d e r s t o o k o v e r i n 1 9 7 5 a n d t h e course has been very popular in the area.

Tuesday morning also saw participants gathering for the driving competition Mark Szyperski from On Your Mark Transportat i o n p o i n t e d o u t , “ T h e M i d w e s t B u s a n d Motorcoach Association has a driver skills event every year which helps to build repeat c u s t o m e r s . S o m e a s s o c i a t i o n s o n l y d o i t every other year, or not at all Drivers lose

MBMCA Annual Convention in Grand Rapids

by Larry Plachno

interest or forget when the next one is happening ” Szyperski also mentioned, “These events are truly investments in driver train-

drivers need practice in Companies can cont

competition ” There is an article in the Febr u a r

highlights the advantages of bus roadeos

This year ’s driver ’s competition was held at Parking Lot “A” in the northeast corner

of the Cornerstone University campus, east of downtown Grand Rapids and just off Beltline Avenue There were 17 drivers signed up for the competition, a new record, showing that the driving competition is growing in popularity among association members and their drivers The organization apprec i a

i e d coaches to be used for the driver competit i

Compass Coach brought MCI coaches while Daimler Coaches North America provided a brand new Daimler coach

The Midwest Bus and Motorcoach Association held their annual convention in Grand Rapids, Michigan from July 22 to 24. Participants came from several Midwest bus operations as well as numerous industry suppliers Sean Kelchan brought this new Daimler coach to the event where it was used for the driver competition and then put on display as shown here NBT

What many may not know is that Dale Krapf of Krapf Coaches, headquartered in We s t C h e s t e r, P e n n s y l v a n i a , d o n a t e d a trailer with roadeo equipment to the United Motorcoach Association that is available to members for their bus roadeos Szyperski and his daughter Savannah drove that trailer to Grand Rapids from Nashville and then s e t u p t h e d r i v e r s k i l l s c o u r s e f o r t h e b u s roadeo Savannah rode her bicycle all over the skills course, picking up the score sheets and delivering water to the judges

Compass Coach provided transportation back to the Embassy Suites for the bus drivers where a buffet lunch was served in the ballroom Winners of the driving competition were announced with all three top spots being taken by Michigan drivers. Third place went to Johanna Hamilton of Compass Coach Second place was taken by Bill Mong of Compass Coach, and first place went to Anthony Bouwman of Affordable Limousine

It was also announced that a get-well card going to Mike Middaugh was available for a n y o n e w h o w a n t e d t o s i g n . M i k e i s b e s t known for his work with Custom Coach and more recently ran Coach Quarters, an executive coach operation near Columbus, Ohio He and his family were involved in a tragic accident in Wyoming on May 31 that would h a v e b e e n w o r s e h a d t h e y b e e n r i d i n g i n anything other than a coach Mike is recuperating with heavy physical therapy but can now take phone calls We look forward to seeing him at bus events in the future

R e g i s t r a t i o n s k e p t o n a f t e r l u n c h , a n d exhibitors continued setting up their tables.

At 3 p m Cherie Hime announced the start of a Speed Networking session where industry suppliers and the bus operators could meet one-on-one for a few minutes before changing partners. It proved to be a great way to let the bus operators know what the supplier companies had to offer

A reflection of the success of the MBMCA i s t h e n u m b e r o f i n d u s t r y s u p p l i e r s w h o

tances. There were a total of seven exhibitors who are bus manufacturers or dealers ABC C o m p

Va n Hool coaches In addition, they sell numer-

inventory Daimler Coaches North America is offering the unique Tourrider model that re p

Sean Kelchen drove in with a new Tourrider painted an attractive red and put it on display during the convention. Motor Coach Industries continues to provide both clean diesel and battery-electric coaches Compass C o a c h b r o u g h t a n M C I J 4 5 0 0 m o d e l a n d used it to provide transportation during the convention. F o r m e r

new Model 1 is a distributor of smaller buses with a nationwide network They offer a 32foot cutaway model called the Grand Executive. National Bus Sales has been offering large cutaway buses with big coach features Their SE 102 model is 102 inches wide and offers USB and 110-volt outlets, a video system and even a lavatory Prevost is celebrating its 100th anniversary of building buses this year They offer popular charter and tour coaches and are a leader in conversion shells Temsa has been selling coaches in the United States since 2008 and today offers coaches in lengths of 30-, 35- and 45-feet.

Several of the bus industry’s leading vendors came to Grand Rapids to participate in t h e c o n v e n t i o n B a s e d i n M e x i c o , A m a y a Seating offers a range of sets for buses Bridgestone provides a wide range of tires for many vehicles Located in Janesville, Wisconsin,

National Bus Trader / September, 2024 • 35

The annual driver competition was held on Tuesday morning at the Cornerstone University Campus Mark Szyperski and his daughter Savannah drove from Nashville with the roadeo equipment and set up the course for the driver competition. Here we see coaches from Great Lakes Motorcoach and from Compass Coach being driven through the skills course A record number of 17 drivers participated. MARK SZYPERSKI.

