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 Daimler Coaches, Transit app, and Gatekeeper. 

Florida’s HART Teams with Transit App for Real-Time Travel

Tampa, Fla.’s Hillsborough Transit Authority (HART) announced free access to Transit Royale, the premium service available in the Transit app.

HART recently transitioned to the Transit App for customer-facing real-time travel information. The agency previously developed OneBusAway Tampa, the agency's longtime real-time information application.

The upgrade provides expanded route maps, full departure schedules, real-time vehicle tracking, and step-by-step trip guidance — all at no cost.

Riders can also switch the app’s theme to match HART’s branding for a localized, ad-free experience.

Boston’s Yankee Line Adds 15 Mercedes-Benz Tourrider Coaches

Daimler Coaches North America LLC delivered 15 Mercedes-Benz Tourrider Premium motorcoaches to Boston’s Yankee Line.

With this purchase, Yankee Line becomes the first U.S. customer to operate 50 of the new Mercedes-Benz Tourrider coaches designed specifically for the North American market. 

Yankee Line took delivery of their first Tourriders in December 2022 and have grown the number to 50 within two years. The long-established company has stood for exclusive charter and tour services with luxuriously equipped motorcoaches for 45 years operating from bases in and around Boston and New York City, to various destinations throughout U.S. and Canada.

TTC Taps Gatekeeper Systems for Streetcar Camera Enforcement

The Toronto Transit Commission (TTC) is improving safety for streetcar customers by teaming with Gatekeeper Systems Inc. to pilot automatic camera enforcement technology for motorists who pass open doors. 

Through the pilot, the TTC and Gatekeeper will develop and pilot a new enforcement system to record the incident and license plate information. 

Passing open streetcar doors puts those boarding and exiting streetcars in danger and illegal under Ontario’s Highway Traffic Act, according to the agency. Between 2014 and 2024, 141 individuals have been contacted by vehicles while boarding or exiting streetcars. In addition, the TTC gets anecdotal reports of open-door passing multiple times daily.

The pilot will cost approximately $460,000 and includes development, installation of cameras on four streetcars, and nine months of testing starting later next year. No tickets will be issued as part of the pilot.

The TTC is also developing an on-street streetcar safety campaign to roll out in the coming weeks, reminding all road users that they must stop behind open streetcar doors.