Biz Briefs: Alstom, ENC Contracts; Phoenix Motorcars Milestone; Affectiva Acquisition
Alstom and ENC secure technology and vehicle contracts, respectively, while Phoenix Motorcars hits an EV milestone and Smart Eye acquires Affectiva.
by METRO Staff
June 25, 2021
2 min to read
Alstom Secures Miami Automated People Mover Contract
Alstom has been selected by the Miami-Dade County Department of Transportation and Public Works to provide its Cityflo 650 Communications-Based Train Control (CBTC) solution for Miami-Dade’s Metromover system.
The contract is valued at approximately $140 million and includes the replacement or refurbishment of the power distribution system, the Supervisory Control and Data Acquisition (SCADA) System, guideway switches, and other elements that make up the Metromover. The contract also includes the introduction of several new features designed to increase reliability and availability, lower maintenance costs, and enable more efficient operation while maximizing passenger safety.
The buses, equipped with 27 seats and two wheelchair areas, include a variety of new features, such as a plexiglass driver barrier shields, USB connections, passenger Wi-Fi, and near-zero-emission engines by utilizing renewable natural gas (RNG). These smaller bus models are also designed to easily maneuver in narrow areas with a tighter turning radius.
The six EZ Riders will replace VVTA’s 2000 series buses, and will service Routes 21P/21W, 22, 23, 33, 40, 47, 54, and 66.
Phoenix Motorcars has exceeded the 2.75 million electric mile mark, counting all their fully electric trucks and shuttle buses in operation. This includes the company’s first-, second- and third-generation products that have been driven across a wide variety of end-use applications.
The manufacturer’s shuttle buses and trucks are built on the Ford E-450 cutaway chassis platform and have vastly improved in capability over the past generation cycles. Phoenix Motorcars launched its first medium-duty electric drivetrain in 2009 and sold its first commercial EV in 2014. The manufacturer is currently in production of its recently developed third-generation drivetrain, which offers up to 160 miles in range.
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Smart Eye Completes Acquisition of Affectiva
Smart Eye, an artificial-intelligence (AI) based eye tracking company, has acquired AI software company Affectiva, per an agreement that was announced on May 25.
The newly merged company will lead and accelerate the growth and development of software for automotive interior sensing, media analytics, human factors research, and other adjacent markets.
For over 20 years Smart Eye has developed AI in the form of eye tracking technology that understands, supports, and predicts a person’s intentions and actions. The company’s eye tracking technology is used in the next generation of cars and commercial vehicles, and provides new insights for research within aerospace, aviation, and neuroscience.
With this launch, RABA is also now live on Cal-ITP Benefits, becoming the ninth transit agency in California to join the platform and the first small transit provider in the state to offer automated, real-time low-income fare eligibility verification through Tap2Ride.
Officials said the investment reflects the agency’s commitment to modernizing operator training while improving safety and operational readiness across the system.
Now in its latest edition, the awards recognize forward-thinking solutions that improve safety, operational efficiency, sustainability, rider experience, and overall system performance.
A 5% rise in deliveries and a surge in zero-emission buses signaled progress in 2025, but high costs, long lead times, and shifting funding priorities continue to cloud the outlook.
The railroad has issued a formal request for proposals to manufacturers for more than 800 new passenger railcars that will serve 14 long-distance routes nationwide.
The delivery marks the first car in a 374‑vehicle order and begins the arrival of a new generation of higher‑capacity, more reliable, and more comfortable trains for one of the country’s busiest commuter rail systems.
Vehicles that improperly use busways and bus lanes, block bus stops, or illegally double-park will receive warning notices in the mail for an initial period of 60 days, followed by summonses thereafter.
The project, finalized on February 12, provides the city with two different configurations of high-definition cameras to outfit 16 buses in the Pretzel City Area Transit fleet.
