Biz Briefscovers the latest supplier news in the motorcoach and public transit industries.

In METRO's latest installment, we take a look at the latest news from suppliers including ENC, Masabi, and more. 

Academy Express Orders 10 ENC Axess Buses

Academy Express LLC ordered 10 new 40-foot Axess clean diesel buses from ElDorado National California Inc. (ENC). 

The vehicles are expected to deploy next summer in the Boston area, supporting new and existing routes operated by Academy Bus. 

The order follows ENC’s announcement of its production restart, after a temporary pause in late 2024. With support from Rivaz — a green energy transportation company — ENC is now fully operational and producing its Altoona-tested transit buses at its Riverside, Calif., facility. 

Headquartered in Hoboken, N.J., Academy provides charter, commuter, intercity, contract, and university shuttle services. Powered by a team of over 2,000 employees, Academy’s fleet drives over 20 million miles annually, delivering reliable transportation across the region. The company first purchased transit buses from ENC in 2015. 

Kauaʻi Bus Adding Masabi’s Account-Based Ticketing 

The Kauaʻi Bus adds Account-Based Ticketing (ABT) powered by Masabi’s Open Platform, Justride, on the Kauaʻi Bus mobile app and new Holomua smartcard. 

Coming just four months after the launch of mobile ticketing, this next phase allows riders to tap and ride, enjoying greater ease, flexibility, and savings every time they board.

Kauaʻi Bus riders can also now use their app or Holomua smartcard without needing to pre-purchase a ticket or select a fare, safe in the knowledge that they will be charged the best possible price for their journey. The move is part of Kauaʻi’s phased approach to building a fully modernized fare payment system that meets the needs of both residents and visitors while preparing the network for future enhancements such as Open Payments.

With the new ABT system, riders can manage a transit account through the Kauaʻi Bus app or online portal, load funds, and tap their phone or smartcard to ride. Instead of selecting a fare upfront, the system automatically deducts the appropriate fare and tracks usage, ensuring riders always pay the best price thanks to fare capping.

TSI, SBL Awarded a Contract for 8 Buses

Transit Sales International (TSI), in collaboration with its affiliate Shuttle Bus Leasing (SBL), announced a combined lease and refurbishment agreement with Mears Transportation Group.

Under the agreement, SBL is providing a short-term lease of eight transit buses to ensure Mears can begin operations for their new service contract on time. 

The leased buses will serve as an interim solution while TSI refurbishes eight buses Mears purchased for permanent deployment. Complete Coach Works, an affiliate of TSI, is performing the refurbishment work, which will include complete mechanical and cosmetic upgrades.

The project highlights the value of TSI’s vertically integrated approach, which offers customers a one-stop solution combining immediate operational support through leasing and long-term fleet investment through refurbishment.