INDIAN TRAILS Adds 10 Buy America Compliant PREVOST® Coaches
Indian Trails, a premiere charter bus company based in Owosso, Michigan, recently took delivery of 10 “Buy America” compliant, Prevost X3-45® Commuter coaches. The purchase took place in partnership with the Michigan Department of Transportation as part of the Federal Transit Administration’s (FTA) Non-Urbanized Area Formula Grant Program.
Section 5311 of the grant program allows the FTA, on behalf of the U.S. Secretary of Transportation, to allocate apportioned funds to each state. Funding is awarded for the purpose of supporting public transportation in non-urbanized areas in order to increase access to employment, health care, education, public services, etc. for rural residents. The program provides for the participation of private transportation providers such as Indian Trails.
A 106-year-old family business, Indian Trails is Michigan’s first and largest privately owned bus transportation operator, carrying 1.2 million passengers more than 4.8 million miles annually. Indian Trails’ daily runs connect directly with both the Amtrak and Greyhound national networks, which in turn connect with some 60 other bus transportation companies in the U.S. and Canada.
The company purchased its first Prevost X-Series® vehicle fifteen years ago and in addition to the ten commuter coaches, recently added five Prevost H3-45® models to their group charter and tour fleet. Like rolling billboards, the new X3-45 coaches are covered with giant photos of some of Michigan’s most popular vacation destinations and largest cities—and they carry the Pure Michigan logo.
“We invest in coaches with the latest safety, comfort, and eco-friendly features because of our commitment to our customers, our communities, and our environment,” said Indian Trails President Gordon Mackay. “We’re also excited about helping to promote Michigan travel in a big way. After all, we’re a Michigan transportation company, and—partly with MDOT’s support—we operate 38 daily, scheduled bus routes statewide, as well as into Chicago, Duluth and Milwaukee. “
“These Pure Michigan buses are a wonderful reminder of the beauty of our state while at the same time they are providing vital connections to communities across the state,” said Sharon Edgar, administrator of MDOT’s Office of Passenger Transportation.
Each of the new Prevost X3-45 coaches is outfitted with a wheelchair lift to assist passengers with mobility issues and has been customized with assistive listening devices called hearing loops. Hearing loops transmit the audio from a PA system directly to telecoil-equipped hearing aids and cochlear implants. The telecoil functions as an antenna, relaying sounds directly into the ear without background noise just like Wi-Fi connects people to the Web.
“We are very happy to be awarded this First BAA Order from Indian Trails,” says Prevost Public Sector VP, Jack Forbes. “The partnership we have built with Indian Trails is invaluable and we are excited about the new chapter this order adds in our history together”.