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King County Test Heliox Chargers, Keolis Lands California Contract Top Biz Briefs

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

A Heliox charger on KC Metro property

As the highest-ridership transit agency in the Northwestern US, King County Metro requires dependable, high-performance charging infrastructure to maintain reliable service for its riders.

Credit:

Heliox

6 min to read


  • King County is testing Heliox chargers to improve their transportation infrastructure.
  • Keolis has secured a contract in California to expand its transportation services.
  • These developments highlight significant projects impacting the transportation sector.

*Summarized by AI

From strategic partnerships to acquisitions and service expansions, the industry continues to evolve at a rapid pace. 

In this edition of Biz Briefs, we highlight the latest developments shaping the future of mobility — from manufacturers and technology providers to transit agencies and motorcoach service operators. Stay informed with these quick takes on the projects and companies driving progress across the transportation landscape.

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In METRO's latest installment, we take a look at the latest news from STV, May Mobility, and more.

Heliox Launches King County, Metro Pilot

Heliox, A Siemens Business, partnered with Seattle’s King County Metro to support the modernization of its electric bus charging infrastructure through a pilot of the new Heliox Flex Pro.

Designed with a compact footprint of just 12 sq. ft., the Heliox Flex Pro delivers up to 480 kW of power in a space-efficient design ideally suited for high-density transit depots.

Integrated with an overhead pantograph, the Heliox Flex Pro enables fast, reliable charging — bringing battery-electric buses from 20% to 80% state of charge in approximately one hour.

As the highest-ridership transit agency in the Northwestern US, King County Metro requires dependable, high-performance charging infrastructure to maintain reliable service for its riders.

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The system offers the flexibility to support high-power pantograph charging for rapid turnaround or to connect with up to six depot pantographs and plug-in dispensers for off-shift charging. The Heliox Flex Pro offers a scalable, future-ready charging solution for transit agencies transitioning to electric fleets, said Heliox officials.

Keolis Lands California Contract

Keolis in North America announced a new contract for the U.S. business to operate California’s Tri Delta Transit for the Eastern Contra Costa Transit Authority (ECCTA).

Under the new four-year contract, with the option to extend for three two-year terms, Keolis will provide fixed-route, paratransit, microtransit, and non-emergency medical transportation for eastern Contra Costa County, California. Keolis will take over operations on July 1.

Keolis officials said the company is committed to ensuring a smooth and positive transition for the existing Tri Delta Transit workforce. The company prioritizes employee retention, recognizing that it stems from a positive work environment where team members are treated fairly, feel valued, and have access to professional development opportunities.

Keolis’ commitment to workforce engagement ensures high retention and service quality for ECCTA and the communities it serves.

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A rendering of an OUTFRONT Media campaign in LA's Union Station

The new offering introduces high-impact opportunities for interior, exterior, and full-station domination, enabling brands to engage audiences at scale.

Credit:

OUTFRONT Media


Outfront Media Launches Ad Program at LA Union Station

OUTFRONT Media announced the launch of its inaugural advertising and experiential program at Los Angeles Union Station.

Los Angeles Union Station has 14.8 million annual passenger activity/movements across Metrolink, Metro Rail, Amtrak, buses, and regional transit services. The milestone marks the first time the landmark transportation hub has introduced a formal advertising program, with OUTFRONT selected to bring the vision to life — transforming the space into an immersive IRL media environment.

The new offering introduces high-impact opportunities for interior, exterior, and full-station domination, enabling brands to engage audiences at scale. As part of this, large-format digital networks will roll out throughout the traveler journey, offering flexibility and dynamic storytelling across key touchpoints within the station.

Union Station has also been designated an official Los Angeles World Cup 26 Fan Zone during the FIFA World Cup 2026. It will stream matches live across its digital displays, creating a high-energy environment where brands can show up alongside one of the world’s most anticipated global events.

STV-Turner Picked for Midtown Bus Terminal Phase One

A joint venture of STV and Turner was selected by the Port Authority of New York and New Jersey (PANYNJ) to provide construction management (CM) services for Phase 1 of the Midtown Bus Terminal Replacement (MTBTR) program.

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The joint venture will provide integrated CM services focused on safety, stakeholder coordination, and schedule optimization for Phase 1 of the program. The early phase includes the construction of an interim seven-level bus terminal and new ramp infrastructure to keep more than 200,000 daily commuters moving safely and reliably throughout the redevelopment while allowing the full terminal replacement to proceed, officials said.

The 900,000-square-foot interim facility will transition into a bus staging and storage operation in subsequent phases. The work involves complex coordination of demolition, new construction, and integration with existing transportation systems in one of Manhattan’s most densely trafficked areas. The team will also help advance the PANYNJ’s sustainability and community engagement goals.

Opened in 1950, the aging Midtown Bus Terminal handles more than 200,000 commuters and visitors on an average weekday. The new terminal will accommodate projected growth in cross-Hudson travel, improve accessibility and customer experience, and meet ambitious net-zero emissions and resilience goals.

STV and Turner have previously worked together at LaGuardia Airport, the New York Police Academy, and Ruth Bader Ginsburg Hospital.

An America 250 Greyhound vehicle.

Featuring sweeping coastal and open road imagery, the Greyhound America 250 design celebrates the movement, exploration, and opportunity that have shaped the country for generations.

Credit:

Greyhound


Greyhound Launches ‘America 250 Fleet’

Greyhound, a Flix North America brand, launched its “America 250 Fleet,” a collection of four commemorative buses honoring the nation’s 250th anniversary and celebrating the people, places, and journeys that keep America connected. 

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Each bus is wrapped in a custom “From Sea to Shining Sea” design inspired by the beauty and breadth of America’s landscapes. Featuring sweeping coastal and open road imagery, the design celebrates the movement, exploration, and opportunity that have shaped the country for generations.

“From our national parks to historic cities to the communities that connect us, America is meant to be experienced up close,” said Kai Boysan, CEO of Flix North America. “With the America 250 Fleet, we invite travelers to explore the country in a way that is accessible, affordable, and most meaningful to them.”

The first America 250 Fleet bus will officially begin service from Philadelphia on May 21, traveling to Washington, D.C., a symbolic route connecting two cities central to the nation’s history and future. The remaining America 250 Fleet buses will hit the road in June. 

As part of the inaugural celebration, every passenger riding the first Greyhound America 250 Fleet departure in each of the four launch cities will receive a $25 travel voucher for future travel, said officials. 

May Mobility Launches New AV Architecture

May Mobility Inc. launched its fifth-generation autonomy system, which fuses deep learning, a predictive world model, and May Mobility's reasoning engine into a radically efficient on-vehicle architecture.

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The company’s autonomous driving system predicts pedestrian and vehicle behavior and, in real time, reasons using a mix of deep-learned policies and proven driving strategies to choose the safest action, the company said.

May Mobility said its technology combines deep learning and reasoning, enabling the system to use training data while responding to real-world driving conditions and varying environments. According to the company, the approach is designed to support operations in new geographies and under complex driving conditions without relying on the same level of data and computing resources as some other autonomous vehicle systems.

The company said the latest updates build on its autonomous driving operations, which have included more than 525,000 commercial rides and more than 1.1 million autonomous miles, including driverless deployments in three US states. May Mobility said the updated system improves ride smoothness and vehicle performance in complex driving environments.

Quick Answers

The King County project focuses on testing Heliox chargers, a part of efforts to advance transportation technology.

*Summarized by AI

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