Great place.  As long as blogers don't turn the place into the Gaza Strip!

Happy 2nd on the blog and 30th in general.

Also, 3604 on the 53 - Westheimer out of West.

er, that's one of the new Orions.  

Questions:

1.  How did it ride?

2.  Does it look like it is going to hold up on the "mean streets of Houston".  (Quoting Mr. Cedric)

3.  Know the answer to this one:  It has "those seats", basicly fabric on metal.

I do know some of the silver QL buses are at Kashmire BOF.  Front Lot, on the left, along the feeder, next to B. Jordan School.  Getting set up there before going to West.

My question about this is:  Why use two types of buses on the 402?  To see which one last the longest?

** "The few businesses that have taken a risk and bared their souls have found that transparency engenders sympathy, trust and support."

We will strive for that goal in our third year.**

I think it's the METRO brass that ought to be striving for the transparency goal a little harder.

Ms. Sit,

I wish to thank METRO for sponsoring the blog as it allows critics to bypass the local PRAVDA, which has been overly biased in favor of Lee. P. Brown's boondoggle, 3rd-world-class tram, which gives humble critics the opportunity to cite actual statistical information, wrestled from the legal department.

After prevailing in the last two Texas AG letter opinions concerning the release of reports about the stray current corrosion damage created by the tram, which continues to this day, I was frustrated hearing METRO will file a lawsuit in Travis County so as to keep the presumably negative data stonewalled until later this year.

I also await FTA "findings" concerning my Title VI Civil Rights complaint.

Sorry, didn't get to ride it.  I saw it as I was on my way to work.  It looks tacky.

I DID ride bus 3390.  Love the sound as it decelerates.

And the silvr sides you see at Kashmere BOF might be for the Tidwell QL or the ill fated, money sink TMC-Palm Center QL.

I congratulate Metro for 2 years of having a blog. Oh and Mary i'm still waiting for those updates to the site. The holidays are over let's grab some shovels and get to work . lol

I got to ride the new 3600's yesterday. It was probably the exact 53-Briar Forest that you mentioned, J.

The front looks like the first set of hybrids and the back looks like the 5000's for the M.A.D. The special part is when you get inside.

Dear. God. It's. HUGE!

First of all, MUCH lower to the ground than the current buses. Trust me, you don't have to be a mountain goat to get in the bus anymore...or a base jumper to get out.

The Q Card reader is about waist-level now, for those who wish to simply wave their butt in front of the reader so they don't have to take out their wallet. I consider this an incidental feature, not a selling point.

Now for the seating. I can confirm it's the same seats that are in the other hybrids. I don't like them, but I've learned to live with them, so it's become a minor point.

Anyway, once you're in the seating area, you'll discover there's 5 fewer seats in the front half of the bus. However, this MIGHT be a fair trade. The layout is such that instead of 5 sideways-facing seats in the very front, there's 6 now. The first row of forward-facing seating has been replaced by a fabric-covered barricade-type thing.

Don't panic, this is a good thing.  This means that now, when a person in a wheelchair/scooter gets on board, only 3 people are displaced instead of 5.

The NEW first row starts behind the barricade, with a ridiculous amount of legroom. This is remarkably ideal for people with walkers, luggage, carts, baby strollers, and other large items that would normally tick off fellow passengers by being in the isle.

The seats facing the back door is gone. However, with the on-bus Q Reloader, this really winds up being more of a convenience for the person who's putting money on their card. Also, there's standing room there.

I didn't get a good look at the back, but from what I glanced at, I'd venture to guess that the sideways-facing seats were turned forward, so I doubt there was a net gain or loss of seating in the back. If I get on another one, I'll check.

The ride itself was nice, just like the other hybrids were. Fairly smooth, but this was Westheimer, not raggedy Holman.

The bus is quite a bit taller, at least a foot on the inside. The advantage is that the scrolling marquee isn't covering the window now, but on the down side, you have actually look for it.

The only thing that truly displeases me is the sound it makes when the hydraulics lower the bus. It kind of sounds like a cross between a fart and someone blowing their nose. However, it doesn't make this noise when it comes back up. Odd.

Ok, that's all I got for you.

Very in depth!  Good job.  Of course it'd be better if Metro was rolling out it's historical fleet to celebrate it's 30th birthday, which they seem to have forgotten but I'll take the 3600s.  I didn't see one today though and I don't know what routes to expect them on.