Winners of the driving competition were announced during the buffet lunch on Tuesday Left to right: Johanna Hamilton of Compass Coach took third place, first place went to Anthony Bouwman of Affordable Limousine and Bill Mong of Compass Coach took second place Cherie Hime on the right passed out the awards NBT

Budget Truck and Auto offers collision repair, custom paint as well as vinyl graphics. Headquartered in southwest Missouri in Neosho, Kelly Anderson Group is known for motorcoach recruiting, retention and e-learning with several courses As its name implies, Motorcoach Tire Sales provides tires for buses Napaway is an expert in sleeper buses and offers a Prevost coach that seats 35 and sleeps 28. Based in Richfield, Ohio, National Interstate Insurance has been offering bus insurance for more than three decades Headquart e r e d i n E l k h a r t , I n d i a n a , P o w e r Manufacturing offers replacement parts for both coaches and transit buses Located in Nashville, Tennessee, On Your Mark Transportation provides a wide range of bus services from consulting to marketing and grant writing Sardo Bus and Coach Upholstery

Company offers a wide range of seat covers, fabrics and flooring for buses and even has mobile crews

There were also two vendors that invite

located right on Rainbow Boulevard in Niagara Falls, New York As its name indicates, the store specializes in merchandise that has

Resort and Casino is located right in Niagara Falls, New York In addition to the popular casino, there is a hotel with a restaurant and swimming pool

Following the Speed Networking Session was a welcome reception in the ballroom This also allowed some additional time for the bus operators to meet with the individual industry

The Vendor Spotlight session gave each vendor a few minutes in the spotlight. They were given the microphone and encouraged to explain what products or services they have to offer to bus companies Here, Mark Szyperski from On Your Mark Transportation takes his turn to address the group while his daughter Savannah provides support. NBT.

vendors and suppliers in order to obtain more information about their products and services. After this was a vendor spotlight Each of the vendors and suppliers was handed the microphone and given an opportunity to introduce themselves as well as their products and services This worked well because several of the vendors were relatively new and others had expanded their product line

Ending off the evening was a buffet dinn e r T h i s a l s o p ro v i d e d a n o p p o r t u n i t y t o announce the winners of the golf outing and the prizes The winning threesome included Rick Armes from Temsa, Eric Reynolds of A B C C o m p a n i e s a n d N i c k Tr e v i n o f r o m Aries Charter Transportation It was noted that the golfing was particularly exciting last year when Armes got a hole-in-one

Wednesday morning started with registration, the ongoing vendor displays and the a n n u a l b u s i n e s s m e e t i n g F i v e t

directors were elected They included Ben N

Wyoming, Michigan; David James from BRT Charter Services in Brecksville, Ohio; Jeremy Grzywacz from CIT Signature Transportat i o n i n A m e s , I o w a ; K e i t h H a y w a rd f ro m C o l o r a d o re p re s e n t i n

Huskey of Huskey Trailways from Festus, Missouri.

session that attracted a great deal of interest S

Rhode from ABA provided information on what was going on in Washington One topic was toll parity but, almost expectedly, the discussion turned to the forthcoming Democratic National Convention in Chicago and its charter operations. This was followed by a board of director ’s meeting

At 11:45 a.m.the bus departed with those going to the Whitecaps baseball game The W

- A affiliate of the Detroit Tigers. They play at

In addition to their tables, vendors were involved in the Speed Networking session and the Vendor Spotlight Rich Wells represented MCI as well as Tom Vik and Mark Hieber. NANCY PLACHNO

Prevost, one of the bus manufacturers at the convention, was celebrating their 100th anniversary this year and was represented by Keith Hayward, Janice Karijolic, Cory Peightal and Rob Senne. NANCY PLACHNO

The annual business meeting on Wednesday morning included the election of new directors. Five new directors were elected for a three-year term. They included Ben Nelson from Affordable Limousine in Wyoming, Michigan; David James from BRT Charter Services in Brecksville, Ohio; Jeremy Grzywacz from CIT Signature Transportation in Ames, Iowa; Keith Hayward from Colorado representing Prevost and Julie Huskey of Huskey Trailways from Festus, Missouri. MBMCA

Ballpark in Comstock Park, north of Grand Rapids. The park is known for offering their “Fifth Third Burger,” a four-pound 4,800calorie burger named for the bank that is the ballpark’s sponsor.

F o l l o w i n g t h e b a l l g a m e , p a r t i c i p a n t s w e r e i n v i t e d t o p a r t i c i p a t

w e r y tour The first stop was Third Nature Brewi n g i n R o c k f o r d , M i c h i g

n , n o r t h

s t o f G r a n d R a p i d s I n a d d i t i o n t o o f f e r i n g a wide range of beers, light appetizers were p ro v i d e d . F ro m

Grand Rapids. Brewery Vivant had an out-

pany on Cesar E Chavez Avenue in Grand Rapids They offered a wide range of craft b

went to Mojo’s on Monroe Street. Drinks and

dueling pianos were featured There were n

many of the attendees stayed in the Grand Rapids area to enjoy local attractions

Plans are already underway for the 2025 annual convention of the Midwest Bus and Motorcoach Association The dates are July 22-23 and the location is the Kalahari Resorts in Sandusky, Ohio. Sandusky is a traditional resort town with the major attraction being the Cedar Point Amusement Park q

One of the reasons for the success of the Midwest Bus and Motorcoach Association is strong support from many of its members. Compass Coach provided an MCI J4500 that was used for the driver competition as well as for transportation to events It is shown here parked on Monroe next to the Embassy Suits Downtown with Sixth Street Park on the far right. NBT.

