cschnur15 Posted April 5, 2019 Report Share Posted April 5, 2019 I believe the 1991 Orion IIs were the first MCT buses. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
cschnur15 Posted June 3, 2019 Report Share Posted June 3, 2019 http://pics.killerbotics.com/ebay/bus.html Found a 1997 Ford Turtletop on a google search.. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
cschnur15 Posted July 20, 2019 Report Share Posted July 20, 2019 Also a Madison County Transit Employee and Friend, told me that MCT has ordered 42 new 29 (30") footer transit buses. The buses will be Gillig's. Have no other information. These 42 new buses will wipe out the current fleet of 3001-3037. Replacement is predicted to start in Fall 2020, When the 2010s are 10 years old. And I would imagine that they will replace the ones with high mileage, most mechanical issues first. No word on the 35's (3501-3504), or the 40's (4001-4035) yet. But I would imagine it wouldn't be too long. Also the ACT Runabout buses are expected to be replaced by the end of this year. These are 2013 Chevy Turtletops. They are also in the process of replacing the approximately 22 Driver Relief cars, which are 2016 Ford Focus's (525-543) with 2019 Ford Fusion's (560-577). As well as the Road Supervisor's (TSM's) vans from 2016 Dodge Caravans (518-522) to 2019 Dodge Caravans (549-554). All vehicles will be auctioned off eventually. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
cschnur15 Posted September 27, 2019 Report Share Posted September 27, 2019 September 2019 update, MCT has released the 2020-2024 Fiscal Budget, on that Budget in 2020 there buying 42 new 30 Footer Gillig Buses there supposed to buy 9+4+9+10+5 and add 5 to the fleet, as of now there are only 37 30 footers, (3001-3037) Total to replace all 37 30 footers is $20,254,300. Then the Paratransit buses 161-189 are slated to all be replaced by the end of 2020 with the total of 29 new units, $3,461,900. Nothing planned for 2021 besides new ridefinders vans $226.000, road supervisor vehicles $100,000, and maintmance vehicles ($200,000). In 2022 all 35, 40 footers (4001-4035) are slated to be replaced and adding 5 new 40 footer Gillig buses totaling ($24,670,500) for 39 40 footers. This money comes from MCT's local county and fare money, as well as many FTA and CMAQ grants. That's what's in store for the next 4 years, Now moving on to current and past information... ACT (Paratransit) 179 and 180 were both retired, 179 was totalled in an Accident, and 180 was retired for ??. 190 and 191, both 2020 Ford Turtletop Oddessys will replace them. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
cschnur15 Posted January 4, 2020 Report Share Posted January 4, 2020 The first of 42 new 29 footer Gillig's. They are continueing the current number system. Sent to me by a delievery driver for Gillig. First buses should be here by end of next week. 4 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Border City Transit Posted January 4, 2020 Report Share Posted January 4, 2020 19 minutes ago, cschnur15 said: The first of 42 new 29 footer Gillig's. They are continueing the current number system. Sent to me by a delievery driver for Gillig. First buses should be here by end of next week. Thanks. MCT's green-and-black is a cool, unusual paint scheme -- one of the few that actually makes a Gillig look decent. Though I still miss their New Flyers! 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
cschnur15 Posted January 15, 2020 Report Share Posted January 15, 2020 Here is the interior of 3038 the first new 29 footer BRT to arrive to MCT's garage. And the new Prime+ seating. Picture courtesy of Madison County Transit (MCT) Facebook page. 5 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MVTArider Posted January 16, 2020 Report Share Posted January 16, 2020 Those solid seats are getting popular. Metro Transit is converting all the light-rail seats to hard panels instead of upholstered panels as well. Not as comfy, but it does make for a cheaper to maintain and cleaner seat. 2 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
