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Valley Metro (Phoenix)


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With the schedule that they have for the Arizona Ave. LINK, as well as the schedule for the Main St. LINK, it seems like they have an awful lot of "spare" capacity. Is there any chance that some of the D62LFAs and/or D40LFAs get repainted into the "local" livery and operate local routes?

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Tempe appears to "lease" the mid-upper 663Xs-6647 from the RPTA for use on the 510, 512, 72, and 81. Also, the 4002-403X 1994 D40LFs were transferred from Phoenix to the RPTA back in the day.

6631-6647 are RPTA operated by Veolia-Tempe. RPTA has a mileage rate with Veolia-Tempe which is slightly higher than Veolia-Mesa. Some of the 6246-6261 bunch are the same way. Apparently Veolia-Tempe can substitute any bus on a RPTA route.

In 2004 Phoenix loaned 6074-6084 and 3727 to RPTA, and 6085-87 in 2005. RPTA loaned 4173-4175 to Phoenix (for START) in 2005. I have not seen these NABIs with RPTA in a few years.

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6631-6647 are RPTA operated by Veolia-Tempe. RPTA has a mileage rate with Veolia-Tempe which is slightly higher than Veolia-Mesa. Some of the 6246-6261 bunch are the same way. Apparently Veolia-Tempe can substitute any bus on a RPTA route.

In 2004 Phoenix loaned 6074-6084 and 3727 to RPTA, and 6085-87 in 2005. RPTA loaned 4173-4175 to Phoenix (for START) in 2005. I have not seen these NABIs with RPTA in a few years.

That makes sense. That's also why the C40LFRs aren't operated on other Tempe routes.

As far as 6074-6087, they're back in service with Phoenix and went back to Phoenix around the time the 2006 C40LFRs arrived on RPTA property. The surplus buses has allowed Phoenix to retire some of its worst conditioned 1998 NABI 40LFWs.

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I havn't seen any in Phoenix for myself either, so I can't verify that there are any over there but then again I don't get over there very often.

The following NABI's have been sold online: 6007 6008 6014 6103 6105 6109 6119 6106 6110 6126 6096 6118

and as mentioned above, 6113 is currently up for sale.

Wow, that's interesting news.

I shot #6014 myself while at MetroCenter, don't recall what route it was on, though. This was back in 2007.

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Wow, that's interesting news.

I shot #6014 myself while at MetroCenter, don't recall what route it was on, though. This was back in 2007.

It's interesting to me too, I would be interested to see where they go as it seems to me that LNG fueling stations are few and far between out here.

I rode 6103 on the 44 back in '08, it kept stalling all the way up 44th st:

VM6103.jpg

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There are D62LFAs on the Arizona Avenue LINK sometimes. I was on one of them last week, and it was bus number 8513.

By the way, here are the vins for the D62LFAs from 2008:

8511 5FYD7YU108B034244

8512 5FYD7YU128B034245

8513 5FYD7YU148B034246

8514 5FYD7YU168B034247

8515 5FYD7YU188B034248

8516 5FYD7YU1X8B034249

8517 5FYD7YU168B034250

8518 5FYD7YU188B034251

8519 5FYD7YU1X8B034252

8520 5FYD7YU118B034253

Stalwart23

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  • 3 weeks later...

Alright guys so today I saw an all white New Flyer Xcelsior heading northbound on Scottsdale Rd. near Roosevelt St. in Scottsdale. It had part of "Not in Service" displayed on the destination display, and half of it looked to be dysfunctional.

Anybody know anything about this? I assume Valley Metro are doing some testing, I know that Scottsdale/Rural road is supposed to be getting a Link-style BRT upgrade over the next few years.

I was getting on another bus at the time so no chance to take a pic. It was just strange to see a transit bus with a back window in Phoenix!!!!

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Anybody know anything about this? I assume Valley Metro are doing some testing, I know that Scottsdale/Rural road is supposed to be getting a Link-style BRT upgrade over the next few years.

The Rural Road BRT has been pushed back to 2026 or later. I remember when the current RPTA contract with New Flyer was bid, it included standard buses and BRTs, but not Excelsiors. But I did see 6669 being loaded onto the back of a flat bed on Baseline a week ago.....

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The Rural Road BRT has been pushed back to 2026 or later. I remember when the current RPTA contract with New Flyer was bid, it included standard buses and BRTs, but not Excelsiors. But I did see 6669 being loaded onto the back of a flat bed on Baseline a week ago.....

New Flyer has discontinued the manufacture of the LFA model. Hence, why, WMATA's latest batch of hybrids are Xcelsiors.

It's plausible that the LFAs on order (if there are any additional on order) may end up being Xcelsiors.

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  • 1 month later...

To go along with the vin of bus #7003, here are the rest of the vins for the D40LFA bus for Valley Metro.

7001: 5FYD7FV14AC037053

7002: 5FYD7FV16AC037054

7004: 5FYD7FV1XAC037056

7005: 5FYD7FV11AC037057

7006: 5FYD7FV13AC037058

7007: 5FYD7FV15AC037059

7008: 5FYD7FV11AC037060

7009: 5FYD7FV13AC037061

There were only nine buses of this type built in April 2010, but they weren't put into service until the Arizona Avenue LINK started operations.

They can also be found sometimes on the Main Street LINK since then.

Stalwart23

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I now have the vins for the rest of the L40LFRs except for one for Valley Metro.

6670: 5FYC5FB119C036458

6671: 5FYC5FB139C036459

6672: 5FYC5FB1X9C036460

6673: 5FYC5FB119C036461

6674: 5FYC5FB139C036462

I don't have the one for #6675, but it may have been built in 2010.

