MVTArider

I saw a brief mention of this incident on the local news in Minneapolis as well. My first reaction was thinking Please tell me it wasn't an enthusiast...

More auctions: 3310 mnbid.mn.gov/productView/10845 3363 http://mnbid.mn.gov/productView/10889 3373 (pictures of 3363?) http://mnbid.mn.gov/productView/10847 7202 http://mnbid.mn.gov/productView/10848

Gold line ridership has increased to about 1600/day average for last month so a little improvement at least. I haven't taken the route 6 in years, but the new E Line replacing it will be a nice improvement in travel time, I look forward to checking it out. Despite an earlier announcement on the new XE60 starting service on the Gold Line in August I have not yet seen any operating. Meanwhile the C Line is basically all diesel now, aside for 8700 making it out for a shorter 4 trip service block on most days for the past two weeks. Let's hope the incoming fleet of Gillig EVs will be less leery to revenue service operation.

A few observations from while I was on the U campus today, 2008 BRT Hybrid 3825 is indeed still running, it's been fairly common on the 122. 3908 is another D60LF similar to 3901-3905. That has me curious if there are also a 3906-3907. The 2008 A300Ls are still showing up in service but just a few run during a typical day overall. From observing the tracker it seems like most of them are still active despite not being run every day. Cutaways 3807, 3808 seem to be newer Forest River bodies of some brand, I didn't get a great look at them.

These photos of United crew shuttle Gilligs were taken back on May 9th. All were taken through the window while sitting on a plane slowly taxiing out onto the runway at O'Hare, so not the clearest quality. I'm assuming they are operated in house by United or a subsidiary since they seem to lack any legals:

I don't mean to steal anyone's thunder, not sure if this enthusiast is active here or not, but here's an excellent video looking at the new 4200 series Gillig BRT+ RTA has been getting:

5 years from now I'm in Orlando getting photos of lime, red, pink and blue Solaris Urbino CNG units... Edit: before anyone starts rumors this is purely hypothetical thinking, I have not heard anything.

The 5000-6000 ridership estimate is also the 2040 daily ridership projection IIRC. Yes 1500/day is a bit low considering the service level and from what I've seen when riding there seems to be more demand during the morning and afternoons vs. a steady all day. If that continues then I won't be surprised if they make some minor adjustments to frequency in the future to 12 or 15 minutes at times vs. 10 all day. Downtown Saint Paul is also struggling, for example we currently have an abandoned condemned skyscraper that was a busy hub of work activity just 6-7 years ago, plus several vacancies in other buildings. Time will tell, but I'd expect demand for the Gold Line will increase if we get more occupancy downtown again, driving travel demand. It's a glitch unfortunately. I've also seen stuff like a Metro Transit XD60 allegedly operating on Southwest Transit 686, or random fleet numbers that don't exist for Metro Transit like 3900.

3852 is a 2025 Gillig BRT+ HEV 40', 3853 and 3854 also active, I'm assuming they are also 2025 BRT+ HEV based on the order for 3 but haven't visually confirmed. 3901-3905 have appeared recently on the tracker as well. Not sure what they are yet but likely 40' units as they have shown up on different routes. (I would guess new or used Gilligs, but maybe we got something different transferred to the U contract by Transdev?) Otherwise it appears several of the A300Ls are still active, along with all the 2008 and 2021 AG300s and the ex-MT/MTS 2012 Gilligs 3830-3835. 2008 Hybrid 3825 was on the 125 last week, but I'd guess it's going away soon or gone now that the 39xx's are running.

Considering the service it's replacing I'm a little surprised they went with a coach instead of just acquiring a couple secondhand Novas or Flyers, if that's all the company is going to be doing. I would think the efficiency of loading/unloading a transit vs. a coach multiple times during a service block would be a positive benefit. On the plus side the coach will mean a more comfortable ride and seats to sit in during traffic waits. I guess if they do plan to have some sort of proximity connection to intercity coaches on either side then having luggage capacity would also be beneficial.

Photo of 4144 from the MVTA 7/30 Board Meeting packet: There will also be changes coming to routes 420 and 436 with the September 2nd service change.

New Metro Bus service network design to begin at some point in 2026: Metro Bus Forward Also in the June 17th, 2025 Board Meeting: May 20th, 2025 Board Meeting: 3 new buses from New Flyer were also delivered mid-2024: (minutes)

Those are VMC Vicinity Classic 38', likely 2021. They sent a few to MSP to operate the flight crew and employee shuttles for a couple years until the order of ENC EZ Rider 35' arrived. Incidentally all of the EZ Riders here have that same 100 year scheme wrap, but just solid blue in the rear without photos.