Accidents, Politics & Response

The turnpike was slushy, and wet snow was falling when the Cadillac WAY in front of my 4107, straddled the middle o f t h e t w o l a n e s – a n d w i t h o u t w a r n i n g –stopped

Th e re w a s n o ro o m t o p a ss o r st o p , a n d the fishtailing coach bounced him down the h i g h w a y l i k e a d r i b b l e d b a s k e t b a l l . H i t sq u a re l y f rom b e h i n d, t h e C a di l l a c l ook e d o k a y t i l l y o u s a w t h e c re a s e i n f ro n t o f t h e trunk. It was a very expensive three inches shorter than when it had been built

My passengers insisted that we had been stopped, and the car had backed into us, but

the responding trooper cleverly figured out what really happened He was a gentleman, a n d a c k n o w l e d g e d t h a t t h e a c c i d e n t w a s influenced more by the car ’s behavior than f

(though our insurance company paid)

This story is relevant for a couple of reasons. First, it is not typical. Police sometimes write citations, and let the courts figure it out

Second, as a rule, no matter how pleasant the officer appears to be, they can not be your f r i e n d w h i l e c o n d u c t i n g a n i n v e s

niques to elicit information To be fair, no mat-

by Dave Millhouser

ter how honest YOU are, police officers know that folks consistently fib to them.

A n e w f a c t o r s e e m s t o h a v

t e re d t h e mix. When an accident has a tragic outcome, or is highly visible, local prosecutors sometimes raise the bar (legal pun intended) to a scary level Depending on current events, or local attitudes, commercial drivers may be prosecuted as criminals.

Although anecdotal, there seems to evidence that this type thing is increasing. As an industry, we can not be perceived as dodging responsibility On the other hand drivers being exposed to lengthy jail sentences, based on the visibility of the accident (as opposed t o t h e c r i m i n a l i t y o f t h e i r b e h a v i o r ) , i s n o t fair

C r i m i n a l c h a rg e s f o r c r i m i n a l b e h a v i o r a r e a g o o d t h i n g , b u t i n c o n s i s t e n c y f r o m one jurisdiction to the next is not An airline p i l o t w h

federal set of standards, and pilots are better p a i d a n d t r a i n e d t h a n c o a c h d r i v e r s . S k i l l s may be different, but the responsibility and risk are similar You can make the case that c o m m e r c i a l d r i v e r s h a v e a t o u g h e r j o b , b e c a u s e t h e y a r e o p e r a t i n g i n a l e s s c o nt ro l l e d e n v i ro n m e n t

The economy has alleviated the shortage o f b u s d r i v e r s , b u t t h o u g h t f u l p e o p l e w h o d r i v e c o m m e r c i a l l y m

wonder if the compensation is worth the risk A s t h

leave

As long as local jurisdictions call the shots,

responding appropriately.

Most operators work hard at accident pre-

employees, to teach drivers how to act after an accident Your insurance company REALLY wants to help with this training.

Everyone I spoke to on the subject agreed on one thing – your driver is unlikely to get in trouble for anything he does not say We all want to “make things better,” and either admit, or assign guilt, when we are pressured. Drivers must resist that temptation

Q u e s t i o n s f ro m a u t h o r i t i e s n e e d t o b e answered honestly, but specifically Often, t h i n g s t h a t s e e m o b v i o u s a t t h e t i m e , t u r n

o u t t o b e o n l y p a r t o f t h e b i g p i c t u r e

F i r s t i m p re s s i o n s c a n n o t b e t ru s t e d , a n d

y o u r d r i v e r i s u n d e r s t r e s s . W h e n t h e accident is serious, management and legal

r e p r e s e n t a t i o n o u g h t t o b e c o n t a c t e d

i m m e d i a t e l y

My friend Steve was driving on a main

d r a g o n e d a y w h e n a b i g s p i d e r d ro p p e d

from the car ’s ceiling into his lap Startled, he swerved and nailed a utility pole, totaling h i s v e h i c l e . T h e s p i d e r w a s f i n e , t h e p o l e fared pretty well, and Steve sported some windshield in his face

W h e n t h e p o l i c e a r r i v e d , t h e

k i n g t h e f a c t t h a t S t

car off the road for its having landed there d u e

Fortunately the officer reconsidered, but this is relevant for several reasons Steve was l u ck y, b e ca u

should not have been written It could have w o r k e d o u t o t h e r w i s e . H e w a s a s y m p athetic local guy and, while the blood gushed, his mouth did not

Sometimes there is just bad luck If Steve h a d s w e r v e d h e a d - o n i n t o a c h u r c h b u s instead of a pole, would he have been criminal? If anyone was criminal here, it was the spider. An overzealous police officer or prosecutor could conceivably make a bad situation worse, for reasons unrelated to the reality of the accident’s cause

Drivers need to understand that respondi n g w e l l p ro t e c t s b o t h t h e i r c o m p a n y a n d themselves More than ever, we are all in this together. q

Several people suggest that in the event of a major accident or problem, it might be best if the driver talks to the company attorney before making a statement The company attorney or public relations staff may be better able to deal with the situation This Miller coach was photographed at the Belvidere Oasis in northern Illinois in 2023. NBT.

