Metro Transit

[hp2ena]

Ex-Metro Transit 2001 Phantom 852 listed for sale on FB https://www.facebook.com/groups/162483583807501/posts/5489235354465604/

[hp2ena]

Fresh rosters from Metro Transit and MTS! The MTS roster also includes vehicle information for MVTA and Southwest.Vehicle Schedule.xlsxMTS Fleet List 10-12-22.xlsxLRV_Miles_Comp.xlsxData Request_Request_11 4 22 .xlsx

[hp2ena]

More hybrids retiring

• 7140 - Lot 44448 https://minnbid.org/Mobile/AuctionLot/44904
• 7144 - Lot 44446 https://minnbid.org/Mobile/AuctionLot/44902 (currently highest mileage coach in the fleet at 600k+ miles)
• 7152 - Lot 44445 https://minnbid.org/Mobile/AuctionLot/44901
• 7159 - Lot 44447 https://minnbid.org/Mobile/AuctionLot/44903
• 7178 - Lot 44444 https://minnbid.org/Mobile/AuctionLot/44900
• 7205 - Lot 44449 https://minnbid.org/Mobile/AuctionLot/44905

[MVTArider]

On 11/14/2022 at 12:58 PM, hp2ena said:

Fresh rosters from Metro Transit and MTS! The MTS roster also includes vehicle information for MVTA and Southwest.Vehicle Schedule.xlsxMTS Fleet List 10-12-22.xlsxLRV_Miles_Comp.xlsxData Request_Request_11 4 22 .xlsx

Thanks for requesting these and sharing! Wow, lots of historical stuff too. I didn't know some of the U of M fleet was actually under MTS purview. I believe First did own the D60LFs and NABIs, and likely the assorted secondhand Phantoms. Not sure on the RTS or Bluebirds though. It may have been a different type of operating contract back then with Laidlaw as well.

Hmm, according to TransSee on the XDE40s 7290 hasn't run in service since May, and 7291 since last December. I wonder if they'll find a way to dispose of those soon or just sit on them until 2024.

Will also be interesting to see if the new 2022 baby Gilligs finally start running in service with the 12/3 changes. My only guess on them sitting so long is perhaps they still need some parts due to the supply chain issues.

 

[Tcmetro]

IIRC, the U of M used to contract with Medicine Lake Lines who also ran RTS buses on the 55 (now 755/756). Medicine Lake Lines was eventually acquired by Laidlaw.

[hp2ena]

2 hours ago, MVTArider said:

Thanks for requesting these and sharing! Wow, lots of historical stuff too. I didn't know some of the U of M fleet was actually under MTS purview. I believe First did own the D60LFs and NABIs, and likely the assorted secondhand Phantoms. Not sure on the RTS or Bluebirds though. It may have been a different type of operating contract back then with Laidlaw as well.

Hmm, according to TransSee on the XDE40s 7290 hasn't run in service since May, and 7291 since last December. I wonder if they'll find a way to dispose of those soon or just sit on them until 2024.

Will also be interesting to see if the new 2022 baby Gilligs finally start running in service with the 12/3 changes. My only guess on them sitting so long is perhaps they still need some parts due to the supply chain issues.

 

I did some poking around, it looks like the 2019-22 Gilligs are undergoing a recall of their batteries. 

[MVTArider]

Not really Metro Transit, but also not really worth starting a whole new topic on currently IMO...

City of Saint Paul is currently requesting bids for the Como Park shuttle. Their current fleet consists of 5 General Coach EZ Trans 'Low Floor' transit bus cutaway unit things. These units are owned by Saint Paul and contracted out for operation. I haven't actually seen one since 2014 when Jefferson Lines operated them. (I don't visit Como Park Zoo much) According to an addendum they are planning to replace 3 of the units in 2023/2024 and keep 2 if operationally warranted. Currently they're in storage. If they do go for replacements It'll be interesting to see if they go for anything more substantial than off-the-rack cutaways.

Attached is the current fleet info. Based on receiving dates 3 units are 2009, 1 2010, 1 2012. I'll link a photo I took of one in 2014 at Jefferson.

Como Shuttle 3399 by J. Mc., on Flickr

Bus unit information.pdf

[hp2ena]

Metro Transit posted D Line opening details to their website: https://www.metrotransit.org/d-line

• Ribbon cutting and press event at MOA TS at 10am
• Community Celebration at Juxtaposition Arts in North Minneapolis 10am to 1pm
• Community Celebration at Veteran's Park in Richfield 10am to 1pm

If anyone here feels super adventurous and awake early enough, feel free to join me in riding the first revenue coach, which departs 8th and Nicollet at 4:10am. No buses go there that early though, although it pulses with trips on the 10 and the 18 which also depart from there around the same time.

[hp2ena]

8100 returned to service today, it was outfitted with a three-position bike rack back in October. The low 8120s are also starting to make an appearance again on the C Line. 8120-37 will be assigned to Heywood and operate on the D Line, 8138 and up will be out of South and run on the Orange Lines. 

8020-25 haven't run for awhile. I think they're being held pending transfer to First Transit. 

[hp2ena]

60141 entered service on the 67 on Wednesday. It’s on the 70 today. Go-To card users ride free as it doesn’t have a machine installed.

