First Transit provides contractor services to several public transit and paratransit systems throughout North America.
First Transit
2 min to read
First Transit provides contractor services to several public transit and paratransit systems throughout North America.
First Transit
First Group PLC said it is considering selling its North American public transportation and school bus companies, building on a plan first launched with the announced intention to sell Greyhound in May.
Since his appointment as Chairman four months ago, David Martin has been actively engaged across the entire portfolio, working with management and supported by independent advisors, to review the various strategic options.
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FirstGroup, which is the parent company of First Transit, said in a release discussing its strategic update that after review of the company’s portfolio, the board of directors appointed advisors to “explore all options in respect of our North American contract businesses, First Student and First Transit, including a potential disposal.”
The company said that it is moving ahead with its sale of Greyhound, which it announced in May, and is creating an efficiency program for First Bus, its U.K.-based intercity bus service. It expects to see the results of that strategy in the numbers for the second half of 2019 and afterward. As a result, the company’s board of directors concluded that “greater value will be achieved by delivering this margin enhancement prior to any launch of a formal sale process.”
“We have taken a number of important steps that will enable a rationalization of the Group’s portfolio,” said Chief Executive Matthew Gregory. “Today’s announcement to formally explore all options to maximize value from our North American businesses reflects the resolute focus of the entire Board on realizing value for all shareholders.’
In the meantime, First Group said it will continue to focus on the individual plans for each of its businesses, ensuring that customer commitment and investments, as well as growth and margin improvement plans, are delivered.
The region’s fixed-route system finished out the year with a total of 373.5 million rides. Adding 12.3 million rides over 2024 represents an increase that is equal to the annual transit ridership of Kansas City.
The service is a flexible, reservation-based transit service designed to close the first- and last-mile gaps and connect riders to employment for just $5 per day.
The upgraded system, which went live earlier this month, supports METRO’s METRONow vision to enhance the customer experience, improve service reliability, and strengthen long-term regional mobility.
The agreement provides competitive wages and reflects strong labor-management collaboration, positive working relationships, and a shared commitment to building a world-class transit system for the community, said RTA CEO Lona Edwards Hankins.
The priorities are outlined in the 2026 Board and CEO Initiatives and Action Plan, which serves as a roadmap to guide the agency’s work throughout the year and ensure continued progress and accountability on voter-approved transportation investments and essential mobility services.