Now, how about this hybrid:

Hybrid bus and a "Flex Straw".

Now these new buses ate the 5000's, right.

Dominic,

       The fleet numbers I see are 5001-5102.

Cedric:

Sounds like 101 units!

10 are for the IAH service, so that is 91 for P&R.

Oh thats really nice, METRO... Can we get some "NEW" buses on Route 102??? You guys keep placing those new buses the other routes and then tossing the JUNK! on 102. Now I rode an "OLDER" MCI (which was taken from Kuykendahl P&R) on the 102 which had a comfy ride and COOOOOL! a/c. I'll settle for that if thats the best you people can do.

I call in 2 - 4 times a week reporting a/c issues with the buses and they have yet to be fixed. Its those buses that look like a boat in the front, the a/c BARELY works on them. And on a hot day the a/c circulates hot air. Then they rattle like they're being held together by the final screw.

CHRIS!

Those articulated buses also have smooth rides. You know, the ones on the 214, 219 etc....(not the ones with the blue seats like on 85)

Dominic,

       Actually, it's 102.  You have to count in 5001 as well as the other numbers all the way up to 5102.  In other words, you count=>5001, 5002, 5003, etc.

I watched the little video and I have to wonder if Skabowski was talking only about the new commuter coaches when he said the hybrids don't shift and they are extremely quiet, almost in relation to that of a car.  The 3500 series Hybrids are pretty loud, in fact, when they get up to speed, they scream like an RTS, which is not bad at all.  When they deaccelerate, they also scream, but as they slow down, they grunt and shift as well.  

I don't know if I like the replacement of the bus fleet 100 buses per year.  The oldest local buses are the 4000 series New Flyers, only 30 of which are even approaching 12.  They are in much better shape than the 2200-2300 series Flxibles and the Ikarus buses were around that age.  These buses could easily last 15+ years but Metro is so anxious to put make up on a pig that 12 and 13 year old buses will be getting the heave-ho.  

Adding new buses to the fleet is great, but what's the point if they are still running the same dismal and subpar service?

J. Liggins said:  "The 3500 series Hybrids are pretty loud, in fact, when they get up to speed, they scream like an RTS, which is not bad at all.  When they deaccelerate, they also scream, but as they slow down, they grunt and shift as well."

Apparently, that's something NEW FLYER---much less METRO---need to hear AND look into---and FIX---ASAP!  Hopefully the new Orion VII Next Generation HEVs don't sound like that but while I'm look at YouTube videos of the TTC O7 NG HEVs, they should really cool!

Chris,

We get some of those old Neoplans on the 108!  Maybe with the "bump-along" effect, we will get some older MCI's.

The only thing I say about this topic is that we need MORE of this type of coach.  Unless somebody else can step up to the plate (I can safely say that ain't gonna happen), MCI can give us what we need!  YAY!

If they can fit a Neoplan you-know-whats with Park and Ride seats, then I think they can fit New Flyers, NABI's or Orions with them.  And the first two do make you-know-what kind of hybrids.

Dominic,

       Do you remember when METRO had the 27xx Ikarus buses?  They had P&R-type seats in them.

We DO, however, need local buses that can have P&R-type seat on them.  That way, they can be possibly be used for routes such as the 102.  Routes like those (1xx) are NOW "Limited" instead of "Express" except the 170---which is still an Express route.

"And the first two do make you-know-what kind of hybrids."

LOL!!!  Dare  say it?  Naw---I dare NOT to say the magic word so for now, let's just leave it at that, shall we?  LOL!!!

"Dare  say it?"

There should of been an "I" in there.  LOL!!

CORRECT=> "Dare I say it?"

"Sounds like 101 units!

10 are for the IAH service, so that is 91 for P&R."

--------------------------------------------------------

Sounds interesting.

Yes the 27xx had them.  Also, some of the NeoPlan 29.999999.....foot buses had them, for 236 Maxey Road service.

BTW, 29.9999...=30; it can be proved, but i willl not do it here.  Just my comments about the bumper removal on the smaller Neoplans.

METRO can say what they want in regards to calling a certain "baby" bus a 29.999999....foot model but in the eyes of the bus manufacturer, it'll always be a 30 foot model.

Anyhoo, can't wait until the coaches actually arrive.