[MVTArider]

So according to Pantograph Metro Transit was operating southbound 7:46am and northbound 2:54pm trips on route 83 for a few weeks using standard Gilligs. Not sure how they navigated the alleged low height section of the route that required non-standard buses to be used. The rest of the trips were covered by First with the typical cutaways from what I'm aware.

[MVTArider]

Some random photos taken yesterday FWIW:

       

The 2022 Gillig LF shorties are starting to appear regularly. It doesn't look like First has added legals on 8020-8025. Though they may do that eventually yet. I haven't ridden the D Line for any sizable section of the route yet, but it was certainly useful for getting from MOA over to the Bloomington Walmart and back just to grab a few things. Every 10 minutes (or more accurately every 2-15 minutes ) is certainly easier to use than the previous hodge-podge of 5 and 542 trips. I hope MT Facilities was just a little behind on clearing the D Line stops out given the large amount of snow the last couple days. Otherwise if they're regularly left to get the trample treatment that's kind of pathetic.

[Border City Transit]

Cannot get enough of those XD60s with the back window! Thanks for sharing.

One day, we'll see a vendor other than Gillig win a bid for 40-foot buses -- at which point Metro Transit buses will become happy again. Fingers crossed!

[skyline]

Some Ex-Metro Transit buses were purchased by the National Western Center in Denver, CO for parking lot shuttles to the Stockshow

 Ex-Metro Transit 1119

 Ex-Metro Transit 1133

 Ex-Metro Transit 3230

[MVTArider]

1750-1756 appear to have been de-METRO'd. So far I've seen 1750 and 1753 de-wrapped. Both still carry the METRO Red Line bike rack banner. 1750 has quite a chunk of the base graphics missing. I'm guessing either A-they'll be getting sent to Cleveland Ave soon for overhaul anyways, or B-they decided, @#$% it, it's a Gillig LF. What's the point trying to make it look good...

I've also noticed a few 16xx units with tattered paint/decals. a couple with the entire yellow section on the roofline peeled off, and one with so much paint missing on the lower panels 1/3 the side was bare aluminum.

On a more positive note, sunny D pics!

[Wool]

Back in December, route 7 switched to being operated by contract drivers & busses.  Now it seems that it's back to being operated by Metro Transit.  I'm curious about the quick revert back, and if any other routes spun off in December have gone back to MT.  Does anyone have any insight into this?

[hp2ena]

7 hours ago, Wool said:

Back in December, route 7 switched to being operated by contract drivers & busses.  Now it seems that it's back to being operated by Metro Transit.  I'm curious about the quick revert back, and if any other routes spun off in December have gone back to MT.  Does anyone have any insight into this?

Only the 7. Metro Transit had more operators available than First Transit. 

[hp2ena]

Get your pics of the 7140s while you still can! It looks like only 3 left in active service: 7163, 7168 and 7169.

[hp2ena]

7210 appears to be the only pre-2012 hybrid remaining in revenue service and will be on the 61 tonight until around 10pm.

[hp2ena]

Starting 4/10/23 Red Line will begin using high level platforms again https://www.metrotransit.org/a/20848

[hp2ena]

The American Public Transportation Association Mobility Conference will be in Minneapolis 4/23-26. It includes presentations as well as bus displays (which can be accessed for $200) as well as a tour of the New Flyer plant in St. Cloud. Full conference is $2500 but you can probably get a discount if you claim to be a student or a member of the media. 

Full Program: https://s6.goeshow.com/apta/mc/2023/fullprogram.cfm

Met Council Involvement: https://metrocouncil.org/Council-Meetings/Committees/Metropolitan-Council/2023/04-12-23/Info-Item-APTA-Mobility-Conference-PPT.aspx

Registration: https://s6.goeshow.com/apta/mc/2023/register_now.cfm

[bristolian]

A few photographs from today M J RUTER closed operating garage.

[hp2ena]

6092 listed for auction https://www.govdeals.com/index.cfm?fa=Main.Item&itemid=21&acctid=23993

64056 (Transit Link bus) listed for auction https://www.govdeals.com/index.cfm?fa=Main.Item&itemid=19&acctid=23993

[MVTArider]

Quarterly service changes begin Saturday, June 17

• Orange returns to every 15 minutes during midday
• 7, 9, 23 improved/adjusted to every 30 minutes during weekday midday
• Multiple downtown St. Paul routes will be re-aligned to Robert Street due to street reconstruction projects.
• 68 all trips will serve Robert south to Marie, no service on Thompson between Robert and Oakdale (currently closed for reconstruction), some schedule timing adjusted for better transfers. 68G weekday service dropped in the AM aside from 2 trips, however it will continue in the afternoon and is extended to 11:00pm.
• 94 will return to consistent 30 minute midday frequency, 20 minute peak.
• Multiple service improvements to suburban routes with frequency on several returning to every 60 minutes.

It appears the operator shortage is getting less severe. There's still a ways to go but certainly encouraging to see service additions.

EDIT: Additional 71xx hybrids being sold via MinnBid:

7141 7162 7167 7170 7173

[hp2ena]

I guess Metro Transit is still taking to Minnbid to auction buses?

Missed three that ended earlier this month

• 7145 - Lot 45828 https://minnbid.org/Mobile/AuctionLot/46284 and 45958 https://minnbid.org/Mobile/AuctionLot/46414
• 7177 - Lot 45830 https://minnbid.org/Mobile/AuctionLot/46286
• 7180 - Lot 45831 https://minnbid.org/Mobile/AuctionLot/46287