Here is a photo of a PD4107 coach that was mentioned in the text. The PD4107 was built by General Motors; it followed the PD4106 model and was the first of the “Buffalo” or “Deck” models offered by GM This example was operated by Wilson Bus Lines in East Templeton, Massachusetts NBT ARCHIVES.

Sur vival and Pr osperity

by Ned Einstein

Electric Buses, Part 2: A Small Transit Agency’s Early Foray into Electric Buses

R h o d e I s l a n d , w i t h a s t a t e w i d e t r a n s i t system (Rhode Island Public Transportation

A u t h o r i t y, o r R I P TA ) a n d o n l y o n e m a j o r city (Providence), would seem like a good place to begin experimenting with electric transit buses Midpoint in its early development of this technology, the state has learned much There is much the rest of us can learn f r o m b o t h t h e s t a t e ’ s e x p e r i e n c e s a n d RIPTA’s

T h e r o a d t o s u c c e s s i n electric bus development is riddled with bumps and dips

s I w

s e r i e s , t h e ro

dips. That road is interdisciplinary, to put it mildly

Dipping One’s Toes in the Water

No, I am not talking about Newport, Narr a g a n s e t t , Wa t c h H i l l B e a c h ( p a r k i n g i s $50/car), Misquamicut or many of the other beautiful beaches that dot Rhode Island’s 4 0 0 - m i l e c o a s t l i n e . I a m t a l k i n g a b o u t i t s overly cautious initial foray into the electric bus world This foray only became possible when the state decided to devote a portion of the $14.4 million it obtained from the Volkswagen emissions cheating settlement to the d e v e l o p m e n t o f a n e l e c t r i c b u s n e t w o r k

(Remember some of the hints about international events that crisscrossed domestic electric vehicle development from the ﬁrst installment in this series?) Proceeding caut i o u s l y w i t h t h e s e l i m i t e d f u n d s , R I P TA spent $2.5 million leasing three electric buses from California manufacturer Proterra

RIPTA initially tried to deploy one bus e a c h o n t h r e e r o u t e s – b u t w a s f o r c e d t o abandon this approach because the 40-foot b u s e s c o u l d n o t m a k e t i g h t t u r n s o n t h e streets ﬁrst selected for this service (One has to marvel at the knuckleheads who failed to deploy them on existing routes where the turning capabilities had been proven by con-

ventional buses of the same length, with similar wheelbases ) As a consequence, RIPTA re-deployed all three on its most-heavilytraveled R Line (9,000 riders a day) According to former RIPTA CEO Scott Avedisian, “That would allow us at the end of this year to say that 20 percent of all our passengers a re r i d i n g e l e c t r i c b u s e s ” ( T h e P ro v i d e n c e Journal, April 8, 2022). Whether this meant 20 percent of the R-line’s riders or 20 of the state’s total transit ridership is not clear from this statement

Each vehicle’s range was purported to be about 300 miles per charge In reality, especially in cold weather, the range was a little more than 100 miles per charge. So choosing t o d e p l o y t h e m o n t h e R l i n e m a d e s e n s e after all, since on that line, the vehicles could move the most passengers per charge (To up the ridership, RIPTA offered free fares to those passengers boarding in Central Falls )

N o t r a n s i t l i n e i n a l l o f America, as far as I know, covers its costs from the farebox

Water up to one’s Ankles

This iffy start did not scare RIPTA away Instead, the transit agency is now awaiting delivery of 14 New Flyer Excelsior charter battery buses It is also installing one route charger to extend the range of the new buses (Information about the end-of-the-route or mid-route charging time was unavailable.)

A c c o rd i n g t o f o r m e r C E O Av e d i s i a n , t h e cost of electric buses has come down since 2018, which should allow the R Line to run entirely with these buses (hyping the state’s and transit agencies ridership claims subs t a n t i a l l y ) O f c o u

, t o a n y o n

m i l d l y familiar with transit, this claim is preposterous since no transit line in all of America, as far as I know, covers its costs from the fareb o x N e v e r m i n

h a t t h e F TA p a y s f o r 8 0 percent of the vehicles, and thus the State of Rhode Island’s costs for buying these buses is only slightly higher than it would be for conventional buses

R e g a r d i n g t h e P r o t e r r a e x p e r i m e n t , RIPTA claimed that the Proterra pilot proj e c t w a s n o t a f a i l u r e F o r m e r C E O Av e -

disian claimed, instead, that, “The pilot has taught us a lot ” Among the lessons: Do not buy buses that were designed for another transit company, because they all [RIPTA’s leased Proterras] had to be retroﬁtted, and t h a t a d d e d t

b l

m s T h

s in itself is an issue with electric buses that n o

(except perhaps those deployed in extreme operating environments)

