Biz Briefs covers the latest news in the public transit and motorcoach industries.

METRO's latest installment include new partnerships in Atlanta, Philadelphia, and more.

PhoenixEV Joins APTA

Phoenix Motor Inc.’s PhoenixEV announced its membership in the American Public Transportation Association (APTA), a move that underscores the company's dedication to advancing sustainable transportation solutions.

By joining APTA, PhoenixEV gains access to a network of industry leaders, advocacy resources, and opportunities to collaborate on the future of public transportation.

“We are excited to join APTA, one of the largest and most influential organizations in the public transportation industry. Our range of all-electric transit buses, paratransit buses, trucks, and infrastructure solutions complement the zero-emission goals of the transit industry,” says Denton Peng, CEO of PhoenixEV.

Tolar Completes MARTA Installation

Tolar Manufacturing Co. and the Metropolitan Atlanta Rapid Transit Authority (MARTA) completed the installation of bus shelters, benches, alternative seating options, and other amenities at more than 850 bus stops in the city of Atlanta, Ga., as well as Clayton, DeKalb, and Fulton Counties. 

The shelters and related amenities are based on the Tolar’s Sunset series, featuring all aluminum structures with Alucobond roof panels, customized elements including distinctive MARTA branding, solar or 110V LED powered dusk-to-dawn illumination for safety. 

Bus stops that cannot accommodate a shelter footprint will receive other passenger amenities such as free-standing benches with HDPE platforms, and convenient trash receptacles. The amenities are finished in a super durable baked powder coat color.

The installation marks the conclusion of a five-year agreement between MARTA and Tolar Manufacturing, which utilized ridership data, feedback from customers, community stakeholders, and elected officials to determine the bus stops that required shelters and seating upgrades. 

Luminator Set to Unveil New Feature

Luminator Technology Group is to release an enhanced feature that will allow their destination signs to show the current state of battery charging while the vehicle is “plugged in.” The enhanced feature will show in 1% increments. 

As demand for electric buses continues to grow Luminator is in the position to provide benefits that streamline operations, so drivers know the bus is charged and ready for service. 

Luminator’s destination signs offer features such as customizable messages, real-time updates, 12-year warranty, and seamless integration with existing transit infrastructure. The signs are available in white, amber, and color. 

The signs are powered by our Luminator Software Suite, which allows direct access to all connected devices in your fleet through a single, web-based user interface. 

SEPTA Taps ConnX to Transform Communications

ConnX was awarded a contract by the Southeastern Pennsylvania Transportation Authority (SEPTA) to modernize, integrate, and support their communications and network infrastructure laying the tracks for innovations that will simplify operations, improve rider experience, enable connected vehicles, and allow SEPTA to scale as their ridership increases.

Currently, SEPTA utilizes an aging network of legacy systems with 6,000 Centrex lines across 378 locations throughout Southeastern Pennsylvania. 

ConnX will consolidate these fragmented systems through the ConnX Maestro orchestration platform into a modern, unified service, enhancing both employee productivity and customer experience. 

Responding to SEPTA's rigorous RFP requirements for a turnkey integrated managed solution, ConnX ecosystem leverages more than a dozen partners to deliver industry shaping cloud communication services.