These buses are mostly found on Route 72-Scottsdale/Rural in Tempe, Scottsdale, and Chandler.

Stalwart23

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Greetings:

Can someone provide information or a link to information about Phoenix's oeprating divisions? RPTA, Veolia Tempe, Veolia Mesa, which divisions operate what, what buses are assigned to it, etc., etc....

Thanks!

Try typing Valley Metro (Phoenix) into Wikipedia and Valley Metro (Phoenix) bus fleet into Wikipedia.

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  • 2 months later...

I guess Mesa are repainting D62LFA's into the silver livery to use on local routes, here's 8512 on the 30

IMAG0001.jpg

Sorry about the quality, I was driving along when I took the picture!

Does anyone know if any others have been repainted yet?

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These are the full VINs and their fleet numbers for the New Flyer 2007 D40LF & D60LF buses for Phoenix, AZ.

D40LF:

5FYD4FV187C031404-31467 6501-6564

5FYD4FV197C031749-31780 6565-6596

D60LF:

5FYD4YW117C032047-32076 8021-8050

The D40LFs are powered by a Cummins ISL engine, while the 2007 D60LFs are powered by a Caterpillar C9.

As a added bonus, here are the 2007 D40LFR VINs:

5FYD5FV107B031724-31727 6453-6456

5FYD5FV117B031523-31526 6457-6460

5FYD5FV197B031527-31546 6481-6500

The D40LFRs also have Cummins ISL engines, and I have seen them around the East Valley in Mesa.

I have no information on the VINs for the 2008 D60LF buses #8051-8070. I do not know if they are powered by a Caterpillar C9 or a Cummins ISM engine. If anyone has the serial numbers for those buses, you're welcome to post it.

Stalwart23

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  • 1 month later...

I was wondering, does anyone have a current fleet roster for Valley Metro of Phoenix? I need this info for I can update the CPTDB Wiki as well as Wikipedia.

I know that the Tempe ElDorado E-Z Riders have recently been retired. However, any other buses on listed as current on either CPDTB or Wikipedia been retired?

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One thing I noticed this weekend is that there are definitely a number of ElDorado's running on the 76.. in both Scottsdale Trolley livery and Valley Metro livery. From what I understand this route is operated by Dunn Transportation and not Veolia Tempe. I saw 4147 on Miller in VM livery complete with new seat cushions so I assume these will be around for a while.

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One thing I noticed this weekend is that there are definitely a number of ElDorado's running on the 76.. in both Scottsdale Trolley livery and Valley Metro livery. From what I understand this route is operated by Dunn Transportation and not Veolia Tempe. I saw 4147 on Miller in VM livery complete with new seat cushions so I assume these will be around for a while.

Yes, 76 has not been a Valley Metro run for a year now. And 4147 is a Scottsdale bus, so it could have been placed with Dunn. But the EZ Riders are LNG, so they have to get fueled somewhere.

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  • 2 weeks later...
I now have the vins for the rest of the L40LFRs except for one for Valley Metro.

6670: 5FYC5FB119C036458

6671: 5FYC5FB139C036459

6672: 5FYC5FB1X9C036460

6673: 5FYC5FB119C036461

6674: 5FYC5FB139C036462

I don't have the one for #6675, but it may have been built in 2010.

These buses are mostly found on Route 72-Scottsdale/Rural in Tempe, Scottsdale, and Chandler.

Stalwart23

After careful analysis from riding two of these L40LFRs on route 72 between Chandler and Scottsdale today. These are the correct vins for the L40LFRs for the city of Tempe.

6669: 5FYL5FB149C036437

6670: 5FYL5FB169C036438

6671: 5FYL5FB189C036439

6672: 5FYL5FB149C036440

6673: 5FYL5FB169C036441

6674: 5FYL5FB189C036442

6675: 5FYL5FB1X9C036443

When riding one of those buses, I notice the builders plate above and behind the driver had an L for the fuel type, not a C, which means it's LNG. This definitely closes the gap in the information on these buses.

BTW, I hope to see the new DE60LFRs and C40LFRs for the City of Tempe once they start running regularly on their respective routes.

Stalwart23

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  • 2 months later...

With the downturn in the economy, more TAs are simply resorting to awarding contracts to the lowest bidder instead of their preferred brand, and Gillig has surely been benefiting from this since they are frequently the lowest bidder when it comes to RFPs, despite not always being the most compliant with the RFP.

I was wondering, could the next order from Valley Metro be for Gillig buses? The latest order for the New Flyer C40LFRs and DE60LFRs will replace most of the Veolia-Tempe NABI LFWs. However, the Veolia-RPTA NABI LFWs will need replacement as well, and I was thinking, could that contract be a potential win for Gillig? Gillig now makes CNG buses, and perhaps this would be a possible opportunity for Gillig to win an order from Valley Metro. The only Gilligs Valley Metro has bought in the past were 1994 Gillig Phantoms, which were retired in 2004. I don't know if Gillig still bids for Valley Metro contracts, however, with the downturn in the economy, if Gillig provided a sweet deal, Valley Metro might simply take it.

Interestingly, most other Arizona TAs seem to be loyal to Gillig, including Sun Tran in Tucson and Mountain Line in Flagstaff. But Valley Metro could perhaps be a big win for Gillig.

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Look for El Dorado to make a strong push to win it, especially after they got screwed by the city of Phoenix, not necessarily by Valley Metro.

It would be interesting if Valley Metro went with the ElDorado Axess for Veolia-RPTA. If ElDorado wins this contract, I hope those Axess buses will hold up.

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