METRO Magazine Logo
MenuMENU
SearchSEARCH

Laidlaw to emerge from bankruptcy, change name

Laidlaw operated under Chapter 11 bankruptcy court protection after a diversification program did not do as well as intended.

May 1, 2003
1 min to read


By the end of May, Laidlaw Inc. expected to emerge from a bankruptcy that had lasted nearly two years. Following several attempts at reorganization, a plan was approved in February by courts in the U.S. and Canada. “It’s a complicated process,” said Laidlaw CEO Kevin Benson. “When you are $4 billion in debt, everyone needs to have a say.” Laidlaw operated under Chapter 11 bankruptcy court protection after a diversification program did not do as well as intended. At no time did any of Laidlaw’s operating companies (Greyhound, American Medical Response) file for Chapter 11. Along with the reorganization of the company also comes a new name (Laidlaw International Inc.) and new corporate headquarters (in Naperville, Ill., a suburb of Chicago). With the majority of Laidlaw’s assets, including Greyhound, in the U.S., it made sense for the company to move from Burlington, Ontario, to Chicago, said Benson. “Growing the company here makes absolute sense,” he said. “The majority of creditors are also U.S.-based companies.”

Topics:Management
Subscribe to Our Newsletter

More Management

A New Flyer 60-foot articulated bus
Busby StaffMay 29, 2026

WMATA Debuts 'Fares Pay for Service' Awareness Campaign

The campaign was highlighted during a media event at the Paul S. Sarbanes Transit Center in Silver Spring, where WMATA’s GM/CEO Randy Clarke joined Metro Transit Police officers, WMATA management team, board members, and staff to expand fare enforcement and customer education efforts on Metro Bus routes throughout the region.

Read More →
ManagementMay 29, 2026

Managing Complexity: HDR’s Brian Buchanan on Delivering Major Transit Programs

HDR’s transit program management lead discusses the challenges of overseeing large capital projects, adapting to cost and supply chain pressures, and the capabilities agencies need to build for the future.

Read More →
Managementby StaffMay 29, 2026

Seattle’s Sound Transit Adopts Updated ST3 System Plan

The updated system plan incorporates cost savings across the agency, including new revenue sources and financial policies, to set the agency on a sustainable path for the future.

Read More →
Ad Loading...
Managementby StaffMay 29, 2026

Audit Finds Regional Coordination Across California's East Bay Transit Agencies

The State Auditor further concluded that while collaboration among transit agencies is functioning, the Bay Area’s public transportation systems face mounting structural fiscal pressures that threaten future service levels if sustainable funding solutions are not secured.

Read More →
Biz Briefs for May 29, 2026

Biz Briefs: Foothill Gold Line Award, Matawan Contract, and More

From strategic partnerships to acquisitions and service expansions, the industry continues to evolve at a rapid pace. Find out all the latest here.

Read More →
An EMBARK bus going down the street.
Managementby Alex RomanMay 28, 2026

Inside Look: EMBARK Expands Fare-Free Transit Program Through New Public-Private Partnership

The OKC transit agency says sponsorship helps subsidize the Third Friday Free initiative while reducing barriers for first-time riders and boosting ridership across buses, streetcars, and river cruises.

Read More →
Ad Loading...
A green TriMet FX bus at a bus stop.

Oregon's TriMet Adopts Major Budget Cuts to Address Financial Shortfall

The board adopted the agency’s fiscal year 2027 budget, approving approximately $64.5 million in spending reductions, including about $53 million in administrative cuts and roughly $11 million in service reductions.

Read More →
A blue OCTA transit bus at a bus stop.
Technologyby StaffMay 28, 2026

OCTA Sees Growing Adoption of Wave Fare Payment System

Since launching in October 2025, the Wave system has steadily replaced previous fare media with faster, more flexible payment options designed to streamline boarding, improve reliability, and help riders more easily access fare discounts and cost-saving benefits, said OCTA

Read More →
Managementby StaffMay 27, 2026

North Carolina's Metropolitan Transit Commission Concludes Decades of Leadership

To commemorate the occasion, current members of the MTC were presented with a custom painting of the Charlotte Transportation Center in Uptown.

Read More →
Ad Loading...
CTAA award presented to Mountain Line
Managementby StaffMay 27, 2026

Montana's Mountain Line Named Nation’s Best Transit System by CTAA

The award was presented to Mountain Line representatives at the CTAA Expo in mid-May, with bus operator Bryan Ursery, who has worked at Mountain Line for more than two decades, accepting the award on the agency's behalf.

Read More →