Editor’s Note – September/October 2024

The September/October 2024 issue of Busline Magazine features a special section dedicated to the publication’s first annual “Women To Recognize In Busing” award. The section highlights female leaders in the public and private bus industries whose accomplishments have set a solid foundation for all women to succeed in the future.

This year’s inaugural winner is Suzanne Thornburg, President & CEO of Alabama-based Capital Motor Lines DBA Capital Trailways and Colonial Trailways. She was chosen from 23 nominees.

“I’m kind of a ‘jack of all trades,’ and honestly, I wouldn’t have it any other way,” Thornburg said. “I enjoy rolling up my sleeves and helping anyway I can. That is what I love about our entire team of employees, everybody here has the same mentality of working together.

“I also enjoy being part of different bus-related organizations, helping to promote the importance of our industry.”

Although the first part of her career was spent in banking, Thornburg has become a big believer in the growing number of career opportunities available today for women in the bus industry.

“More women are being supported in their efforts to make a difference in this line of work,” she said. “It’s essential to continue creating a level of awareness and letting the public know women are working in a variety of roles when it comes to bus transportation, including management.”

Busline Magazine would like to thank Suzanne Thornburg for her hard work and dedication to the bus industry. We would also like to recognize the other nominees for this first-ever award. Their stories can also be read in this issue’s special section.

The cover story for this issue focuses on Fillmore Area Transit Corporation, better known today as Sun Shuttle & Transit. The company’s name transformation reflects the many changes it has overcome throughout its 51-year history while operating in the Central Coast region of California.

“We realized that for those customers who lived outside of Fillmore, CA, it was hard for them to understand the logic behind the name ‘Fillmore Area Transit Corporation,’” Owner Bill Morris said. “Since one of our long-term goals is to have a fleet of electric buses, the name ‘Sun Shuttle & Transit’ made more sense going forward. That name ‘travels well’ no matter where we go as a transportation provider.”

Today, Sun Shuttle & Transit provides three basic services: Transportation for Special Needs Adults; School Bus Transportation; and, Private Charters. The company primarily serves Ventura, Santa Barbara, and San Luis Obispo counties, located in the southern portion of California’s six-county Central Coast area.

The second feature of this issue celebrates the 50^th anniversary of Laketran, which provides public transportation services in Lake County, OH. Since its inception, the people in charge of Laketran have been committed to providing transportation for all county residents, with a special emphasis placed on senior citizens and people with disabilities.

“I joke that people today talk about on-demand microtransit being the ‘next big thing,’ but we’ve been operating a similar service since 1986,” Laketran CEO Ben Capelle said, during a recent interview. “Our on-demand Dial-a-Ride service is open to any resident of Lake County, and it’s something we have been doing for a very long time. The service is provided throughout the county as well as to medical facilities in nearby Cleveland, OH.”

Laketran also provides local fixed-route and commuter Park-n-Ride services. The latter is conducted to and from Lake County and downtown Cleveland.

I would like to thank everyone for their continued support of Busline Magazine. Please send news items and story ideas to: harrellk@rdgmedia.net.

Harrell Kerkhoff

Editor, Busline Magazine