Jump to content

Metro Transit

SMS

By SMS
in Central US

 Share

Recommended Posts

  • 3 weeks later...
MVTArider

MVTArider

Posted
Posted

MetMo 61079, 64056, MTS 60030, 60042, 1205, 1203 currently up for auction. (MVTA 4939 is listed as well. )

I've noticed the masks have quietly disappeared from the onboard schedule/info racks and actual bus schedules have started to appear again.

-----

14 hours ago, hp2ena said:

FTA awards $17M Low-No grant to Metro Transit. Word from inside is they will be used to buy 12 Gillig BEBs https://www.transit.dot.gov/funding/grants/fy23-fta-bus-and-low-and-no-emission-grant-awards

That'll be interesting if we get Gillig BEBs as well as the Protatoes. I was a little surprised they didn't opt for Gillig BEBs on the initial 40' order as well. I'm curious to see how they do the base graphics scheme on these battery electrics since they'll be targeted towards regular route operation. Personally I'd prefer they keep the general white/over window decal stripe regular route scheme and just add a green swoosh or whatever on the battery pod, similar to the Go Greener decals on the hybrids. I think the Rapid Bus scheme and regular route scheme are enough, no need to add a third full scheme design.

  • Thanks 1
  • 3 weeks later...
  • 1 month later...
MVTArider

MVTArider

Posted
Posted

It looks like Metro Transit 'Metro' buses are being assigned based on ridership demand with the State Fair in session. 3 81xx artics and a few 80xx BRT+ working the A line this morning, while Orange is entirely 80xx BRT+ units.

Also as is the case in many places, Transdev has been replacing the First Transit legals on the MTS and MetMo units with their Transdev labels.

  • Thanks 1
  • 2 weeks later...
hp2ena

hp2ena

Posted
Posted

More buses listed for auction:

  • Thanks 1
hp2ena

hp2ena

Posted
Posted

More buses listed for auction:

MVTArider

MVTArider

Posted
Posted

With the 323x, 324x and 326x groups retiring it'll be no more comfy plush high back seats on the artics. The end of another era. I wonder how long until they trial or start spec'ing solid panel seats on the buses anyways. The InSight and Vision model seats with upholstered cushions used now are decent but I know they're a lot of work to keep clean compared to solid surface. They also do get a bit scuzzy looking.

hp2ena

hp2ena

Posted
Posted
7 hours ago, MVTArider said:

With the 323x, 324x and 326x groups retiring it'll be no more comfy plush high back seats on the artics. The end of another era. I wonder how long until they trial or start spec'ing solid panel seats on the buses anyways. The InSight and Vision model seats with upholstered cushions used now are decent but I know they're a lot of work to keep clean compared to solid surface. They also do get a bit scuzzy looking.

1711 has two of those seats installed. They’re supposedly running it right now but it hasn’t appeared to enter service?

  • Like 1
MVTArider

MVTArider

Posted
Posted
3 hours ago, hp2ena said:

1711 has two of those seats installed. They’re supposedly running it right now but it hasn’t appeared to enter service?

Good to know. Hmm, maybe sidelined waiting for parts or something.

  • 2 weeks later...
hp2ena

hp2ena

Posted
Posted

More buses listed for auction

  • 2 weeks later...
MVTArider

MVTArider

Posted
Posted

Old news now but here's some shots from the State Fair taken at the end of August. New 2023 artics and still a few Phantoms operated by Lorenz. The bulk of the Fair free park and rides were being served by motorcoaches again this year (Badger, Lorenz, Miller, Village) so the transit buses run by Lorenz were not as frequent.

53264764472_8f34d53c2b_t.jpg 53265931338_0b9952d9e2_t.jpg 53266120500_7c45f73599_t.jpg 53265655336_6aba8436b6_t.jpg 53264766377_4693258540_t.jpg 53264766107_335aedda6b_t.jpg 53265939663_c60f19e028_t.jpg 53264759787_8852ab9bc0_t.jpg

Also on the State Fair topic, ridership on Metro Transit was up 33% this year despite total State Fair attendance being lower. LINK

Additionally there was some talk of legislating to require the MN Dept. of Agriculture to come up with a transportation plan for the Fair each year. That was partly spurred on by the park and ride lots often being full and longer waits for buses. I can't find the news story on that specifically though.

  • Like 2
hp2ena

hp2ena

Posted
Posted
On 10/18/2023 at 1:19 PM, MVTArider said:

 

Additionally there was some talk of legislating to require the MN Dept. of Agriculture to come up with a transportation plan for the Fair each year. That was partly spurred on by the park and ride lots often being full and longer waits for buses. I can't find the news story on that specifically though.

Draft bill is attached. Hansen and Hornstein will carry it.

Bill Draft-State Fair Transportation Plan.pdf

  • Thanks 1
MVTArider

MVTArider

Posted
Posted
On 10/19/2023 at 11:42 PM, hp2ena said:

Draft bill is attached. Hansen and Hornstein will carry it.

Bill Draft-State Fair Transportation Plan.pdf 196.16 kB · 1 download

Perfect, thanks for getting that.

I hope at a minimum we can get the 960 running again. With C, D, and Orange plus way more DT Minneapolis residents now compared to 2019 I would think ridership potential could be even higher.