cschnur15 Posted February 15, 2020 Report Share Posted February 15, 2020 I got the opportunity Thursday to ride the first new 29 footer 3038 and I will say it was a very very nice and smooth ride! These new buses feature, driver sheilds, all electronic gauge cluster (Execpt air gauge), White Luminator Horizon (Front, side, and rear signs), American Seating Prime+ seats with American Seating's new step railing, and the words "STOP" when the driver hits the breaks in the rear. 3038 currently has around 3k miles. 3039 arrived yesterday, and 3040 arrived the day before yesterday. 3016 was retired the day before yesterday due to mechanics tired of dealing with it. 3038 wasn't suppose to enter service till mid-late spring, but they retired 3016 and had a saftey inspection last week. Anyway, these pictures are no means good quality. But I wanted to share something with everyone here in the forms. 3 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
cschnur15 Posted February 20, 2020 Report Share Posted February 20, 2020 3001 was retired on Tuesday, some kind of leak. 3041, 3042, 3043, and 3044 have also been delivered. Unknown unit was spotted about 4 hours from the garage. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
cschnur15 Posted February 29, 2020 Report Share Posted February 29, 2020 I got the opportunity to ride 3038 on the #10 today! Also got some great pictures of it! Didn't have time to get pictures of the interior unfortunately. 2 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
cschnur15 Posted March 7, 2020 Report Share Posted March 7, 2020 Update: 3001-3009, 3016 and 3025 is retired. 3008 and 3025 were retired last night. 3025 was not supposed to be retired for a while, because it only had around 460,000 miles and it's a 2012. But the maintmance team decided to retire it. 3038-3047 are in service. These new buses have been having issues with the Clever Devices (DCU) that currently controls the sign. If the bus is on a bumpy or route that has high up railroad crossings the DCU disconnects. But it's new technology so it's expected. As of now MCT is on a 10 year/590k miles retirement policy. Now with the 40's it will be 11 to 12 years. No plans right now to replace them till at least late 2021 early 2022. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Chris H Posted March 7, 2020 Author Report Share Posted March 7, 2020 I remember when those 35 foot Gilligs were new and MCT was getting rid of the New Flyers. Now its interesting to see them getting rid of those 2010s and getting 2020s that are almost identical. I wish they would get the Xcelsior to replace the 40 footers, but only in my dreams. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
cschnur15 Posted March 7, 2020 Report Share Posted March 7, 2020 Wow! Yeah, MCT isn't buying 35 footers this coming up 40 footer order. They have been nothing but mechanical issues the past few years. Instead of buying 35's, they will order 4 more 40 footers. They have been putting the 35's on the 1 Riverbend , 1X Riverbend Express (Occasionaly), 17 Cougar Shuttle, and 18 Collinsville Regional on Saturday and Sunday's. On the weekend the 1 is ran by the 30 footers and the 17 is ran by whatever is on the 22, which 9/10 times it's a Ford Turtletop. Today, 3045 was on the 1. Usually they only put the 2010's and 2011's on Saturday's, but since we are so low on them they had to put a few new buses out today. Anyway, speaking of the Xcelsior, in 2016 MCT tested one. I was told that the mechanics hated it. I think they also don't get them, because the Gillig's are all the same to work on, and the fleet matches. 2 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
cschnur15 Posted April 8, 2020 Report Share Posted April 8, 2020 Update for April, MCT has recieved 28 new 2020 Gillig BRT's. 14 are still awating assembly at Gillig. 3038-3063 are inservice, 3064 -3066 are awaiting fareboxes and DCU's, they may already have them. 3001-3024 are completely retired. 3025,3026 and 3036 are also retired. That's all the new news for the new buses and retirements. MCT has handled the COVID-19 epidemic real well, they have done Saturday schedule, have two drivers on each bus (one to drive and one to clean when the bus gets to the ending point), they rotate days on and off, and give the drivers Clorox wipes and sanitizer. The overnight mechanics who assign buses to the routes have been putting only the 29's and 40's out. A few Ford Turtle top's have been put out for the small areas and low riders. They have also been putting capacity signs on the front window of all buses, They have been limiting how many passengers can be on each bus. For example.. The 25 footer (Ford Turtle top's) are limited to 8 passengers, 29 footers are limited to 15 passengers, and ,the 40 footers are limited to 20 passengers. The 35 footers, 3501 and 3504 haven't been in service for over 3 weeks now, so no clue what the limit is for them. Also rumor has it that when we get new 40 footers in about 2 years the 35 footers are retiring for good with no replacement. They plan to only purchase 32 40 footers, but the budget says 39. I have been home for almost 18 days now, due to school being shut down and the IL Stay at Home order. Have a great day everyone! 1 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
