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.

In METRO's latest installment, we take a look at the latest news from suppliers including Alstom, Spare, and more.

WeDriveU to Operate Greater Peoria MTD Paratransit Services

WeDriveU was awarded the contract to operate Illinois’ Greater Peoria Mass Transit District (GPMTD) CityLift and CountyLink paratransit services.

GPMTD announced its transition from another private operator to WeDriveU as part of its “ongoing commitment to provide efficient, reliable, and high-quality transportation services for individuals with disabilities in our region, in compliance with the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA).” GPMTD served 145,000 passenger trips in 2024 and anticipates continued growth.

WeDriveU began operating paratransit service at its new Peoria customer service center in December 2025. Located halfway between Chicago and St. Louis, WeDriveU’s site centralizes customer service, operations management, workforce amenities, training, a bus yard, and maintenance.

The announcement expands WeDriveU’s Midwest presence to six Illinois customer service centers supporting transit agencies and private-sector customers in Chicago and throughout the state.

Alstom Awarded 5-Year Hartsfield-Jackson Contract Extension

Alstom received a five-year contract extension to operate and maintain the Innovia automated people mover (APM) at Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International Airport (ATL). The agreement, valued at approximately $160 million, continues a partnership that dates to the debut of the airport’s Plane Train in 1980.

The Plane Train is an integral part of the world’s busiest airport, connecting passengers easily even as the airport has grown, ensuring that traveling between terminals never takes more than a few minutes. Alstom operates the Plane Train 24 hours a day, 365 days a year. In 2025, the system set a record by transporting 95 million passengers, officials said.

The Plane Train runs along a 2.8-mile-long underground tunnel that connects all of the airport’s concourses and terminals. Currently, Alstom is also engaged in two capital projects at ATL: improving the system’s infrastructure and supplying 63 Innovia APM R vehicles to augment and refresh the airport’s fleet. These measures will further boost passenger capacity by enabling more trains per hour.

The extension of the operations and maintenance contract takes effect upon signing and includes two one-year options. The agreement covers 24/7 operation of the APMs; power and electrification; maintenance of vehicles and guideway; and cleaning the tunnel, platforms, and other facilities.

Former LA Metro Office of Extraordinary Innovation Author New Book

“New Tricks for Old Bureaucracies: Improving Policy Outcomes in the Public Sector,” published by Business Expert Press, is now available. The authors, Joshua Schank, Emma Huang, and Marla Westervelt Berg, worked together in the Office of Extraordinary Innovation, an LA Metro office, to reimagine what a large transit agency could do.

During that time, they launched on-demand transit, advanced congestion pricing, built a strategic plan that still guides Metro today, and learned hard lessons about what makes change stick and what makes it stall.

Schank, now a partner at InfraStrategies LLC and the executive director of the ACES Mobility Coalition, explained that the book is built around what the authors learned on the job.

“This is a practical guide drawn from authentic and often entertaining experiences,” he said. “It gets at how to build political capital and when to cut your losses. It covers OEI's failures as honestly as its successes. This book is not just about ideas or plans. It's about politics, personalities, process, power, and the amusing challenges of trying to make change in the public sphere. We share our experience not because it's perfect, but because it's real."

New Tricks for Old Bureaucracies is available now in paperback and e-book through Business Expert Press and major booksellers. The development of this book was supported in part by the Mineta Transportation Institute at San Jose State University.

Spare Partners to Modernize Paratransit in Western Île-de-France

Spare announced a new partnership with Citemobil following the award of Lot 2 – Western Operations under the PAM Francilien 2025 contract by Île-de-France Mobilités (IDFM).

Through this partnership, Spare will power the digital operations platform supporting paratransit services across western Île-de-France, modernizing the delivery of door-to-door transport for persons with reduced mobility.

By deploying its integrated technology, Spare will enable more efficient scheduling, real-time fleet visibility, and data-driven performance management across the territory, said officials. The platform is designed to manage the operational complexity of large-scale, decentralized paratransit networks, supporting reliable service delivery and strengthened oversight for western Île-de-France.

Under Lot 2, Spare serves as the software platform powering CitéMobil’s operations, delivering advanced scheduling, dispatch, real-time optimization, and performance oversight capabilities designed for large-scale, complex paratransit systems.