Knee Deep in the Undertow With who-knows-what tugging away at the state’s revenue, RIPTA’s next plans were not simply to deploy more electric buses on more routes. This intelligentsia of a transit a g e n c y d e c i

with a transit-adjacent real estate project –effectively creating a combined bus hub and a

buses out of Kennedy Plaza – a 2 5-acre public square that has served as a combined civic and transportation hub since the mid 19th C e n t u r y I n o rd e r t o d o s o , t h e s t a t e m u s t seek statutory permission to allow it to borrow money for such a development As legislation has progressed, RIPTA engaged a c

arrange ﬁnancing for and build the hub in a location it would help determine Be f o re t h e p o l i t i ca l h a g g l i n g w a s co mpleted, the former CEO resigned – as a consequence of his involvement as a motorist i n a h i t - a n d - r u n a c c

model for the CEO of a transit agency The State’s I-195 Redevelopment Commission has suggested putting the hub on land it controls near Interstate 95 (The Providence Journal, April 16, 2024) An idea backed by Governor Dan McKee and RIPA chairman Peter Alviti, Jr (also the director of the state DOT) w o u l d a l l o w R I P TA t

agency from borrowing more than 80 percent of its revenue. This solution would let RIPSA enter its “progressive design build” contracts with bidders

Pulled out to Sea in the Undertow

Many transit advocates are skeptical of both the new bus hub plan and the idea of RIPTA going deeper into debt to pay for it (Of course, RIPTA could have done the same thing with conventional buses; its leaders simply never thought of it ) The Kennedy

P l a z a R e s i l i e n c e C o a l i t i o n t e s t i ﬁ e d t o t h e House Finance committee that, “It [RIPTA] h a s n o c re d i t r a t i n g a n d i s s t r u g g l i n g f o r funding so if the Providence hub relocation project goes bad [sic], taxpayers will be asked to bear the burden, which is likely to b e i n t h e t e n s a n d h u n d re d s o f m i l l i o n s ” One has to ask what could go this bad for the state’s largest bus stop on a route that provides only 9,000 trips a day Opposition did not stop here:

• The GrowSmart RI and RI Transit Ride r s o p p o s e d m a s s t r a n s i t d o l l a r s g o i n g t o

t h e b u s h u b w h i l e t h e s t a t e h a s n o t f u l l y funded RIPTA’s operating budget or the system’s Transit Master Plan.” (This comment reminds me of Los Angeles County going $ 7 b i l l i o n i n t o d e b t t o b u i l d t h e ﬁ r s t t h re e unneeded lines of it subway system 35 years ago – at the cost of scavenging its bus system to the point where the judge presiding over a class action lawsuit (BRU v LACMTA, CA, 1999) ordered the transit system to purchase 3,200 additional buses [roughly an expenditure of $100 million])

S

t o p l i s t e n i n g t o t h e

needs of bid developers and address the needs of the many

• T h e C o n v e r s a t i o n L a w F o u n d a t i o n

S e n i o r A t t o r n e y w r o t e t h a t h i s g r o u p “implores you to stop listening to the needs of bid developers and address the needs of the many ”

• A t a h e a r i n g r e c e n t l y [ e a r l y A p r i l , 2 0 2 4 ] , S o u t h K i n g s t o w n D e m o c r a t i c R e presentative Teresa Tanzi asked RIPTA CEO Christopher Durand [the third RIPTA CEO i n t h i s s h o r t t i m e s p a n ] w h y t h e b u s s y s -

t e m w o u l d w a n t t o b o r r o w m o n e y w i t h

i n t e r e s t r a t e s s o h i g h ( I n t e r e s t r a t e s t o

b u i l d t h e Ti d e w a t e r p r o f e s s i o n a l s o c c e r

s t a d i u m a re 8 2 4 p e rc e n t )

Either in response to such criticisms of to circumvent them, new RIPTA CEO Durant noted his hope to borrow funds through a new federal program that provides ﬁnancing for transit-oriented developments at lower r a t e s t h a n t re a s u r y b o n d s I n a s t a t e m e n t whose logic is hard to follow, Durant stated, “Housing is obviously a priority, and I think growing transit is also a priority and the coll a t i n g o f t h o s e t w o t h i n g s w o u l d h e l p u s g r o w r i d e r s h i p , b u t a l s o p r o v i d e m u c h needed housing.” More housing may clearly lead to the need for more buses It is hard to see how more transit – much less a reconﬁg-

housing and had no room for it – could lead to more housing This conundrum illustrates my general point about the interdisciplinary nature of transit development The reader s h

piled up, the issues grew further and further a

involved

Out to Sea

Despite this chaos only months before, RIPTA recently celebrated the opening of its ﬁrst charging station on July 2, 2024 (NBC News, July 2, 2024)

Putting costs in perspective of what they can accomplish, while 36 percent of all the carbon emissions in Rhode Island originate f

, RIPTA’s emissions account for only an estimated .1 percent of the state’s total emissions (“Zero Emissions Fleet Transition: RIPTA’s path to ﬂeet electriﬁcation,” (RIPTA R-Line P R d o

n d a statewide ﬂeet of 229 full-size buses, I cannot fathom RIPTA’s emissions being remotely this high

D e s p i t e t h e s e s t a t i s t i c s ( v a l i d o r o t h e rw i s e ) – s t a t e d i n t h i s s a m e d o c u m e n t –