cschnur15 Posted July 13, 2020 Report Share Posted July 13, 2020 (edited) Long awaited update... Sorry everyone got busy with life LOL.. But anyway for the rest of April thru mid June 3026, 3027, 3028, 3029, 3030, 3031, 3032, 3033, 3034, 3035 and 3037 were retired which leaves no 2010-2012 29 footer Gillig BRT's left. 3067-3079 were delivered later in April after the COVID-19 Gillig Factory shutdown for some weeks. 3070-3079 arrived late April thru early early June. All 42 have been accepted and 3038-3075 are in service. 3001-3024, and 3025 and 3036 were picked up by Manheim in St. Louis and put up for auction in late to early June. 3026, 3027, 3028, 3029, 3030, 3031, 3032, 3033, 3034, 3035 and 3037 are currently either on the property or are at Manheim. 3076-3079 are awaiting Pass Validator and Drivers Control Unit, Farebox, and Radio's. Also a technician from Gillig has been in connection with MCT before the rest of the batch of 42 29's arrived to trouble shoot issues with the new Clever Devices touch pad that controls the signs, before this the touch pad would freeze sometimes or shut down going over railroad crossings or large bumps. Anyway that's about it for the 29 footer Gillig buses. Moving on to the future plans.. The estimated production date for the 32-39 40 footers that MCT is getting to replace the 35 40 footers is about 2 years away in 2022. And at a board meeting last month, they are trying to file a grant with the FTA to get AVL and new Ford Turtletop's for our small and narrow street shuttles. And I believe next year they will writeup a grant for new driver relief cars to replace the 2019 Ford Fusions. They might also replace the Road Supervisor's 2019 Dodge Grand-Caravans too. But anyway, back onto the 40 footers the current 40 footers (4001-4004, and 4006-4035) are doing good. 4005 wasn't included due to it's severe accident back in October of 2019 that totalled it. It was on a 14X deadhead leaving Highland to go back to the garage and a Semi truck almost hit the bus head on. If our driver didn't react the way he did, it would've been tragic. Luckily he is still with us today and uninjured too!! He also had no passengers on board and was Out Of Service. He had to go into a ditch off of I-55/70 to avoid it and the bus landed between two utility poles and tore the whole middle off the bus. The bus was in the body shop for 1-2 months, but the body technician who is a magic man and replaced many other buses in bad accidents couldn't fix it. Then in late October, Early November it was put in the grave yard and a plastic cover was put over the side and the front. They are currently parting it out and supposedly it'll be going up to the scrap yard. Anyway, that's pretty much it. I haven't rode a MCT vehicle since March 20th on the 10 in 3021, which has been retired for like two months now. I had plans to ride St. Louis Metro and ride around on the MCT buses and get some more time in with the 35 and 40 footers before they are retired, but I am not putting our drivers at risk or clogging up the system for essential workers. Anyway, hope everyone has been doing good during these COVID-19 times! Have a good day and Hope everyone stays healthy! Edited July 15, 2020 by cschnur15 Only added up to 3069 and the last unit is 3079 1 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
cschnur15 Posted August 29, 2020 Report Share Posted August 29, 2020 Hello everyone! I am a few days late for the monthly update. Not a lot has happened but I have enough information I can update y'all on. All the retired 29 (30) footer Gillig's are off the property and either at the Manheim auction yard in St. Louis or anywhere in the United States right now. 3038-3075 are completely in service. 3076, 3078-3079 are parked on the lot and I believe have been used a few times but it's not varified if they have DCU's, Radios, or Fareboxes. Ex. 3011 was spotted in Miami-Dade Florida, I believe at a Dealership. 3077 I believe is still sitting in the gravel lot. But all the 2020's are just about in service. They dominate the mainline of MCT's fleet now, as MCT mostly uses 29 footers. 3501-3504 are back in use again after a long hiatus from March to August. 