What if your next transit bus could do the heavy lifting of a daily route and turn heads on Main Street?
That's the idea behind our newest option: the Hometown Low Floor Urban bus, now available with the Heritage Trolley Package. It's the same heavy-duty, low-floor transit bus agencies rely on, with the classic trolley styling Hometown has been known for since 1978, inside and out.
For transit agencies, cities, campuses and resorts, it means you no longer have to choose between a workhorse and a showpiece. You can have both in one vehicle, built by one family-owned team in Crandon, Wisconsin.
Riders Are Coming Back, and Buses Are Leading the Way
Public transit in America is on a steady climb. Here's where things stand, according to the American Public Transportation Association (APTA):
- 7.66 billion trips in 2024. That's up 59% from 4.81 billion trips in 2021.
- More than 2.1 billion trips in Q2 2026 alone, about 3.5% more than the same quarter in 2025.
- 34 million times every weekday, someone in the U.S. boards public transportation.
- Buses led the recovery. In spring 2025, bus ridership had returned to 86% of pre-pandemic levels, and small cities and rural areas had reached 88%.
That last point matters for communities like the ones we serve. Growth isn't only happening in big-city subway systems. It's happening on bus routes in small and mid-sized towns, where the right vehicle can make a real difference.
Why the Look of a Bus Matters
Reliable schedules and smart routes will always be the foundation of good transit. But the vehicle itself shapes whether someone decides to give transit a try.
A trolley does something a standard bus rarely does: it makes people smile. Families take photos with it. Visitors seek it out. Residents start to see it as part of their town's identity. That kind of connection lowers the barrier for first-time and occasional riders, who are often the hardest to win over.
It's one reason Hometown trolleys have been shown to increase ridership by 30% or more. The Heritage Trolley Package brings that same welcoming first impression to a full-size, heavy-duty transit bus.
Trolley Character, Inside and Out
The Heritage Trolley Package lets you choose how much trolley character the Urban carries, from the curb to the cabin.
Exterior touches:
- A rooftop cupola for the iconic trolley silhouette
- Exterior wood accents for hand-crafted warmth
- Pinstriping for a timeless, polished finish
- A gong bell that announces your arrival the old-fashioned way
Interior options:
- Trolley-style seat ends for a classic look down the aisle
- Square or arched windows to set the style you want
- Brass or stainless hand railing in the finish that fits your fleet
- Gong bell stop requests so every stop rings with nostalgic trolley charm
What doesn't change is everything that makes the Urban a serious transit vehicle. It's built on our proven low-floor chassis structure, and the Urban itself has completed federal Altoona bus testing at Penn State.
The low floor makes boarding easier for riders using wheelchairs, walkers or strollers. And because it's mechanically friendly and operator favorable, your drivers and maintenance crews will appreciate it as much as your riders do.
Why not just choose our Streetcar? If you want the full turn-of-the-century experience from bumper to bumper, the Streetcar is still the way to go. It's a trolley through and through, designed from the ground up around hand-crafted, cable-car-inspired charm. The Urban with the Heritage Trolley Package starts as a modern transit bus and lets you choose how much trolley character to add, from a few exterior touches to brass railings and gong bell stop requests inside. That flexibility makes it easy to fit into a mixed fleet while still standing out at the curb. In short: choose the Streetcar when the ride itself is the attraction, and the Urban with the Heritage Package when you want an everyday workhorse with as much charm as your route calls for.
Built for Communities That Want More From Transit
The Urban with the Heritage Package is a natural fit for:
- Transit agencies that want a fixed-route bus riders actually notice
- Downtown circulators that double as a draw for shops and restaurants
- Universities and medical campuses moving large numbers of people every day
- Resorts, airports and tourism districts where the ride is part of the guest experience
Transit investment pays off well beyond the bus stop. APTA reports that every $1 invested in public transportation generates $5 in economic returns, and 87% of transit trips have a direct impact on the local economy. Riders are heading to work, shop, eat and explore.
It's also a smart move for riders' wallets. APTA estimates a household can save more than $13,000 a year by taking transit and living with one less car. A vehicle that gets more people to try transit helps spread those benefits further.
Let's Build Yours
Whether you're adding to a transit fleet or launching a route that becomes a local landmark, the Urban with the Heritage Package gives you the best of both worlds. Explore the Low Floor Urban, browse our Trolleys, or talk with our Consulting team about your route. You can also call us at 1 (715) 301-0149.
American made. Family built. Ready for your hometown.