R I P TA f o l l o w e d i t u p w i t h t h e s t a t e m e n t t h a t , “ . . . r i d i n g w i t h R I P TA , w h e t h e r b y bus, vanpool, carpool or bicycles, is one of t h e b e s t w a y s t o m a k e a s u b s t a n t i a l p o s it i v e i m p a c t o n t h e e n v i r o n m e n t ” A s p a t e n t l y u n s u p p o r t a b l e a s t h i s s t a t e m e n t i s , re a d e r s s h o u l d k n o w t h a t R I P TA p ro -

v i d e s n o v a n p o o l s , c a r p o o l s o r b i c y c l e s –a n d a l l t h re e o p e r a t e i n c o m p e t i t i o n w i t h transit, not to complement it (save a handf u l o f b i c y c l e s t e m p o r a r i l y p l a c e d o n b u s windshields during the cyclists’ rides) Of c o u r s e , i t t o o k a h a n d f u l o f Yo u Tu b e h i t s t o p ro v i d e t h e h a rd c o s t s a s s o c i a t e d w i t h these pipedreams and misrepresentations A m o n g t h e m :

• The total cost for the ﬁrst charging stat i o n i n C r a n s t o n w a s $ 2 2 m i l l i o n , a n d i s being funded through a combination of federal and state sources – including allocated m o n i e s f r o m h e Vo

Trust Fund, and matching state funds

• The next major step in the project – the Newport Electrification – is a “step” toward a b r o a d e r s t a t e w i d e fl e e t t r a n s i t i o n , a n d involves the Aquidneck Island fleet and support operations – which will accommodate the deployment of 24 battery-electric buses on routes 63, 64, 67, 68 and 69 This project’s total cost is estimated to be $47 76 million,

again funded through a combination of federal and state sources

Drowning in Reality

Setting asside the claims, valid and otherwise, the sums of money involved seem quite a lot for a transit system that delivers o n l y 4 5 , 0 0 0 t r i p s a d a y, s t a t e w i d e , a n d accounts for a mere alleged .1 percent of the s

malarkey One should know, if one does not, that Rhode Island provides roughly 23 percent of its energy needs from wind turbines.

R i d e r s h i p c o v e r s o n l y a small fraction of operating costs.

These figures document one point I have been making for years: U.S. transit systems are in total collapse Ridership covers only a small fraction of operating costs Rhode Island is so far off the charts that it is hard to find a figure for it – although, in perspective, two years before COVID, when ridership, nationwide, began declining by about 1 0 p e rc e n t a y e a r, t h e h i g h e s t “ o p e r a t i n g ratio” in the country was found in New York City – which was 35 percent While Rhode Island actually has the highest population d e n s i t y i n t h e c o u n t r y ( d u e l a rg e l y t o i t s size), much, if not most, of its area is rural. How hig h can it s operat ing rat io b e (wit h 229 buses)? In 2018, it was only nine percent in Los Angeles, which is almost totally suburb an. By comp arison, it is 160 p ercent in Japan, and 90 percent in Turkey

Converting the nation’s personal vehicle ﬂ e e t t o e l e c

i c i s a w

h w h i l e v e n

u r e despite its costs, since personal vehicles and trucks contribute a significant two-digit percentage of carbon dioxide emissions – not as high as cow flatulence, but still significant in a world where more and more things are melting and burning, where 30 percent of our coral is dead, hurricanes and tornadoes i n c re a

y every year, and more and more of our continental coastlines are sliding underwater For every bus, there are hundreds of cars (or thousands in Rhode Island). Spending enormous amounts of money electrifying buses in the United States may make sense in only a few places It may make sense in none

Rhode Island’s story is noteworthy for a number of reasons:

• This state has just begun to squander huge sums of money on this goose chase It p r o v i d e s

communities that have not yet begun this journey

• With so few vehicles and riders, such a small percentage of pollution caused by buses, and such enormous outlays of cash to convert a small ﬂeet to electric vehicles, it is easy for r e a d e r s a n d d e c i s i o n - m a k e r s t o s e e h o w obscenely out-of-scale these outlays of cash are for such small gains (In much larger cities, with larger numbers of everything, it is far more difﬁcult to calculate these differences )

• Wi t h o n l y a h a n d f u l o f i n s t i t u t i o n a l p l a y e r s i n v o l v e d , i t i s e a s y t o o b s e r v e t h e interdisciplinary nature of doing almost anything in transit – particularly when it is innovative Rhode Island’s experiences – with fewer institutional players than all or most state – provide a unique insight into this: As one begins to focus on the conﬂicts, the issue of conversing diesel vehicles to electric-battery vehicles almost gets lost in the clutter of issues surrounding it