4005 was also missing on the property but came up on Copart's Southern IL location in Alorton, IL. 4005 was the unit totalled in the October 2019 accident. It still has signs, some camaras, seats, engine, transmission and all. Just no Farebox, DCU, Radios and I believe the Wi-Fi equipment. https://www.copart.com/lot/44536510/2010-gillig-transit-bus-low-il-southern-illinois 4001-4004, and 4006-4022, and 4023-4035 are still in service for about two more years. I have heard that they put the replacement order in for the 35 and 40's. They have no intention of ordering any 35 footers anymore, all 40's from now on. I think they should order 5-10 of them because they are really handy and versatile units, and can be put on almost any route with the execption of certain shuttles. Also rumor has it that the new Clever tablets that they got on the 2020 units, which is what they are using to change the Headsigns right now will be made the new AVL in the future. And there's also talk of replacing the 2017 Ford Turtletop buses in the near future also. I think that's about all I have to talk about bus and equipment wise. Now service. MCT has brought back select service to the #5 Tri-City, #9 Washington Shuttle, 10 State and Elm Shuttle, 13 Troy-Glen-Carbon, #13X Highland-SIUE Express, #15 East Collinsville Shuttle, 17 Cougar Shuttle, 18 Collinsville Regional, 19 Edwardsville-Collinsville, and the #22 University Shuttle. Instead of using Turtletops like normal on the #22, they are using a 29 footer Gillig and a 35 footer. Weird combo for the 22, might as well just put 1 more 29 footer. And for all shuttles that usually have a Turtletop they have 29 footers on the weekdays. And the 5 has a extra bus running the route due to the capacity limits on each type of bus. But anyway, this is about all I can think of for this months updates. I was able to take a ride last Monday for about 2 hours. I went to ride the long #10 State and Elm Shuttle and the #8 Central. And I must say, I love that new bus smell, LOL. But hope everyone has a great day and stay's safe in these tough times! 2 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
cschnur15 Posted October 25, 2020 Report Share Posted October 25, 2020 My LONG overdue monthly update. Hope everyone is doing good! No new news with the new buses, most are doing great all 42 are in service and operating in service. The replacement for the 35 and 40 footers will still be coming in about two years, the 2010 40's will be about 12 years old, and the 2012's will be about 10 years old. These buses should be VERY similarly spec'ed to the new 2020 Gillig BRT 29's, just that they are 11 foot longer. They also installed new lifts in the main shop in Granite City. The 2017 Ford Turtletop MCT Light duty Coach-On-Chassis units are expected to be retired in about 2 years as well. The Demand And Responce, ACT Runabout replaced their 2013 Chevy Turtletop Light Duty on Chassis buses last late fall-late winter. They are now all 2019 Ford Turtletops. I've also been spotting the old 30 footer MCT buses all over the midwest, and Miami-Dade Transit bought what it looks to be 3006, 3011, 3012, 3014, 3018, 3025, 3030, 3032, and 3037, someone spotted a unknown 2012 and 3011 at a Miami contractor's yard. 3002, and 3013 are at a auction place, just on normal sale in Cherokee Village, Oklahoma. https://web.archive.org/web/20201022015657if_/https://www.facebook.com/marketplace/item/2719011081669979, 3002, https://web.archive.org/web/20201009172305if_/https://www.facebook.com/marketplace/item/763027017591358 3013. And 3015 was spotted and confirmed to be seen at a car dealership in Springfield, Missouri, well overpriced LOL. https://web.archive.org/web/20201009175151/https://www.facebook.com/marketplace/item/776181303148068. These hit the block at Manheim St Louis a few months ago, and these dealers are skyrocketing the prices of these buses. I wish I could buy 3002, 3008, 3019, or 3036 but they are probably too much. They all still have their original titles and registeration zip code of 62040. If you happen to find a MCT bus anywhere on line or in person, PLEASE post it in this thread and I will add it to the wiki. Anyway, I don't have very much more to say in this update. Hope this helps everyone and have a great day! 1 2 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
