Biz Briefs covers 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 LYT, Genetec, Tolar, and more.

MTM Transit Re-Awarded St. Louis ADA Eligibility, Travel Training Contract

MTM Transit was re-awarded its contract with Bi-State Development (BSD) to continue providing Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) Paratransit Eligibility Assessment and Travel Training services for the St. Louis Metro transit system. 

MTM Transit has successfully operated this critical program since 2020, and under the new agreement, will continue services for a base term of three years, with the potential for two additional one-year extensions.

Since implementing the program, MTM Transit has made approximately 6,000 ADA paratransit eligibility determinations, issued 3,000 Reduced Fare Permits, and provided individualized travel training to 175 customers with disabilities. In doing so, the local team of 10 has maintained full compliance with ADA regulations, achieving an average processing time of just two days, which is well below the ADA-mandated 21 days, according to the company.

Under the new contract, MTM Transit will expand its efforts to support BSD's evolving goals through initiatives such as emphasizing a mobility management model, increasing awareness of travel training services, and exploring the implementation of a tethering and marking program to improve the securement of mobility devices on Metro vehicles.

Pennsylvania’s BARTA Teams with Modeshift for ‘Special Services’ Fare Collection

Pennsylvania’s Berks Area Regional Transportation Authority (BARTA), managed by South Central Transit Authority (SCTA), is partnering with Modeshift to pilot a new fare collection system for BARTA Special Services, its shared-ride transportation service for seniors and individuals with disabilities across Berks County. 

The pilot extends the success of the “BARTA Go Mobile” brand — currently being used across BARTA’s fixed-route service — and now being offered to the shared ride service, giving Special Services customers the same flexibility and convenience.

BARTA Special Services provides critical door-to-door transportation for those unable to use fixed-route buses, helping residents get to medical appointments, work, shopping, and community destinations. 

With the new pilot, customers can now pay for trips using a mobile phone or a BARTA Go Mobile card, not just cash. Existing BARTA Go Mobile cards will work across both fixed-route and shared-ride services, while new on-vehicle payment systems and e-wallet functionality simplify transactions and create a unified customer experience.

ABQ RIDE, Tolar Unveil ‘Smart Shelters’ 

Albuquerque, New Mexico’s ABQ RIDE is upgrading the transit experience by implementing new high-tech Tolar Manufacturing bus shelters with improved safety and cleanliness. 

With a vision to improve safety through design, ABQ RIDE leaders charged the organization’s resident welder, William Casias, to conceptualize a new bus shelter model to enhance visibility and discourage loitering while still providing weather protection and comfort. The resulting “thin line” model removes the bench and advertising panels and includes seats, wheelchair access, and shade. 

ABQ RIDE contracted Tolar Manufacturing to produce a similar design that will replace all 55 bus shelters on Central in two phases: 

• Phase I: 14 in the International District by the end of 2025. 

• Phase II: 41 more along Central by summer 2026.

The new bus shelter's “smart” elements include solar LED lighting; real-time arrival screens and a button for audible information at select high-ridership locations; and upgraded trash cans to discourage tampering and littering.

Genetec Boosts Investigations in Security Center SaaS

Genetec Inc. announced new intelligent automation (IA)-powered investigation capabilities in Security Center SaaS to help operators quickly locate video evidence, understand the context surrounding an event, and close cases in minutes, according to the company.

For many organizations, investigations still involve hours of scrubbing through video and switching between systems. The new capabilities in Security Center SaaS centralize investigation workflows into a modern, intuitive interface, where operators can search for people or vehicles in live or recorded footage using natural language and advanced filters, according to company officials. 

Results are automatically enriched with contextual insights such as nearby activity, information about what happened before and after an incident, or locating people with similar appearances. These new capabilities make it easier for any operator to know which camera feed to review, rather than spending extra time trying to track down the right footage across a large deployment or switch between multiple tools to piece together an incident.

Built on an open architecture, Security Center SaaS works with one of the industry’s largest ecosystems of cameras and devices, giving organizations the freedom to choose the hardware that fits their needs, without being tied to a single vendor. By tapping into the rich metadata generated by various makes and models of cameras, operators can use the system’s advanced search capabilities to surface more accurate and contextual information quickly, according to Genetec officials. 

Alexander Dennis Delivers ZEBs to London

Alexander Dennis has supplied 13 next-generation Enviro100EV zero-emission buses to Transport for London (TfL) for use on behalf of Transport for London Bus.

The Enviro100EV is the first next-generation Alexander Dennis electric bus for Transport for London, and among the first of the type to enter service on Transport for London services. They are used on route G1, which provides local links between Battersea and Streatham.

The Enviro100EV’s compact dimensions help drivers navigate tight turns and oncoming traffic in narrow streets, according to the company. 

The Enviro100EV is powered by the efficient Voith Electrical Drive System, with energy stored in 354kWh batteries that offer ample operational range between charges at Transport for London’s Battersea garage.

LYT Upgrade Improves User Experience 

LYT is launching its redesigned experience — a more straightforward, more intuitive way for agencies to manage traffic flow, improve transit performance, and respond to community needs.

Over the past year, LYT partnered closely with agencies across the country to reimagine how teams interact with data. Leaders asked for tools that are easier to use, provide more accurate real-time information, and bring operations together in one place.

Highlights of the new upgrade include:

• One connected platform. Transit, public safety, and public works teams can now manage bus priority, emergency response, and snowplow operations in one place.

• Simpler design. A clean interface with clear menus, updated visuals, and a more intuitive map view enables staff to find and act on information more quickly.

• Real-time visibility and reporting. Teams can track vehicles, signals, and priority events live, and quickly generate route- and intersection-level insights without extra manual work.

LYT runs in the cloud, connects with existing signal infrastructure, and reduces the need for roadside hardware and ongoing field maintenance. Agencies can start with transit and expand to emergency vehicle or snowplow priority as their needs grow.