60BRT's finally headed for the X2?

[Scrabbleship]

http://voices.washingtonpost.com/getthere/2009/04/avoid_long-suffering_benning_r.html#comments
It looks like two lanes in each direction on Benning Road will be paved by July. Will WMATA finally get the 60BRT's onto the X2 and off of the exile of the U8 and R's by then, or are those nice and fancy buses fated to a life of tucked-away anonymity?

[Tristan]

Yes.

Or No.

All we can do is assume that they are going to do what they said they would do with them.

[Scrabbleship]

You really, really think that they'd keep relatively new buses under passenger abuse in far eastern DC or under suburban anonymity when the X2 needs them?

If for some reason they ditch them on the X2 after the reconstruction, WMATA'd better have a good reason why.

[NewFlyer9736BCT]

You really, really think that they'd keep relatively new buses under passenger abuse in far eastern DC or under suburban anonymity when the X2 needs them?

If for some reason they ditch them on the X2 after the reconstruction, WMATA'd better have a good reason why.

They're at Bladensburg Division, what do you expect?

[Scrabbleship]

You really, really think that they'd keep relatively new buses under passenger abuse in far eastern DC or under suburban anonymity when the X2 needs them?

If for some reason they ditch them on the X2 after the reconstruction, WMATA'd better have a good reason why.

They're at Bladensburg Division, what do you expect?

Given that prior to this Bladenburg's artics spent 99% of their time on the X2 and to not put them on the X2 would mean some schedule adjustments if they de-artic the route, I'd expect them on there.

Why a couple haven't been wrapped into the Express scheme and put onto the 79 doesn't just amaze me, but miffs me. Would be a better way of getting them out there than hiding them on the U8 or the R's.

[Tristan]

Realize though that now H Street is jacked up with the utility relocation for the streetcars...

[Scrabbleship]

Realize though that now H Street is jacked up with the utility relocation for the streetcars...

So much money wasted on the 60BRT's then. Is there any coordination of any sort between WMATA and DDOT?

At this point, I'd rather "ruin" the buses on the X2 and have them be visible than have them be ruined in a different way on the U8. Anyone agree?

[Tristan]

Coordination? You mean "Hey DDOT, we got these shiny new buses we want to run on H Street, you think maybe you could put that trolley project on hold for about 15 years until they wear out?"

Metro got these SORELY NEEDED articulateds on a piggyback deal with MTA (LA) that saved a lot of money...I'd rather that than them having to spec them all from scratch, have to spend tons more money, and not address overcrowding on routes that need help.  I know it hurts to see these things stuck in a corner, but I promise you, the X2 isn't much better (didn't they used to be one long route?) anyway, so you're barking up the wrong street here.

[Tritransit Area]

Honestly, what's the point of "hiding" these buses?  Why must they ALL go to the X2?  Aren't there other Bladensburg routes that actually could use artics?

Too bad they can't repaint the buses into an express scheme of some sort and use them on the 79 (does that get crowded) or something.

[Tritransit Area]

Coordination? You mean "Hey DDOT, we got these shiny new buses we want to run on H Street, you think maybe you could put that trolley project on hold for about 15 years until they wear out?"

Metro got these SORELY NEEDED articulateds on a piggyback deal with MTA (LA) that saved a lot of money...I'd rather that than them having to spec them all from scratch, have to spend tons more money, and not address overcrowding on routes that need help.  I know it hurts to see these things stuck in a corner, but I promise you, the X2 isn't much better (didn't they used to be one long route?) anyway, so you're barking up the wrong street here.

As bad as the "bus not running on the X2" situation may be, the fact that construction is in this phase for the streetcar project is much worse.  By the time we get these trolleys running here (well, there in DC), they will be aged already...

[NewFlyer9736BCT]

Honestly, what's the point of "hiding" these buses?  Why must they ALL go to the X2?  Aren't there other Bladensburg routes that actually could use artics?

Too bad they can't repaint the buses into an express scheme of some sort and use them on the 79 (does that get crowded) or something.

Surely there are other Bladensburg routes that can use artics, but my theory is that some of them can't handle artics due to small roads/tight turns, etc (for example: D6, H2/H3/H4)

One way of trying to reveal these buses was to put them on the R line during PM rush, not the X2 but it's the next best thing (like Tristan said, the X2 isn't much better either).

[Scrabbleship]

With the streetcar thing (for streetcars which may never run because nobody has a pair to get the overhead wire ban amended), you then run into the problem of how long the 5200's can hold up. And if they can't hold up anymore and it isn't time for a new CNG order, what do you do then? Restructure the entire route by making it 40'-only and deprive other Bladendburg routes of buses?

No other city in America would needlessly coddle buses like we do. Put them on the X2 and let things happen as they may? What's the worst that we can happen?

[Tristan]

You're pushing for them to put these buses on a route where they will be physically pounded for 60% of the line versus keeping them in a relatively safe place until the project is done.  Yes, they're getting....their share of damage on the U8, but it's interior damage -- writing, seat slashes, window etching (I've never witnessed any of this but I'm assuming that this is the type of stuff that would happen) -- that is easier to repair than mechanical, physical damage.

MTA had frame crack issues with not only Neoplans but also New Flyers, and I think a big part of it is the fact that they are driving these vehicles through sinkholes several times a day (looks like Baltimore has done some street paving recently, but some problem areas still exist), and I would expect the same type of thing to happen to the NABIs under the same conditions.

[Scrabbleship]

Most TA's would not have any problems running new buses on routes which are undergoing construction. Why would WMATA be so concerned?
Besides, H Street isn't as bad off as many roads up north...and TA's up there run new buses there like it's no problem. Why should WMATA be so different?
Maybe it's time to do an even split of the 70 and the X2 between Bladensburg and Northern...

[NewFlyer9736BCT]

Most TA's would not have any problems running new buses on routes which are undergoing construction. Why would WMATA be so concerned?
Besides, H Street isn't as bad off as many roads up north...and TA's up there run new buses there like it's no problem. Why should WMATA be so different?
Maybe it's time to do an even split of the 70 and the X2 between Bladensburg and Northern...

...as mentioned before, construction on H Street might pose a greater danger of the buses suffering exterior damage, and imo I'd rather have my buses to get interior damage only and not both.

Although the U8 isn't any better in that case...I remember a couple of months ago when someone reported that one of the new NABI artics had an accident while on the U8, and IIRC it was because of a tight turn.