Kevin O’Brien was a dedicated and compassionate leader in the public transit industry, whose contributions will always be cherished. In remembrance of Kevin’s lifelong passion to our industry, we are committed to empowering deserving students who aspire to pursue a rewarding career in public transit.
RIVERSIDE, CA, APRIL 28, 2023— With heavy hearts, we share the news of the sudden and tragic passing of our dear colleague and friend, Kevin O’Brien. On April 26, 2023, Kevin was involved in an automobile collision in San Bernardino County that took his life at the age of 65. The details of the accident are unknown, and the authorities are investigating the incident.
Kevin was a free spirit who pursued his passions and interests with great enthusiasm. He began his career in the transit industry a decade before joining the Complete Coach Works (CCW) team in Riverside, California. For the last 22 years, he has been an essential part of CCW, serving as the General Sales Manager and supervising a broad spectrum of projects that involved mid-life rehabilitation, collision repair, and full remanufacturing.
He had been an integral part of the transportation industry for over 32 years, earning him the respect of his peers and colleagues. Kevin was known for his unwavering commitment to excellence and his natural talent for problem-solving. He was a true leader who inspired his team to always aim for excellence and never settle for mediocrity.
“Our organization could never have been the same without Kevin, and his contributions will be remembered for years to come,” said Brad Carson, Chief Operating Officer of Complete Coach Works. “He was a trusted colleague who always had a solution to every problem. He truly embodied the values of our company and will be deeply missed.”
Kevin was more than just a great colleague and leader. He was a true friend to all who knew him, always ready to offer a listening ear or a helping hand to those in need. He possessed an exceptional ability to forge meaningful connections with people on a personal level. Beyond his professional accomplishments, Kevin was known for his warm personality and caring nature. He had a remarkable ability to uplift the spirits of those around him, making everyone feel at ease in his presence. Kevin’s kind heart, infectious laugh, and unique sense of humor left a lasting impression on everyone who crossed his path.
“Kevin was one of the most genuine and caring individuals I have ever met,” Brad continued. “He lived his life with honesty, integrity, and kindness, and he will always hold a special place in our hearts.”
Kevin’s passing is a great loss to the transportation industry and the community as a whole. His legacy will continue to live on through the countless lives he touched and the positive impact he had on those around him. He is survived by his loving children, siblings, nieces, nephews, and a large extended family. Our thoughts and deepest sympathies are with them during this difficult time. Rest in peace, Kevin. You will be deeply missed, but your memory will always be cherished in our hearts.
Details regarding the services to celebrate his life will be shared when they are available.
Complete Coach Works (CCW) has established a Disadvantaged Business Enterprise (DBE) Program in accordance with 49 CFR Part 26. For the purpose of this DBE Program, CCW proposes to set its overall goal utilizing all information available to it, including information available in CCW’s area of manufacturing operation and comments received from the public in response to this notice.
CCW has set a goal of 1.00% participation in DOT-assisted contracts FY2023. This proposed goal and its methodology are available for public inspection during regular business hours Monday through Friday, 8:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. (Pacific Time) at CCW’s corporate office located at 1863 Service Court, Riverside, CA 92507 for 30 days following the date of this notice. CCW and the FTA will accept comments on the goal for 45 days from the date of this notice. The goal may be adjusted depending upon comments received.
Comments may be addressed to:
Amber Lindsey, DBE Liaison Officer
Complete Coach Works
1863 Service Court
Riverside, CA 92507
Phone: (951) 684-9585
Email: [email protected]
Complete Coach Works (CCW) is actively pursuing experienced DBE firms who are interested in participating in transit bus rebuilding operations at its headquarters in Riverside, California. DBE opportunities include, but are not limited to, a range of goods and services for the remanufacture, rehabilitation, and retrofit of heavy-duty transit buses.
RIVERSIDE, CA –Complete Coach Works (CCW), the nation’s leading bus remanufacturer, has delivered the Sandy Area Metro’s (City of Sandy) first fully refurbished 2008 35-foot Gillig diesel transit bus. The project marks Sandy’s first bus remanufacture purchased through CCW’s Oregon statewide contract.
The project was completed at CCW headquarters in Riverside, CA. CCW equipped the bus with a clean-diesel Cummins ISL Recon engine and rebuilt Voith transmission. CCW then installed a new driver seat and flooring, interior and exterior LED lighting, and an ADA-compliant wheelchair ramp. The bus was painted and decaled to the City of Sandy’s specifications.
“We are honored to have worked with the City of Sandy through our Oregon statewide contract,” said Jim Paul, Regional Sales Manager of CCW. “Contracts like these help cities and agencies procure rebuilds on buses that have yet to reach maximum service life or to add remanufactured buses to fleets allowing them to meet service demands and route expansions. It is our goal to make the procurement process and bus refurbishment more convenient and cost-effective for our customers.”
The City of Sandy made the decision to purchase the remanufactured bus to strive for excellent customer service and reduce maintenance costs. The vehicle is designed to provide long-term service and riding comfort to the widest possible spectrum of passengers, including children, adults, the elderly, and people with disabilities.
“Passenger safety and comfort, the well-being of drivers, and the reliability of transit service are our highest priorities,” states Andi Howell, Transit Director, City of Sandy. “Remanufactured buses maintain the vital, robust components from the OEM construction, improve the vehicle’s operational performance, and extend service life, while helping our system save money and reduce downtime.”
