Biz News: New Flyer, Lightning Systems deliver enviro-friendly vehicles
Canada's Brampton Transit will add diesel-hybrid electrics, while a Floridian microtransit provider will add wheelchair-accessible cutaways.

Using diesel-electric hybrid technology, the New Flyer buses will reduce fuel consumption by up to 10% compared to conventional diesel vehicles.
New Flyer

Using diesel-electric hybrid technology, the New Flyer buses will reduce fuel consumption by up to 10% compared to conventional diesel vehicles.
New Flyer
Brampton Transit adding 10 New Flyer 60-foot buses
The City of Brampton, the governing body of Brampton Transit, issued a new order for 10 heavy-duty, 60-foot New Flyer Xcelsior® diesel-electric hybrid transit buses.
The new hybrid buses will expand the Züm bus rapid transit (BRT) fleet to meet the area’s growing population and transit demands. Featuring 40% more passenger capacity than 40-foot vehicles, the 60-foot Xcelsior buses will increase service and improve the passenger experience along key routes connecting people and places within Brampton and the Greater Toronto Area. Using diesel-electric hybrid technology, the new buses will reduce fuel consumption by up to 10% compared to conventional diesel vehicles.
The order follows Brampton Transit and the Canadian Urban Transit Research and Innovation Consortium’s July announcement of securing $11.15 million in federal funding from Natural Resources Canada to support the adoption of zero-emission transit with a purchase of six battery-electric New Flyer Xcelsior CHARGE™ buses.

Freebee’s choice of battery-electric vehicles aligns with their mission of reducing the carbon footprint associated with local transportation.
Lightning Systems
Fla.-based microtransit operator adds vehicles from Lightning Systems
Lightning Systems delivered the first two units on an initial order of six Lightning Electric Ford Transit 350HD wheelchair accessible passenger vans to Freebee, an operator of on-demand public transportation in the South Florida region. Freebee serves local communities through municipal transportation contracts, using a microtransit model, which provides passengers with free door-to-door rides.
Freebee’s choice of battery-electric vehicles aligns with their mission of reducing the carbon footprint associated with local transportation. This also contributes to municipal sustainability goals, as well as providing cleaner air on the roads.
More Bus

Brian Dickson on Building Stronger, More Resilient Transportation Organizations
Bus Business Consultants Founder Brian Dickson discusses the leadership principles, operational discipline, and strategic planning that separate transportation companies positioned for long-term success from those stuck in survival mode.
Read More →
LA Metro Breaks Ground on Vermont BRT Project
The 12.4-mile corridor is projected to serve 66,200 daily riders, reduce travel times by up to 24%, and create the nation's busiest bus rapid transit corridor.
Read More →
Roman Cornell on ABC Companies’ Evolution and the Future of Passenger Transportation
The company’s CEO discusses carrying forward a third-generation family legacy, ABC’s continued evolution in passenger transportation, support for increasingly complex fleets, and how technology and continued investment could help operators improve uptime.
Read More →
VIA Bus Ridership Grows 10.1% Through August 2026
San Antonio's VIA Metropolitan Transit reported the highest bus ridership growth among major Texas transit systems. Federal Transit Administration data ranked it second among the nation's 50 largest transit systems.
Read More →
LA Metro September Ridership Climbs 3.9%, Led by Rail Growth
The agency recorded more than 27.2 million boardings, with rail ridership increasing 12.4% year over year and the D Line posting the largest gains.
Read More →
Frontrunner Bus Group Introduces XF Low-Floor Bus with Enhanced Accessibility
The new mid-sized bus features a full flat-floor design, eight-inch curbside step-in height, and zero-entry rear ramp to improve passenger access and operational flexibility.
Read More →
Scenes from APTA TRANSform & EXPO 2026
Transit leaders, manufacturers, and industry professionals gathered in Chicago to explore new technologies, share ideas, and discuss the future of public transportation.
Read More →
More Than a Summer Job: Building the Next Generation of Transit Talent
The Delaware River Port Authority and PATCO have transformed their internship program into a hands-on professional development experience that introduces students to the breadth of transportation careers — and creates a pipeline for future employees.
Read More →
LA Metro Board Awards 220 Battery-Electric Bus Contract to ENC
The contract, which is the largest base award of battery-electric buses by a U.S. transit agency, will be built in Southern California, sustaining good jobs as LA prepares to welcome the world in 2028
Read More →
Public Transit Conference Returning to GFX in 2027, Call for Papers Now Open
The Call for Papers is now open, allowing transit agency professionals and industry experts to help shape the PTC educational program by submitting session ideas for consideration.
Read More →