The paratransit service for the City of Arlington, Texas, has issued a contract to purchase ten Spirit of Independence buses from ARBOC Specialty Vehicles.
1 min to read
The paratransit service for the City of Arlington, Texas, has issued a contract to purchase ten Spirit of Independence buses from ARBOC Specialty Vehicles.
Handitran, the paratransit service for the City of Arlington, Texas, has issued a contract to purchase ten fully-accessible Spirit of Independence buses from ARBOC Specialty Vehicles.
With over 30 years of history, Handitran maintains an ADA-compliant fleet made up of 20 body-on-chassis buses. The Independence vehicles purchased from ARBOC will replace ten aged, standard-floor buses within the fleet, serving in Handitran’s demand-response service, a transit service used primarily by elderly and disabled patrons.
“We are proud of the service we deliver to our customers and are always looking for innovative ways to provide as many safe, comfortable and enjoyable trip experiences as possible for all our clientele,” said Alex Radke, Transit Operations Supervisor, City of Arlington.
According to Radke, Handitran had been looking for ways to reduce its footprint on the roads and allow a more nimble approach to travel and passenger delivery in its city through the use of a ramp versus a wheelchair lift.
"ARBOC estimates it takes around 25 percent less time to board a low-floor ARBOC bus than a standard-floor bus using a wheelchair lift," said Don Roberts, president, ARBOC Specialty Vehicles.
The agencies, San Diego MTS and NCTD - San Diego Railroad, which share a fare system (PRONTO), proposed the changes to help address their respective financial sustainability strategies.
The project was awarded under the Washington State Contract, enabling FAX to streamline its procurement processes while ensuring value and quality from an experienced transit solutions provider, said officials.
The historic initiative represents the first time since MARTA began bus operations in the early 1970s that the entire system has been redrawn from scratch.
In Part 1, Blandon shares his journey from the U.S. Marines to a leadership role in public transit, along with insights on mentorship and professional growth within the industry.
Funded through the 2025 Investment Plan, the new R2 Marine–Willingdon RapidBus is expected to begin service in September, more than three months ahead of schedule.
Complete Parts features new branding with a new logo, a new contact telephone number, a dedicated order desk, enhanced processes and inventory, all designed to provide the parts bus operations need.
Accessible transit isn’t a feature—it’s a responsibility. This whitepaper explores how the Low-Floor Frontrunner is redefining mobility with a breakthrough design that removes barriers, empowers riders, and delivers measurable operational advantages for agencies. Discover why this next generation minibus is setting a new standard for inclusive transportation.
