Transportation Business



Transportation Business

Introduction

Public transportation (also known as transit or mass transit) is a transportation system designed to move large numbers of people to familiar destinations. It is critically important to metropolitan economies and environments. Public transportation comes in many forms, with many local eccentricities. Modes include paratransit, buses, streetcars and trams, heavy rail and metros, and commuter rails. Buses are typically 45-50 passenger vehicles that travel fixed routes on fixed schedules. In most public transportation networks, they are the backbone of transit. Buses come in a variety of shapes and sizes, from double-decker models to articulated buses (extra-long buses with a central pivot). Buses are typically fueled by diesel; however, smog problems in congested cities have driven transit agencies to substitute compressed natural gas buses (CNG) or modified vehicles to run on overhead electric lines. Bus service is typically managed by a federal agency, affiliated with either a regional government or a municipal government, although some cities have experimented with privatized transit to offset expenses. Compared to paratransit, buses offer opportunities to carry more passengers per unit, thus eliminating vehicle trips (Vuchic, 2009).

However, buses are not as flexible as paratransit and are normally run on tight schedules along major commercial thoroughfares. Compared to rail services, buses offer more flexibility in routes, as there are no concerns over rights-of-way and tracks. However, buses are considered the slowest form of transit, as they are often mired in (and contribute to) inner-city traffic congestion. In the next section, we will select a transportation company or firm that does business with the federal government, we will also discuss the required actions that enable our selected firm to be able to participate in the federal government contracting actions. Finally, we will, analyze the operations and functions of the key participants in the federal procurement process and assess our selected firm's ability to satisfy expected requirement.

Company Description

Red Star is a transportation firm that provides bus service in Mexico. The company does most of its business in collaboration with the federal government. Red Star was founded in 1945 by a group of entrepreneurs. It provided transport services between the city of Puebla and Mexico City, concessions by the federal government, with 20 permits. Buses were run by the former federal highway. In 1962, Red Star acquired a modern fleet of buses for this service. By 1963, it had 50 buses, the growth of the company continued as they built a new terminal in Mexico City. In 1985, Red Star established a new service between Puebla and the Airport of Mexico City. Thanks to good service and a growing public need, it was provided an excellent option for air travelers. In 1988, the company inaugurated the bus station of Puebla (UPAC). It was an opportunity to be a more competitive company (Newman, 2009).

In 1991, before the federal motor carrier deregulation, Red Star started the First Class service and in 1992, introduced 2 new ways to open new avenues for the company. The Airport Express service was consolidated and ...