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Complete Coach Works (CCW) headquartered in Riverside, CA, is the largest bus remanufacturing and rehabilitation company in the United States, with over 34 years in the transportation industry. A pioneer in the field of alternative fuel and hybrid vehicle technology, CCW has always worked to provide clean vehicles through innovative design and engineering, and it unveiled the world’s first remanufactured all-electric, battery-powered bus in 2012. For jobs of any size, CCW’s team of over 350 experts provide cutting-edge products and exceptional customer service.
In 2021, Complete Coach Works, along with Shuttle Bus Leasing, Transit Sales International and D/T Carson Enterprises, wholly-owned subsidiaries of Carson Capital Corp transitioned to an Employee Stock Ownership Corporation.
Sandy Area Metro (City of Sandy) began providing its transit services in the year 2000 with one transit vehicle to provide fixed route service between Sandy and Gresham. Thereafter, the service grew year by year with added commuter service between Sandy and Estacada in 2003, and fixed-route service. In 2008, the newly formed Sandy Transit Department provided increasing levels of service and saw a steep increase in ridership. Today, services continue to increase. Fares remain modest and fixed routes continue to be free within the city limits. Passes are offered at a reduced rate for frequent riders and in-town rides are free for ADA eligible seniors and persons with a disability.
The City of Sandy has a population of 12,612 (2020 U.S. Census) and is the commercial center of an eastern Clackamas County market area with a population of around 42,000 people. It is on the eastern edge of the Portland metro area and west of Mount Hood on the Barlow Road segment of the Oregon Trail, now known as U.S. Highway Route 26. Sandy has a thriving economic base, including many businesses serving visitors to the Mt. Hood Recreation Area. On the foothills of the Cascade Range, Sandy’s elevation varies from 750 to over 1,000 feet. Mount Hood shelters the city from the wind and ice storms experienced in the Columbia River gorge. The climate is mild, but as with the rest of Oregon west of the Cascades, it rains a lot in the winter. The rain falls as snow on Mount Hood, and Sandy, where residents enjoy the convenient nearby opportunities for skiing, snowboarding, and snowshoeing.
For more information, please contact Brad Carson at (800) 287-7253 or e-mail [email protected]
The Nation’s First 60-Foot Bus Rehabilitation to Battery Electric
Complete Coach Works installs proprietary battery-electric technology in an articulated bus for TriMet (Tri-County Metropolitan Transportation District of Oregon)
RIVERSIDE, CA, January 17, 2022— Complete Coach Works (CCW) breaks new ground in zero-emissions mass transit with the Nation’s first conversion of a 60-foot articulated diesel-powered bus to battery electric for TriMet.
CCW, the leading North American bus remanufacturer, combined the Voith Electrical Drive System (VEDS) with CCW’s own Zero Emission Propulsion System (ZEPS) battery technology to solve the electric conversion challenge in a 60-foot articulated workhorse transit bus.
Since 2012, CCW has converted more than 70, 30-foot, 35-foot, and 40-foot fossil fueled transit buses to battery electric. The company offers 403 kWh and 504 kWh lithium ion NMC battery packs.
CCW is thrilled to now offer customers a 605 kWh lithium ion NMC battery and powertrain solution to support larger and heavier vehicles that will easily haul their significantly higher passenger loads.
60-Foot Breakthrough
CCW converted the Nation’s first-ever 2007 60-foot New Flyer diesel-powered articulated transit bus to battery electric. The project included a complete restoration of TriMet’s bus, known as Desert Rose, to like-new condition with the ZEPS 605 kWh lithium ion NMC battery pack and the VEDS powertrain.
“We’ve worked with TriMet in the past converting three 40-foot low floor transit buses to battery-electric, but this was the first time facing a 60-foot articulated bus, which requires more energy storage than any previous conversion,” said Jim Paul, CCW’s Regional Sales Manager. “We’ve proven ourselves again in this accomplishment and thank our partners on the project. The advanced CCW batteries combined with VEDS provides the bus with a significantly longer operating range while maintaining its battery life.”
Keeping high-use, low-floor buses rolling and looking like new
Articulated buses not only carry more passengers, but generally provide a lower-floor design that offers greater passenger accessibility. TriMet’s 14-year-old refurbished bus not only features new passenger lightweight seating, flooring, fresh branding and LED exterior and interior lighting, it also provides a new ADA-compliant wheelchair ramp for faster passenger onboarding.
“Our process significantly extends the bus’s service life while providing a much quieter and zero-emission ride for Portland commuters,” said Jim. “The teamwork between CCW, TriMet and Voith not only moves TriMet’s bar higher on achieving its green initiatives, but paves the way for more agencies to adopt rehabbed electric buses as part of their fleets.”
TriMet is the 16th largest public transit agency in the United States and ninth in the nation in ridership per capita. In 2019, it committed to a clean energy fleet by the year 2040 and became the first U.S. transit agency to acquire battery-electric buses with charging stations completely powered by wind energy.
TriMet has begun extensive testing and evaluation of this inaugural 60-foot model on a Portland metro express route where the bus is already proving its reliability according to TriMet.
“TriMet is proud to partner with CCW in our quest to be the leading Transit Agency that leads the renewable energy drive, and Desert Rose has been a shining star — a Giant of a Rose. The performance numbers from this 60-foot articulated bus are unbelievable and we look forward to a continued partnership with CCW,” said Samuel Rumhizha, Director Bus Maintenance.
CCW’s ZEPS battery division, operated with sister company Transit Sales International, has developed the remanufactured all-electric bus by taking existing low-floor transit buses and remanufacturing them into like-new vehicles with their own proprietary all-electric drivetrain systems. Currently, ZEPS buses have logged four million passenger miles across the nation.
Learn more at ZEPSDrive.com