O t h e r w i s e , t h e r e a r e a p l e t h o r a o f

u n i q u e c i r c u m s t a n c e s i n t h i s s t a t e t o o

m i n o r t o d e v o t e a p a r a g r a p h t o F o r o n e ,

n o t e d b r i e f l y, t h e s t a t e h a s o n l y o n e m a j o r

c i t y Wi t h a l o t o f ru r a l l a n d , i t i s a l s o f u l l

o f m e d i u m - s i z e d c i t i e s – t o o l a r g e t o b e

i g n o re d b u t t o o s m a l l t o s u p p o r t a n y t y p e

o f f i x e d r o u t e b u s n e t w o r k . A t t h e o t h e r

e n d o f t h e s p e c t ru m , w i n d t u r b i n e d e v e lopment near the shoreline – where the tur-

b i n e f o o t i n g s a r e e a s i e r a n d c h e a p e r t o

i n s t a l l – h a d t o b e i n t e r r u p t e d f o r w e e k s

o r m o n t h s , t w i c e a y e a r, d u r i n g c o n s t ru c -

t i o n b e c a u s e o n e o f t h e t w o r e m a i n i n g schools of right whales in the world swim up and, later, down the Atlantic coastline, close to the shore, every year During these

t i m e s , s o m e o f t h e o p e r a b l e , f u l l y d e v e lo p e d t u r b i n e s m u s t b e s h u t o ff – b e c a u s e

t h e s o u n d s d i s o r i e n t t h e w h a l e s a n d t h e y

d i s b u r s e f ro m t h e h e rd , s o m e t i m e s n e v e r

f i n d i n g t h e i r w a y b a c k ( T h e y c a n n o t s u r-

v i v e a w a y f ro m t h e h e rd )

When it comes to most things, environm e n t s a re n o t s n o w ﬂ a k e s E v e r y o n e u s e s

t o o t h p a s t e a n d m o s t n e e d g a s o l i n e I n other areas, each city is its own snowﬂake.

T h i s i s n o t o n l y t ru e o f t r a n s i t i n g e n e r a l

I t i s p a r t i c u l a r l y t r u e w h e n c o n s i d e r i n g w h e t h e r i t m a k e s s e n s e t o c o n v e r t b u s e s from diesel to electric-battery power. While this and the past century’s carbon dioxide, has overpowered the ﬂora and fauna envi-

ronment that formerly absorbed it, we may be able to eventually put a lid on this overﬂ o w ( a

i t ) I f w e c a n , t h e carbon dioxide emissions from a few techn

y much – particularly if we can electrify cars a

able to fully solve the problem until we ﬁnd

The opinions expressed in this article are that of the author and do not necessarily represent the opinions of National Bus Trader, Inc or its staff and management. q

Ned Einstein is the president of Transportation Alternatives (www transalt com [1]), a p u b l i c t r a n s p o r t a t i o n w i t n e s s ﬁ r m Einstein (einstein@transit.com) specializes in catastrophic motorcoach accidents

Photographs

There seems to be concern over some of the traditional Van Hool “T” models in E

coach. Hence, we looked for appropriate photos on these models from the past.

At left: Taken in 2011, this photo shows a traditional TX16 Astron posed at the Van Hool factory in Koningshooikt, Belgium. The TX16 was offered in several m o d e l s i

, A

, Alicron and Astronef.

Below: This shows a TX16 Astronef in an autumn setting. This as taken in 2019 on what we think was a test drive from the new Van Hool plant in North Macedonia. We have not received any ofﬁcial word on which models will be retained by VDL.

Number 309 of a Series

“ T h e C u r i o u s C o a c h o w n e r ” i s a q u e s t i o n a n d a n s w e r c o l u m n t h a t p ro v i d e s s i m p l e a n s w e r s t o s i m p l e q u e s t i o n s t h

re t o o shor t to warrant a full ar ticle or inclusion in one of our regular columns We will accept re a s o n a b l y s i m p l e t e c h n i c a l o r h i s t o r i c a l questions on coaches, buses or even conver ted coach shells by letter, fax, e-mail or phone If our staff is unable to answer them, w e w i l l c a l l u p o n o u r p a n e l o f e x p e r t s Names and addresses should be submitted w i t h y o u r q u e s t i o n s , b

l l w i t h h

d n a m e s f r o m p u b l i c a t i o n o n r e q u e s t W e reserve the right to modify questions to make them more useful to our readers

Q Have there been any developments in the Coach USA bankruptcy situation?

–– Several Readers

A We have recently received repor ts that on Tuesday, August 13, CoachUSA will seek c o u r t a p p r o v a l f o r t h e f o l l o w i n g s a l e s transactions:

An Afﬁliate of The Renco Group, Bus Company Holdings US, LLC, will acquire the foll o w i n g b u s l i n e s : D i l l o n ’s , E l k o , M e g a b u s Retail, Montreal, Olympia, Trentway/Ontario (including Megabus Canada), Perfect Body, Rockland, Shor tline (including Chenango Valley Bus Lines) , Suburban, Van Galder and Wisconsin Coach – as well as cer tain a s s e t s o f C o m m u n i t y C o a c h T h e b i d amount was $130 million

A n a f ﬁ l i a t e o f W y n n e Tr a n s p o r t a t i o n w i l l acquire Coach USA’s Powder River operation and the Butler Motor Transit body shop operation located in Butler, Pennsylvania The bid was $8 56 million

Afﬁliates of AVALON Transpor tation, LLC, w i l l a c q u i r e s e v e r a l o f t h e o t h e r l i n e s : Lenzner, Kerrville, All West and ACL Atlanta The bid was $14 84 million

