From strategic partnerships and acquisitions to service expansions and technology investments, the transportation industry continues to evolve at a rapid pace.

In this edition of Biz Briefs, we spotlight the latest developments shaping the future of mobility. From manufacturers and suppliers to transit agencies and motorcoach operators, these updates offer a snapshot of the projects, partnerships and business moves driving the industry forward.

In METRO's latest installment, we take a look at recent news from Masabi, The Routing Company, and more partnerships making headlines across the transportation sector.

Montréal Unveils First Nova LFSe+ Electric Bus

The Société de transport de Montréal (STM) welcomed its first LFSe+ electric bus manufactured by Nova Bus.

This is the first bus from an order of 147. Ten more buses are expected in the coming months, while the entire order will be delivered by 2028.

STM will first test the components of this new model by running it out of service over the next four weeks, with the possibility of an extension if teams deem it necessary.

The agency is currently reassessing the pace of its transition to electrify its bus network amid a challenging financial context. This is why, last February, the Ministère des Transports et de la Mobilité durable once again allowed public transit agencies to acquire hybrid buses and committed to revising its electrification targets, said STM officials.

STM said it considers a mix of propulsion modes — hybrid and electric — a proven, high-performing solution during the transition to fully electric operations, offering operational reliability and more stable operating costs.

Once the order is complete, 10% of the STM’s bus fleet will be electric.

K2 Pure Solutions, PACC Services Execute Hydrogen Agreement with ZeroUp

K2 Pure Solutions and PACC Services LLC announced a Hydrogen Supply Agreement with ZeroUp Energy Inc. to provide a dedicated supply of low-carbon hydrogen from K2's chlor-alkali facility in Pittsburg, California. The hydrogen will support ZeroUp's mobile fueling deployments for transit agencies across Northern and Southern California.

Officials said the agreement supports California's Innovative Clean Transit (ICT) regulation, which requires transit agencies to transition to zero-emission bus fleets and use renewable fuels for fuel cell electric buses. K2's hydrogen is being produced through a pathway designed to meet ICT renewable fuel standards, helping to address a key challenge to the broader adoption of fuel cell buses in the state.

ZeroUp has more than a decade of experience providing hydrogen fueling, fuel cell vehicle support, and station operations for California transit agencies. The company currently supplies hydrogen to Omnitrans under a multi-year contract. It is working with agencies, including the Stanislaus Regional Transit Authority, which plans to use a mobile hydrogen fueling solution as it deploys fuel cell electric buses.

Hydrogen produced at K2's Pittsburg facility is generated as a byproduct of the company's existing chlor-alkali manufacturing process, eliminating the need for natural gas reforming or dedicated electrolysis infrastructure. The facility is targeting commercial availability in the third quarter of 2026, with PACC Services serving as the exclusive commercial partner for contracting, logistics coordination, and supply chain management.

Masabi Lands Sourcewell Contract for Fare Collection Tech

Masabi has been awarded a cooperative purchasing contract with Sourcewell under its "Transportation Services Payment Solutions" category.

The agreement gives transit agencies a faster, simpler route to adopting modern fare payment systems by removing a lengthy direct procurement process and allowing them to fast-track innovation.

Sourcewell conducts a rigorous, nationally competitive solicitation process on behalf of public agencies, evaluating and awarding cooperative purchasing contracts that satisfy public procurement requirements. Having been awarded a contract through that process, Masabi's Justride platform and many hardware options are now available for direct procurement by public agencies, municipalities, counties, tribal governments, and transit authorities across the US and Canada through the Sourcewell cooperative purchasing program.

Justride is Masabi's open, enterprise-grade SaaS platform, covering the full spectrum of fare payments from Mobile Ticketing to Account-Based Ticketing and Open Payments. Agencies can procure the complete platform or a standalone module and expand their solution over time as needs and budgets evolve, with a platform designed from the ground up to serve all riders, including the unbanked and underbanked.

Through the Sourcewell Master Service Agreement, public organizations can move straight to procurement, as Sourcewell contracts satisfy competitive public solicitation requirements on behalf of member agencies, providing the procurement documentation and audit trail that public bodies need to move forward with confidence, said officials

TRC, Great Lakes Community Action Partnership Team in Ohio

The Routing Company (TRC) announced a multi-year partnership with Great Lakes Community Action Partnership (GLCAP).

The deployment marks another significant milestone in supporting suburban and rural transportation, increasing accessibility and connectivity by enabling multiple transit services in Sandusky County, Ohio. TRC is powering all of GLCAP’s transportation programs (TRIPS), including shuttle services and demand response programs.  All services are planned to launch in full in July 2026.

TRC’s Pingo platform will power GLCAP’s services to enhance mobility, particularly in rural communities, offering real-time ride booking and optimized routing to improve riders’ convenience and enabling dispatch to use a seamless self-service platform to manage programs.