Biz News: MCI and ENC deliver, Cambridge Systematics partners up

MCI delivers 2 'Livery Edition' J4500s to RMA Worldwide

Motor Coach Industries (MCI) delivered two new MCI J4500 Livery Edition coaches to expand RMA Worldwide Chauffeured Transportation.   

Starting with the roomy 56-seat J4500 configuration, RMA’s new MCIs include Amaya 220 seating with leather diamond stitching and cup holders on the back of each seat. Additionally, each coach features an enhanced sound system, and the RGB lighting package that allows for customize interior color lighting options, and exterior custom paint and decaling.

RMA’s motor coach fleet goes to work for large events, corporate charters, and university clients.

ENC to deliver 23 Axess buses to Pace

ElDorado National-California (ENC) received a contract to supply 23 diesel Axess 30-foot buses to Chicago’s Pace. The award is the first release of a five-year, up to $80 million contract with a provision for 164 to Axess buses, as well as optional vehicle features, spare parts, and training.

ENC has worked with Pace for over 20 years, providing 665 vehicles to their fleet, including ENC’s diesel E-Z Rider II BRT and diesel and CNG Axess BRT models. The Axess is the first transit bus in the industry that was certified for three-point seat belts. The heavy-duty bus also features a curb-level low-floor that can be adapted for any application and also offers ADA-compliant wheelchair ramps at the front and center doors.

Cambridge Systematics, Minn. Metro Transit partner to improve next bus arrival time predictions

Cambridge Systematics (CS) was selected by Minneapolis’ Metro Transit to participate in a pilot program to evaluate approaches and technologies to improve the agency’s bus arrival time predictions based on current information about vehicle location, traffic conditions, weather, and other relevant factors.

The CS team is building a real-time predictions solution for Metro Transit using the open-source software, TheTransitClock. To improve the accuracy of predicted arrival times, the CS team’s solution employs a Kalman Filter, an adaptive algorithm that recognizes unusual conditions, like abnormal traffic congestion and weather events, and draws on the most relevant historical and real-time data to improve the quality of its arrival time predictions by more accurately estimating vehicle travel times and dwell times (periods when the bus is at a stop, loading and unloading passengers).