ABC Bus bid $2 34 million for various transportation assets including 143 double-deck buses

I n t o t a l , t h e b i d s a m o u n t e d t o $ 1 5 5 8 5 million

Upon Court approval, Coach USA will move t o c l o s e t h e t r a n s a c t i o n s a n d ﬁ n a l i z e t h e t r a n s i t i o n o f o w n e r s h i p o f t h e s e l i n e s a s quickly as possible In the meantime, Coach

The Curious Coachowner

USA is continuing to operate its routes as they have been

Coach USA remarked that it is looking forward to concluding this process and continuing to provide safe, reliable and affordable transpor tation to its customers today, tomorrow and beyond

Q. Are there any recent developments in the Van Hool bankruptcy and takeover?

–– Several Readers

A There has been increasing concern over which for mer Van Hool “T” models will be continued by VDL and which will be discontinued A past statement by VDL suggested t

r Va n Hool “T range” models that do not compete directly with VDL products could be retained by VDL However, that is not yet certain and i t i s a l w a y

e n t i re T l i n e could eventually be discontinued in Europe

A t t h i s p

c u s t o m e r s placing orders for various models that have been tur ned down A T16 Astron on order will not be delivered because that model is not part of VDLs plans for Van Hool In addition, another operator has been told that the T15 model will also be dropped

It appears that some coaches near complet i o n a t t h e f o r m e r Va n H o o l p l a n t i n N o r t h Macedonia will be completed and delivered Others that are not far along may be canc e l l e d A V D L s p o k e s m a n s a i d t h a t t h e group is taking its time to examine the Van H o o l p o r t f o l i o a n d i s k e e p i n g a l l o p t i o n s open for now

Q. What is going on with Ebusco? –– New York Operator

A Ebusco is a Dutch company that specializes in electric buses and traces its histor y back fo 2012 Some people look at it as the European equivalent of Proterra since it is a n e w c o m p a n y s p e c i a l i z i n g i n b a t t e r ye l e c t r i c b u s e s H o w e v e r, t h i s i s n o t re a l l y accurate since Ebusco has already developed substantial sales in several European countries

Ebusco recently published its results for the ﬁrst half of 2024 and shows a loss of 64 7 million Euros Among other things, the comp a n y i s f a l l i n g b e h i n d o n i t s b u s d e l i v e r y

schedule and may get hit with late deliver y penalties which fur ther reduce income

Ebusco does have a reorganization plan in p

ﬁ n

n t arrangements In addition it is trying to simp

reactive supply chain and complete industrialization of its existing product por tfolio before launching new products Details on the Turnaround Plan will be provided during the third quar ter

Q. What ever happened to the lawsuit ﬁled by the New York mayor against bus c o m p a n i e s b r i n

York from Texas? –– Midwest Reader A

Sanctuary City of New York New York Mayor Eric Adams ﬁled a $700 million suit in Januar y against 17 bus companies that have transpor ted more than 33,000 migrants to New York City

It did come to our attention that after the suit was ﬁled, the bus companies began dropping their passengers at the tube station in Newark where they could easily ride under the Hudson River to New York City

I n J u l y, M a n h a t t a n S u p re m e C o

Mary Rosado deemed the lawsuit unconstitutional because it attempts to regulate the transportation of indigent persons in violation of the interstate commerce clause

Q. Are passengers required to wear seat belts on charter buses in New York? –– Ohio Bus Operator

A W h i l e f e d e r a l l a w r e q u i r e s t

t n e w coaches be quipped with seat belts, there are generally no regulations requiring their use

Farmingdale High School educators in September 2023, the New York State Legislature approved a bill on June 6 that would require passengers eight years old and older to use s a f e t y re s t r

would have to sign it into law

are provided by Larry Plachno q

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1 – BUSES WANTED

Seeking 102D3 converted by Custom Coach Prefer motor home interior with side aisle or semi-side aisle

Please provide details by e-mail to safety@busmag com or phone Larry at (815) 946-2341

6 – MOTOR HOMES FOR SALE

MCI MC5A ’67 (shell) 8V-71, 4-speed For sale to highest bidder Call (928) 358-6415 or (505) 71

AZ I

1991 Hawkins motorcoach 3208T CAT, 35 ft with all awnings Alcoa wheels, landing/docking lights, heated m

, propane generator, exhaust brake Always stored indoors

Asking $15,000 Contact Dallas in MI at (269) 591-2564 I 1956 Flxible coach – old conversion Phone (802) 9482886 in VT for details I

Please mention National Bus Trader when answering

10 – PARTS AND EQUIPMENT

6V-92T Detroit Diesel engine Fresh overhaul In storage Spent $4,700 Make offer Phone (815) 262-0587 in IL I

14 – NOTICES

Visit our 45+ vintage bus collection most Saturday morni

Transport Heritage Center ($30 annually) See/learn: www friendsnjthc org I 15 – MISCELLANEOUS

Author and Transportation Historian available to write “Your Story ” Company histories, vehicle memories or s

Phone, text or write: Stew Carter, PO Box 252, Silver Lake IN 46982; (314) 882-7859 I

Down The Road

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