  • 4 weeks later...
hp2ena

hp2ena

Posted
Posted

More buses listed for auction:

Service changes going into effect on December 2. Highlights:

  • Some construction detours are being restored, particularly for some downtown St. Paul routes as well as Routes 7, 9, 10, 17, 25, 250, 264, 270 
  • 21 extended to France Ave ahead of Uptown TS closure for Hennepin reconstruction. St. Thomas branch eliminated. NOTE B LINE OPENING IS DELAYED UNTIL MID-2025
  • Woodbury express service permanently restructured with 353 eliminated and restoration of 351. 
  • 723 and 724 getting frequency increases
  • Reverse commute service returning to Route 781

More details: https://www.metrotransit.org/Quarterly service changes begin Saturday, Dec. 2

Also, Northstar service increased on October 2, along with Northstar Link. One train leaves downtown Minneapolis in the morning at 6:40am, the remaining three trains leave between 3:30pm-5:30pm. There's also up to 20 minutes of layover time built into Big Lake station between Northstar and the Link. Theoretically one could also time a transfer to Trailblazer or Tri-Cap but I haven't been successful at scheduling a timed transfer trip (within 20min of train arrival) so far. 

  • Like 1
Tcmetro

Tcmetro

Posted
Posted

The 717 will also go to Plymouth again now that the bridge over Hwy 169 has been reopened.

724 15-minute service is good! And long overdue!

Surprised about 21 going to France Ave. 

Sad to see the D60LFRs going out the door.

  • Like 1
hp2ena

hp2ena

Posted
Posted
10 hours ago, Tcmetro said:

The 717 will also go to Plymouth again now that the bridge over Hwy 169 has been reopened.

724 15-minute service is good! And long overdue!

Surprised about 21 going to France Ave. 

Sad to see the D60LFRs going out the door.

The B Line will be boarding and offboarding passengers at Lake/France when it opens. But that will be temporary.

Tcmetro

Tcmetro

Posted
Posted

Is that because the Green Line won't be opening until 2027?

I've always felt like the B Line deserves a stop at France, as the buses are going there anyways and there are a few apartment buildings right there. I also think the B Line should have additional stops at Dupont, Grand, and 12th to completely replace the 21, but that's another story.

  • 3 weeks later...
hp2ena

hp2ena

Posted
Posted
On 11/16/2023 at 11:03 PM, Tcmetro said:

Is that because the Green Line won't be opening until 2027?

I've always felt like the B Line deserves a stop at France, as the buses are going there anyways and there are a few apartment buildings right there. I also think the B Line should have additional stops at Dupont, Grand, and 12th to completely replace the 21, but that's another story.

No, the buses were going to layover there anyway, so might as well. But around that time, Hennepin plans to build affordable housing there, so the buses would have to go elsewhere to layover. 

******

I finally got the chance to update the roster. The 1100s are almost retired, while the 3230s are completely gone. The 3240s and 3260s are on their way out. (Edit: The 3260s are done and the 3240s are down to one bus. The 3240s were purchased as part of a fast-tracked order as a result of the I-35W bridge collapse.)

Additional buses listed for auction

Some juicy fleet updates coming in a couple weeks.

  • Like 1
MVTArider

MVTArider

Posted
Posted

Thanks for the updates. I wouldn't mind if those juicy fleet updates coming up include an order of XD40 to replace the 12xx-14xx Gilligs :D

Are the new 34xx/35xx artics still being delivered, or have they all come in and some are just on hold? Seems like only 3470-3489 have been active so far.

XDE40 7090-7091 will be at 12 years next year so I'm sure those will be popping up on MinnBid in the near future.

Probably fair to say the Proterra order won't happen, so it'll be interesting to see if they order more Gillig EV+ or perhaps XE40 instead.

MVTArider

MVTArider

Posted
Posted
Quote

The agency expects to use the 60-foot e-buses on the Gold Line, the new express route from St. Paul to Woodbury, when it opens next year. And it has ordered 20 40-foot e-buses from New Flyer, the Winnipeg-based manufacturer with a factory in St. Cloud, that it will fold into regular routes around the metro.

The lifespan of a bus is about 12 years, in line with federal aid guidelines, which means Metro Transit updates roughly 8% of its fleet annually. Through 2027, Metro Transit aims for 20% of its replacement purchases to be e-buses.

Star Tribune article from a couple weeks ago.

I'm a bit curious if they actually have ordered 20 XE40, or if the reporter was told about 20 40' e-buses being on order (12 Protatoes, 8 Gillig) and interpreted that as an order from NFI.

hp2ena

hp2ena

Posted
Posted
1 hour ago, MVTArider said:

Star Tribune article from a couple weeks ago.

I'm a bit curious if they actually have ordered 20 XE40, or if the reporter was told about 20 40' e-buses being on order (12 Protatoes, 8 Gillig) and interpreted that as an order from NFI.

That's a reporter error. Amazing how they haven't gotten to correcting it yet. 

  • 2 weeks later...

Create an account or sign in to comment

You need to be a member in order to leave a comment

Create an account

Sign up for a new account in our community. It's easy!

Register a new account

Sign in

Already have an account? Sign in here.

Sign In Now
 Share
Go to topic listing
×
×
  • Create New...