Ride On & The Bus Purchases?

[mrpete]

Follow this link to page MTA-65 in MDOT's Consolidated Transportation Plan (CTP). This is the status of MDOT/MTA funded projects in Montgomery & Prince George's. Can anyone verify/identify the bus purchases, both completed and underway?

http://www.mdot.state.md.us/Planning/CTP_10-15/MTA.pdf

[Nabinut]

The one interesting thing is the term "Large buses"!
In the other pages, heavy duty or small/medium are mentioned. Is that a hint that Ride-On may purchased 60 foot buses?

[79MetroExtraMD]

The one interesting thing is the term "Large buses"!
In the other pages, heavy duty or small/medium are mentioned. Is that a hint that Ride-On may purchased 60 foot buses?

I think it generally means 40 footers. I don't think Ride On is viable for artics at the moment since both Silver Spring and Gburg are tight for space.

[C40LF_2464]

Word is that PGC The-Bus is ordering 20 gillig advantages this spring and retiring the thomases.

[ECBuzz]

Will these Gilligs replace the HDX's or the SLF-200's or both?  Thanks.

[C40LF_2464]

I heard they were replacing the HDX's, no word on the SLF's.

[WES]

If it's about 20 then it's just going to be the HDXs which number in that range.  I think the fleet numbers were appoximatley 63086-63099 and 63101-63108, though I maybe off a bit.

[Tritransit Area]

Gosh, retiring the HDXs already?  Aren't they a bit young?

[C40LF_2464]

Gosh, retiring the HDXs already?  Aren't they a bit young?

Yeah but you gotta remember that its a school "bus" used for transit service. Its has no leg room at all bumpy and just sounds horrible!

[Tritransit Area]

Golly, I don't remember having such a horrendous experience when I rode them (well, at least one).  Of course, it has been a few years.

I'd rather that they replace the SLFs.  Those buses are nothing short of crap.  They rattle and shake as if the bus is coming apart....and THAT engine sounds awful!

[LandoverDivision]

Golly, I don't remember having such a horrendous experience when I rode them (well, at least one).  Of course, it has been a few years.

I'd rather that they replace the SLFs.  Those buses are nothing short of crap.  They rattle and shake as if the bus is coming apart....and THAT engine sounds awful!

Exactly. Most of the time only one door opens and when everybody gets off at the back door it makes this annoying noise. The orange crushed ones have the most annoying sound engine in the world. Gotta love the seats on 63121?-63129 though.

[Annex4421]

I'm sorry I say retire both, bring in some more Gilligs and some BRTs.

[WES]

A lot of those HDXs started to look older than a normal bus should have, IMO.  Granted, they are probably light to medium duty buses, but really a school bus doesn't work well as a transit bus, say for Gilligs.  Other than Gillig how many school bus manufacturers have successfully built a heavy duty or even medium duty bus.  Thomas had some success with their TL series, and the SLF is actually a Dennis product.  I think THE BUS wants to have a more traditional transit fleet with more durable buses.

I am surprised THE BUS hasn't tried to replace the SLFs sooner, at least the older ones.  The problem with THE BUS was that those SLFs were put one some of their heavier routes and a light to medium duty bus won't last that long being on a heavy duty route.  To me those SLFs were better suited for neighborhood routes, very light to medium duty routes, not on the 21 and the 18. 

[ECBuzz]

And what will be the size of these upcoming Gilligs?  Thanks.

[Tritransit Area]

To me those SLFs were better suited for neighborhood routes, very light to medium duty routes, not on the 21 and the 18. 

When did the 18 become such a heavy duty route?  I remember riding those ODVs on that line, and the line didn't seem that busy.  Imagine my surprise when nowadays I see it as an HDX stronghold!