Mike Costa Honored with ABA Next Era Leadership Council Disruptive Innovation Award
Inaugural award celebrates innovation in the bus and motorcoach industry
The American Bus Association’s (ABA) Next Era Leadership Council (NELC) recognized Mike Costa, an industry leader at Yankee Line, with the Council’s inaugural Disruptive Innovation Award, sponsored by ABC Companies. The award was presented during the ABA Board of Directors meeting before the start of ABA’s annual Marketplace event, held this year in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. This honor celebrates individuals who drive meaningful change in the motorcoach industry through technological advancements, business sustainability, and government advocacy.
Costa, a veteran of the motorcoach industry with 24 years of experience, has been instrumental in transforming Yankee Line into a model of efficiency, safety, and customer service innovation. Under his leadership, Yankee Line redefined passenger experiences by implementing groundbreaking solutions like the Betterez digital ticketing platform. This technology has revolutionized the company’s reservation system, offering customers greater flexibility, reducing wait times, and providing a seamless booking process.
Beyond enhancing the customer journey, Costa has played a key role in fostering critical government partnerships. His efforts led to Yankee Line securing contracts with the Washington Metropolitan Area Transit Authority (WMATA) and the Massachusetts Bay Transportation Authority (MBTA), ensuring uninterrupted transit services during significant infrastructure projects. In executing these large-scale projects, Costa actively engaged small, women-owned, minority-owned, and disadvantaged business subcontractors, reinforcing his commitment to economic inclusion within the transportation sector. This inclusive approach directly benefited many American Bus Association operators. It strengthened Yankee Line’s role as a trusted public transit partner, showcasing Costa’s dedication to collaboration and economic resilience within the industry.
Costa’s dedication to safety has been a cornerstone of his leadership. He has instituted comprehensive driver training programs and stringent safety protocols, positioning Yankee Line as a trusted provider of high-security transportation. These initiatives underscore his commitment to operational excellence and passenger well-being.
A strong advocate for sustainability, Costa has also pioneered environmentally responsible initiatives at Yankee Line. He spearheaded the deployment of the MCI J4500 CHARGE electric coach at the 2022 U.S. Open, successfully demonstrating the viability of zero-emission, high-capacity transportation at large-scale events. This move highlights Costa’s foresight in aligning the industry with eco-friendly innovations.
Mike Costa has redefined expectations within the motorcoach industry through his advancements in customer service, safety, operational expansion, government advocacy, and sustainability. His leadership in customer-centered planning, strategic government partnerships, rigorous operational standards, and eco-conscious practices embodies all pillars of the Next Era Leadership Council. Costa’s contributions to Yankee Line exemplify disruptive innovation, creating lasting, positive change that resonates beyond transportation.
The ABA NELC Disruptive Innovation Award acknowledges leaders who challenge conventional norms and introduce transformative solutions. Costa’s achievements embody this vision, making him a well-deserving recipient of the inaugural award. His forward-thinking approach continues to set new benchmarks in the motorcoach industry, ensuring a more efficient, sustainable, and customer-centric future.