cschnur15 Posted December 14, 2020 Report Share Posted December 14, 2020 Hello everyone, this is another long overdue monthly update. Hope everyone is doing good during these tough times! Nothing new is to note on the 2020 Gillig BRT 29's besides they are in the 25k-35k miles on the odometer, and they still smell new. I haven't rode at all in Decemeber and on and off in November. Those white Luminator Titans are sweet and look great. But anyway, 2010-2012 BRT 40's are doing great, 4027 was involved in a accident last week and I believe is still out, but our body technician is the best in the area and I am pretty sure it will be back to good as new soon like 4002 was. 4027 hit a Chevy Express van, not sure who was at fault but I'd imagine it to be the van's fault because our drivers 95% of the time aren't at fault in a accident like that. It's windsheild was shattered, lower BRT panel was dented in, side BRT glass was shattered on the passenger side, the white panel with the MCT logo on it was gashed in and dented, and the bike rack was smashed and bumper was pulled off, but didn't appear to be any significant damage at all. I 99.9% guarantee it will be back in service in the next week or two. 4002 was also involved in a similar accident near the MCT Base of Operations, a car pulled out infront of it and the driver had no other choice but to hit it. It had less servere damage though, just cracked the passenger side BRT glass, popped one end of the drivers side bumper off, popped and scratched the headlight surrounding, light broke off and broke the bike rack. It was out for about 2 weeks. 4002 has been back for about 5 weeks now, it was down for about a week I believe. It has a brand new bike rack, whole front bumper and new BRT headlight surrounding and possibly a new MCT logo panel. Other then that the 40 footer BRT's are holding up great for being 10-8 years old. Mileage is in the 450-500k range for the 2010's, and 400-460k range for the 2012's. The 35 footers have made a major return to service. They are doing well from what I've heard. I believe they have 445-495k miles on them. They have been used lightly over the years. And the 2017 Ford Turtletops are also appearing in almost every town MCT serves again, I've heard it's mostly for mileage because they sat for months. They are doing good even though most drivers HATE them. They have about 79-105k miles on them. There's also been some 2019 Ford Fusion drivers relief vehicles also totalled over the past months. One was T-Boned about a month or so ago. I believe the driver is doing fine. I hear that eventually the Fusion relief vehicles and the 2016 Caravan supervisor vans may be getting retired over the next few years aswell. At some point the 2019 Caravan's will be too. But that's all the update for the vehicle assets. Now on the subject of stations/park and ride facilitys. MCT recently broke ground on a outer lot of Eastgate Plaza in East-Alton on the new Eastgate Park and Ride facility. Utterbank Construction will be the general contractor and it's expected to be completed in fall of 2021. It will be great for the #1 Riverbend and the #1X Riverbend Express. No longer will they have to stop in the middle of Eastgate Plaza's parking lot. This facility will feature 100 parking spots, a driver restroom and bike lockers like the rest of the MCT facilities execpt for I believe Troy Park and Ride. But Eastgate Park and Ride will be a great asset to the system, and I am excited for it to be completed. Another big facility announcement was the MCT base in Pontoon Beach/Granite City. They recieved a grant from Illinois and the FTA to update or rebuild the administration building on MCT's Base campus. In total of $15,251,000. It will update a building that hasn't been updated since it was built in the late 1980's when MCT was created. It will feature numerious security and saftey upgrades and a dedicated meeting area for board meetings, offices, a gym and many other upgrades. I believe this was also funded thru the Rebuild Illinois plan to. That's all the updates for the MCT facilities. Now onto feature upgrades/future technology. As part of the Rebuild Illinois plan downstate transit agencies all together in downstate Illinois are getting $355 million for all agencies down state. Over the next years, I believe this will start in 2022 when they order the new BRT 40's to replace the current 2010, and 2012 models all the buses eventually will be getting real time information screens on when the times and other information relating to MCT. And supposedly a new communation system. The stations will also recieve the real time information screens. For more information here is the link http://www.idot.illinois.gov/Assets/uploads/files/Transportation-System/Reports/DPIT/Rebuild