Nice, I do wonder how it would look with the livery stripe widened to cover the entire top though. At least they're staying with the more modern black frameless window band instead of going back to the 1980s aluminum frame look. I'm a little surprised they went with the LF+ since there's nothing on the roof to obscure. Thanks for posting!

320 is very likely either ex-Metro Transit or if no rear door ex-Plymouth Metrolink. I wonder if they bought 305 from ABC directly, or if there was another operator in between. Those ex-Rapid units were all sent back to ABC when First/UMN PTS were done using them which has me suspecting they were more of a lease than a purchase.

Procurement via State of Washington contract for 128 biodiesel Gilligs: https://metrocouncil.org/Council-Meetings/Committees/Transportation-Committee/2025/June-23,-2025/2025-143-pwrpt.aspx

Nice to hear the 8200s have the new vinyl seats, I'm guessing the 81xx units will be eventually refreshed with them as well when they get their overhauls. It appears the 54's assigned bus class is now artic. Since the service change Saturday almost all runs have been operated with D60LFR and 34xx XD60. I'm assuming this is in part due to several regular route artics no longer being needed on former 21, along with the 8200s entering active service and displacing regular 'spare' artics from the D line. Still no news on the new Gillig order I'm assuming. I'm also wondering if they'll need to get replacements for the 8xxx A line units in a couple years since those have had such a heavy service life. Although they could also just start assigning some of the rapid artic fleet as well.

Mass Transit: Phoenix Motor, ADASTEC to develop and deploy 40-foot BEBs with Level 4 automated driving capabilities

It will be interesting to see if ENC expands their market a bit compared to previously if under new ownership they are able to perhaps pursue larger contracts. It seemed like they were starting on an upswing in recent years with larger orders from Pace and LA plus the continued hold on airport shuttle/university contract/small transit orders.

Metro Transit (MN) switched to a 14 year planned replacement cycle years ago so AATA isn't the only one to make the change.

More 2011 Gilligs getting disposed of, all except perhaps 1291 appear to be likely scrap due to missing engine/parts/damage: 1255 1263 1269 1291 1296 Also to note, this morning March 5th, 2025 all bus service was suspended until after rush hour due to a major snowstorm that hit the Twin Cities overnight.

I went down to visit Rochester on a sunny afternoon a couple weeks ago. The latest orders of 40' units have switched back to the standard Low Floor style, albeit with the new City of Rochester arrow RPT livery. There was only one XE60 out during the afternoon peak and it wasn't showing on the tracker so I only managed one slightly blurred shot. The XE60 appear to operate only on the 550X currently. RPT reduced their express routes to 150X and 550X. 150X serves the former ShopKo North plaza lot and is operated with one bus doing a loop. 550X serves the new 75th St park and Ride in the north and the Fairgrounds lot to the south. Rochester is in the process of starting a new 'BRT' service, which the 4 XE60 are anticipated to operate on. This line (LINK) should be operational in 2026. It will serve the major downtown corridor on 2nd between St. Marys and Mayo. I suspect it will also be replacing the Mayo clinic intercampus shuttle, though I'm not certain. Also a couple photos of the Groome ARBOCS doing their thing on the Mayo Clinic shuttles: I'll likely head back down there again this summer to fan some more when the afternoon sun angle isn't so harsh.

The 80xx Gilligs on the A Line are getting the seat upholstery replaced with new vinyl padded covers. Plain blue color, but with a nice diamond texture pattern embossed on top which gives the seat a good grippy hold so ya don't go sliding out whenever the bus stops. I'm glad they're going with this option instead of rigid plastic panels. Also, I rode the recently reinstated 223 today, 6 other riders on the trip I was on. 3 riders got off when it arrived at Maplewood Mall TC on the previous trip. While that's just one observation it's still good to see the added service coverage being used.

Mass Transit: Decatur Public Transit rolls out new electric hybrid buses Perhaps this is old news by now but this is the first I've heard of this advanced hybrid battery tech being paired with diesel. If the fully electric range capability is true in real world operation this makes more sense IMHO than trying to do hydrogen.

A few shots of the ex-MTS/MT Gilligs and a cutaway on interim service schedule, taken last week: It appears 3830-3835 were issued MN Tax Exempt plates, so that likely means they are owned by the UofMN and were not directly purchased by TransDev.