X9 to launch, 16F/7E to enter DC, Greenbelt service to be redrawn

[Tritransit Area]

Y'know, it's probably not too late to simply remove the "Local" and "Express" words from the buses.  Then, the red and blue bases could just be variants of the scheme, and they can use the destination signs to show whether it's a local or express like other systems do.

[Tristan]

Here's what I see as the big picture: I think we are in a bad place in time *right now* as far as branding is concerned.  Now I've seen and heard some of Catoe's bus plans and if he had his way, there would be a LOT of express work and you could probably hold down express-only vehicle blocks...but we just aren't there *yet*.  New York can do it because there's so much express service that you could do an 18-hour block and still do nothing but expresses, and if things went like the 79, that would be possible in DC too.

The issue here is timing -- buses were being painted on purchase or at rehab into express schemes, save for a few exceptions of what looked like experiments or buses after body work -- basically, buses were being painted into an express scheme instead of a local scheme when the opportunity existed to (re)paint them anyway.

So...the real question is, do we stop branding and have one less tool to distinguish our services down the road when it actually matters (causing confusion then), or do we keep branding, confuse people now, and keep our eyes on the prize of express service on every major corridor in the region that needs it?

Note: Catoe started before the recession.

Not defending anything, just offering some perspective.

[WayneNYC]

Tristan,

Good points.  Perhaps the "Local" and "Express" lettering could've been decals and applied at such a time when WMATA would've been doing widespread launching of new express services.

[LandoverDivision]

I agree with with the other Brandon. If we were to remove it just simply remove the words that's all. But again, we gotta deal with it one way or another theres nothing any of us can really do about it. What's done is done.

[WMATAGMOAGH]

Tristan, thanks for the points you made in your post. 

Does anyone remember the original timeline for the rollout of these services? 

[79MetroExtraMD]

Tristan, thanks for the points you made in your post. 

Does anyone remember the original timeline for the rollout of these services? 

I think Dec is supposed to be when the X9 starts. Next year, a few other lines are supposed to be under evaluation. I have to get the original corridor priority docket to see.

[WMATAGMOAGH]

Tristan, thanks for the points you made in your post. 

Does anyone remember the original timeline for the rollout of these services? 

I think Dec is supposed to be when the X9 starts. Next year, a few other lines are supposed to be under evaluation. I have to get the original corridor priority docket to see.

I know that, but that wasn't the question being asked....