Illinois Statewide Transit Capital Program.pdf. These upgrades will provide even better service. I'd imagine they will also hook up the AVL and we will eventually have a tracker like CTA does, to where you can see where your bus is. I certainly hope a tracker is on the list. Right now only the dispatchers can see where the buses are, and it doesn't even show them what route the unit is on. Illinois is doing great in giving Transit agencies what they need in downstate Illinois. Happy to see the Rebuild Illinois plan working great on road and transit infastructure projects. But anyway, that will do for my long over due update. Hope everyone has a Happy Holiday, and a great week! 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
cschnur15 Posted January 29, 2021 Report Share Posted January 29, 2021 Hello everyone! I am going to do a monthly update on what's happened since the last update. The MCT board has approved a fare decrease, first since 2013-2014 instead of the current $1.50 staying in one zone, $2.00 going thru two zones (Like Alton to Edwardsville, Alton to Granite City), $3.00 regional (Routes like the 5, and 18), and $3.50 for Express (1X, 14X, 20X, 24X, and 25X). With the new changes taking effect on May 9th and the May service change and drivers run change, will simplify the current fare structure $1.00 anywhere inside the MCT district in Madison County, and $3.00 to Emerson Park in East St Louis, and into St. Louis City (Downtown St Louis). Drivers and passengers won't be confused and it will simplify everything, as the managing director SJ said at the board meeting, it's a long needed change and it will simplify everything for the drivers and passengers. With this change they expect a ridership increase. Pictured is the old and new fare structure 1 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Chris H Posted January 30, 2021 Author Report Share Posted January 30, 2021 Nice to see MCT finally offering day passes. I've rode MCT using my Metro day passes/monthly passes in the past. Now if MCT can also get onboard with the using the Gateway card. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JAX Transit 2000 Posted January 31, 2021 Report Share Posted January 31, 2021 On 1/29/2021 at 12:38 PM, cschnur15 said: Hello everyone! I am going to do a monthly update on what's happened since the last update. The MCT board has approved a fare decrease, first since 2013-2014 instead of the current $1.50 staying in one zone, $2.00 going thru two zones (Like Alton to Edwardsville, Alton to Granite City), $3.00 regional (Routes like the 5, and 18), and $3.50 for Express (1X, 14X, 20X, 24X, and 25X). With the new changes taking effect on May 9th and the May service change and drivers run change, will simplify the current fare structure $1.00 anywhere inside the MCT district in Madison County, and $3.00 to Emerson Park in East St Louis, and into St. Louis City (Downtown St Louis). Drivers and passengers won't be confused and it will simplify everything, as the managing director SJ said at the board meeting, it's a long needed change and it will simplify everything for the drivers and passengers. With this change they expect a ridership increase. Pictured is the old and new fare structure Hey @cschnur15, the buses are now in revenue service now in Miami and one of the fleet numbers are missing from LSF Shuttle (Miami's private bus contractor) running for Miami-dade Transit routes. They later wrapped in blue and green livery. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
cschnur15 Posted February 9, 2021 Report Share Posted February 9, 2021 Yes, @JAX Transit 2000 I seen that. They have most of the retired BRT 29's 3001, 3003-3004, 3006-3012, 3014-3018, 3019-3024, 3025-3026, 3028-3037. 3002, and 3013 are at a dealership in Cherokee, OK, and 3005, 3015, and 3027 are at a dealership in Springfield, MO. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Chris H Posted April 30, 2021 Author Report Share Posted April 30, 2021 Here is a video I recorded when riding MCT's 2012 Gillig LF #4030. I have several more bus ride videos from all across the Midwest that I will be uploading, stay tuned. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
cschnur15 Posted April 30, 2021 Report Share Posted April 30, 2021 Nice, I have some videos too! I need to go thru edit some clips and upload to You-Tube. https://www.youtube.com/channel/UC9W7jAsnWIruCqWdf7H5EFg/videos Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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