METRO Magazine Logo
MenuMENU
SearchSEARCH

CATS to Add 19 ARBOC Spirit of Independence Buses

The contract is the largest order ARBOC has received for the new product.

June 13, 2017
CATS to Add 19 ARBOC Spirit of Independence Buses

CATS operates bus and rail service around the Charlotte metropolitan area with their Sprinter line, LYNX Blue Line, and CityLYNX Gold Line.

Photo: CATS

1 min to read


N.C.’s Charlotte Area Transit System (CATS) recently placed an order with Creative Bus Sales (CBS) for 19 Ford Spirit of Independence buses manufactured by ARBOC Specialty Vehicles LLC of Middlebury, Ind. The nearly 20-bus contract is the largest order ARBOC has received for the new product.

CATS operates bus and rail service around the Charlotte metropolitan area with their Sprinter line, LYNX Blue Line, and CityLYNX Gold Line. Due to the safety and dependability expected from ARBOC and the low cost of ownership, the new Spirit of Independence on the Ford Transit chassis will be a welcome addition to the CATS fleet, according to Kim Yoder, national sales manager for ARBOC.

Ad Loading...

“We could not be more excited to form a partnership with Charlotte Area Transit System with this initial bus order,” she says. “With a strong partner like Creative Bus Sales, we are confident the client and their customers will be thrilled with the new vehicles and the support that they receive after delivery.”

CBS works directly with Charlotte to provide sales, service, and parts support. The company was formed in 1980 and has expanded greatly in the years since, now having over 20 locations nationwide.

More Bus

paratransit bus
SponsoredMarch 16, 2026

Measuring the True Cost of Paratransit Fleets

What truly drives the cost of a paratransit fleet? Beyond the purchase price, seven operational factors quietly determine maintenance frequency, downtime, and long-term service reliability. This whitepaper explores how these factors shape lifecycle cost and what agencies should evaluate when selecting paratransit vehicles.

Read More →
Cover photo for METROspectives with The Bus Coalition
Busby Alex RomanMarch 13, 2026

Inside The Bus Coalition’s Push for Stronger Federal Transit Investment

In this conversation, TBC’s Executive Director Ed Redfern, President Corey Aldridge, and Washington Representative Joel Rubin outline the coalition’s key policy priorities, the challenges facing transit agencies, and how industry stakeholders can work together to strengthen the voice of bus transit at the federal level.

Read More →
Cover photo for Biz Briefs dated March 6, 2026
Technologyby Staff and News ReportsMarch 6, 2026

Biz Briefs: Tolar Manufacturing Supports PSTA Spark Service and More

Stay informed with these quick takes on the projects and companies driving progress across the transportation landscape.

Read More →
Ad Loading...
Passengers boarding a PRT bus
Busby StaffMarch 2, 2026

Pittsburgh Unveils 'Bus Line Refresh' Plan

Originally introduced in 2023 as the Bus Line Redesign, the effort has evolved into a more targeted update that maintains familiar routes while improving reliability, frequency, evening and weekend service, and connections across Allegheny County.

Read More →
Stickers and a paper bus for S3 bus line
Busby StaffMarch 2, 2026

Seattle's Sound Transit Breaks Ground on S3 Bus Line

S3 will connect communities along SR 522 with fast, reliable, battery-electric bus service from Shoreline South Station to Bothell via Kenmore and Lake Forest Park. 

Read More →
PRT bus stop with articulated bus.
Busby StaffFebruary 20, 2026

Pittsburgh Regional Transit Announces All-Door Boarding on the University Line

All-door boarding will allow passengers to pay while entering the front, middle, or rear doors of the University Line’s 60-foot articulated buses.

Read More →
Ad Loading...
Patrick Scully, president at Complete Coach Works.
Managementby StaffFebruary 18, 2026

Complete Coach Works Names Patrick Scully President

He succeeds the company founder, Dale Carson, who remains chairman of the board. 

Read More →
A MARTA articulated bus.
Busby StaffFebruary 13, 2026

Atlanta's MARTA Sets Date for 'A-Line' BRT Launch

The five-mile Rapid A-Line connects Downtown Atlanta to Capitol Gateway, Summerhill, Peoplestown, and the Beltline’s Southside Trail.

Read More →
A Picture of Ster Seating's Parent/Child transit seating product.
Technologyby StaffFebruary 10, 2026

Ster Seating, Maryland Transit Launch First Parent/Child Transit Seat in North America

The configuration uses Ster Seating's Gemini seat platform to create a family-friendly floor layout specifically engineered to accommodate parents traveling with young children.

Read More →
Ad Loading...
Rendering of Sound Transit's Renton Transit Center
Busby StaffFebruary 5, 2026

Seattle’s Sound Transit Breaks Ground on New Transit Center

The Renton Transit Center project will relocate and rebuild the Renton Transit Center to better serve the regional Stride S1 line, local King County Metro services, and the future RapidRide I Line.

Read More →