What Goes Into Building a Transit Bus with Paul Germo

In this episode of Stop Requested, Levi McCollum and Christian Londono talk with Nicolas Letendre, founder and CEO of Letenda, a Canadian electric bus manufacturer. Drawing on more than 20 years of experience in vehicle manufacturing and aerospace, Nicolas shares his journey from engineer to entrepreneur and how he identified an opportunity to develop a 30-foot battery-electric bus designed to fill a gap in the North American transit market. The conversation explores how Letenda is rethinking bus design through prototyping, operator feedback, and innovations in accessibility, safety, and maneuverability. Nicolas also discusses the challenges of fleet electrification, the importance of matching vehicle size to service needs, and what it takes to bring a new transit bus from concept to production.

In this bonus episode of Stop Requested, recorded at APTA EXPO 2026 in Chicago, Christian Londono and Levi McCollum talk with Eric Kaled, Segment President of Detection & Measurement at SPX Technologies, which includes Genfare, about the importance of collaboration among transit technology providers. Eric explains why disconnected systems create challenges for transit agencies and how better integration can improve operational efficiency, access to information, and the rider experience. The conversation explores how technology vendors can work together to connect systems through APIs, why transit agencies are increasingly prioritizing integration, and what it takes to build successful partnerships. Eric also discusses the importance of clearly defining project scope, responsibilities, costs, and liability so that agencies and vendors can work toward better outcomes for public transportation.

In this episode of Stop Requested, Levi McCollum and Christian Londono talk with Paul Germo, a transit consultant with more than 15 years of experience in bus manufacturing, inspections, and procurement. Paul shares his perspective on the challenges of purchasing new transit vehicles, the importance of involving maintenance and operations staff in procurement decisions, and how poor communication can lead to costly delays and mistakes. The conversation explores what happens on the factory floor, why transit buses are still largely built by hand, and what inspectors look for before vehicles are delivered to agencies. Paul also discusses common manufacturing defects, the challenges of introducing new vehicle technologies, and how transit agencies and manufacturers can work together to improve quality and reliability.

In this bonus episode of Stop Requested, recorded live at APTA TRANSform & EXPO 2026 in Chicago, Levi McCollum and Christian Londono sit down with John Walsh, Chief Commercial Officer, and Mike Ammann, Vice President of Transit Division at ABC Companies, to discuss the launch of COR Transit, a new American bus manufacturer. The conversation explores the challenges facing U.S. bus manufacturing, including limited competition, rising costs, long delivery times, and the need to give transit agencies more options. John and Mike share their approach to designing a transit bus from the ground up, emphasizing reliability, safety, and ease of maintenance. They also discuss balancing standardization with customization, leveraging ABC Companies' existing parts and service network, and their plans for prototype development in 2027 and initial vehicle deliveries in 2028.

In this episode of Stop Requested, Levi McCollum and Christian Londono talk with Ehren Bingaman, National Transit Practice Leader at Burgess & Niple, about leadership, organizational purpose, and defining what success looks like for a transit agency. Drawing on his experience in Indianapolis, Detroit, and Atlanta, Ehren shares lessons on building regional partnerships, navigating competing priorities, and turning ambitious transit plans into meaningful results. The conversation explores why agencies need to understand what they want to accomplish before deciding how to measure success. Ehren challenges the industry's reliance on ridership as a primary performance metric, discusses the importance of using data to improve decision-making, and shares his perspectives on financial challenges, organizational leadership, and developing the next generation of transit professionals.

In this bonus episode of Stop Requested, recorded at APTA EXPO 2026, Levi McCollum and Christian Londono sit down with Walter Jenkins, CEO of TransitChat; Lizzie Speed, CEO of Greenlight Robotics; and Anthony Trasatti, CEO of Ontra Mobility, to discuss the new technologies and ideas they're bringing to public transportation. The conversation explores improving communication and accountability within transit agencies, using AI to evaluate service planning scenarios, and developing collision avoidance technology to support bus operators and improve safety. The three CEOs also share what drew them into public transportation, the challenges they're working to solve, and how their innovations could help agencies operate more effectively.

In this episode of Stop Requested, Levi McCollum and Christian Londono talk with Charles Frazier, CEO of the Chattanooga Area Regional Transportation Authority (CARTA), about the challenges of rebuilding a transit agency after decades of underfunding while preparing for the future. Charles shares his journey through public transportation leadership, the personal experience that shaped his career, and why listening to employees, riders, and elected officials is essential to creating meaningful change. The conversation explores CARTA's efforts to improve service reliability, modernize infrastructure, strengthen community relationships, and establish a long-term vision for transit in Chattanooga. Charles also discusses a $25 million federal grant supporting autonomous shuttles and workforce development, the importance of aligning transit planning with community growth, and why agencies must balance fixing today's problems with investing in tomorrow's opportunities.

In this bonus episode of Stop Requested, Levi McCollum and Christian Londono talk with Alejandro Schmidt and Freddy Canales from DTPM, Santiago’s public transport authority, and Jose Mostajo from SONDA. Recorded in Spanish at APTA EXPO in Chicago, the conversation traces how Santiago’s transit system has changed since the difficult launch of Transantiago in 2007. Alejandro and Freddy discuss cashless payments, monthly fare caps, and why many riders still prefer a physical fare card. They also talk about fare evasion and how better real-time information could make everyday trips easier.

In this episode of Stop Requested, Levi McCollum and Christian Londono talk with Nicholas Sofoul, Executive Director of the North Central Regional Transit District (Blue Bus), about the challenges of providing public transportation across 10,000 square miles of northern New Mexico, where transit often provides the only connection to healthcare, employment, groceries, and other essential services. The conversation explores workforce development, rural rapid transit, zero-emission vehicles, limited cellular connectivity, and coordinating service across tribal communities. Nick also discusses why conventional ridership and efficiency metrics don't always reflect the value of rural transit, and how Blue Bus is working to strengthen its operations while expanding access to the communities it serves.

In this episode of Stop Requested, Levi McCollum and Christian Londono talk with Nicholas Dagen Bloom, professor and chair of the Department of Urban Policy and Planning at Hunter College and author of The Great American Transit Disaster, about how American transit systems declined and why some cities fared better than others. The conversation explores the role of zoning, automobile growth, transit funding, public ownership, and local politics in reshaping transportation across the country. Bloom also challenges the streetcar conspiracy narrative, explains why frequent service and operating funding matter so much, and shares what today’s transit leaders can learn from a century of decisions that still shape their systems.