Goodbye 98 Bus, Hello Adams Morgan Circulator?

[Scrabbleship]

DDOT is considering ending their subsidy of the 98 bus (the Adams Morgan-U Street Link) and transferring that subsidy to start a new Circulator route that would take its place. Would replacing an Orion II or a 30' Orion V with a Van Hool help ridership? Or would it strain the Circulator system and its limited number of buses?

More details at the Post's "Get There" blog: http://voices.washingtonpost.com/getthere/2008/11/dc_studying_bus_service_change.html

[Tristan]

Circ is supposed to be getting VanHool A300Ks and more 40-footers for expanded ballpark service and other ventures.  Dunno when - in fact, according to what I was told, it should have happened by now.

[WMATAGMOAGH]

DDOT is considering ending their subsidy of the 98 bus (the Adams Morgan-U Street Link) and transferring that subsidy to start a new Circulator route that would take its place. Would replacing an Orion II or a 30' Orion V with a Van Hool help ridership? Or would it strain the Circulator system and its limited number of buses?

More details at the Post's "Get There" blog: http://voices.washingtonpost.com/getthere/2008/11/dc_studying_bus_service_change.html

Sounds like 6 of one or half a dozen of another at the end of the day.  In the long run, whether the 98 runs as the 98 or as a Circulator operation probably is not super significant.

[Tritransit Area]

I'm wondering if they are planning to use the 98 as the base of a new, expanded route somewhere.  If it's under the operation of DDOT, may have more control over the routing and service than running it under WMATA under subsidy.

Depending on the agreement, anyway.

With the elimination of the 98, does that mean "Goodbye to the Orion IIs"?  Can't they be used elsewhere?

[79MetroExtraMD]

I'm wondering if they are planning to use the 98 as the base of a new, expanded route somewhere.  If it's under the operation of DDOT, may have more control over the routing and service than running it under WMATA under subsidy.

Depending on the agreement, anyway.

With the elimination of the 98, does that mean "Goodbye to the Orion IIs"?  Can't they be used elsewhere?

There is the M4 and the E6. I think they might get replaced when the DE37LFAs come on the fleet for Western within a year or so.

[Tristan]

You think a bus that is 3 feet shy of 40 feet is going to replace a bus that is barely 30?

[Scrabbleship]

Why else would WMATA procure 37' buses and put them in divisions that currently don't have buses of similar legnths?

[Tristan]

They have 35' buses at Arlington, and these 37' buses are only 2 feet longer because of the BRT styling - they have the same capacity as 35' buses.

[Scrabbleship]

They have 35' buses at Arlington, and these 37' buses are only 2 feet longer because of the BRT styling - they have the same capacity as 35' buses.

But not Western and Bladensburg where the buses are destined for. That's what makes this more interesting. Wouldn't it have been easier to procure some D30LF's or another smaller sized LF bus if they wanted to replace the Orion II's?