I wonder how they sound?  Though they'll never match the richness of the RTS or the Grumman buses, hopefully they aren't as bland as 90% of the 32-35xx D40LFs.

Happy anniversary to the blog.   gGreat idea now instead of calling in complaints about late busses and rude drivers i'll just blog it.

Bravo to the METRO blog!

I rode an Orion 7 today and they are a huge step forward in design. The frameless windows look classy from the outside and the interior is spacious and bright. Finally, a local bus that looks like something people might WANT to ride, not just a welfare service for those who have to. And they still have that new bus smell!

Mary, I'm pretty sure Todd means the METRO Solutions site. Some of the lines are going on half a year without an update and the Signature Bus and Commuter Rail tabs still don't have content. It looks as if  you have a lot on your plate maintaining the majority of the website, so thanks for your effort.

Thank you James you hit it right on the head, I had inquired about Metro solutions/ construction and commuter rail updates just after Christmas

I can bet money Mary wanted me to say something because she e-mailed me telling me not to stray from the blog but this is only if I really need to say something.

Well---here goes=>Happy 2nd Anniversary to the Write On METRO Blog!

Cool comments to those who either rode the new 07 NG hybrids or even just seen one in service.  I wonder where 3626 is---or rather---where will it go when it's time for into service?  As soon as I get to ride one, I'll take a whack at the YouTube-like vid thing---if you know what I mean.

J. Liggins said:  "And the silvr sides you see at Kashmere BOF might be for the Tidwell QL or the ill fated, money sink TMC-Palm Center QL."

I'm bettin' for the Tidwell QL---I hope.

~Cedric Collins~

Forget Tidwell--Westheimer needs them yesterday.

Anyway, I have not seen any QL stops on Tidwell yet.

We also ned some 29.999999...fott buses in hybrid.  Place those on the 66, and put those on routes whic need more buses.

And the 39 Parker?  That could be run with a van, taxi or METROLife bus.

BTW, I think the Bog needs this:

Constantly running threads on these subjects:

1.  Ops and routes.

2.  Equipment--types, good and bad points, stuff I wish METRO would buy (you know MY response).....

If you had that, then the regular threads could be "policed" so bloggers could stay on the subject, while there would be a place to vent and discuss day-to day stuff.

3.  Equipment roster:  Numbers and who made it.  Even place the list of which BOF's had which buses.

Thanks, J. I try. :-)

Based on my observations, the new buses are out of West Garage and either Kashmere or Hiram Clarke since I saw one running the 1-Hospital(which operates out of both). It was turning when I saw it, so I didn't get to look for the garage letter in the window or on the back.  

I don't remember much about how it sounded, but I think it was relatively quiet compared to the majority of the current fleet.

And I am seriously in love with the ginormous windows.

Well, I rode bus 3603 this morning on the inbound 53 - Briar Forest Ltd.  I have mixed feelings about these buses.

Pros:

-It's the first transit bus I've rode in some time that feels like a REAL bus, not a cramped shoe box.  It is very roomy and was well laid out.  I like the stop request bells on the side of the handrails in the back of the bus.  I also like the handgrabs along the top rails of the bus.

-It has GREAT acceleration.  

-The bus doesn't rattle much at all, and when it does, it reminds me of the old Flxible 2200 series buses.

-Looks like a GM New Look from a distance.

Cons:

-NOT an RTS bus.

-Poor freeway speed.  It seemed slower than any current bus in the fleet in terms of freeway running.  Even the 4000s have this bus beat.

-It sounds like a toy jet.  Very quiet.  That's good news for regular passengers but I don't like it.  There's nothing interesting about the sound of this bus at all.  It's basically the sound of an A/C unit revving up and shutting off.  Ugh.

-It is a large but EXTREMELY ugly bus.  It is absolutely hideous.  It looks overengineered and will probably last only the required 12 years.  

I could deal with 96 of these, but if they order anymore the fleet is going to becom extremely boring and ugly.  Though, at least we won't be as cramped.  The seats also hurt me bum.  They need the seats that the old 4103-4106 Hybrids have.  

Side Note: Metro scraped the Hybrid designations off the sides of those buses and it looks so friggin' tacky.  What is wrong with you all?

Rather pessimistic, J.

1) Freeway speed could be a function of the driver.

2) Quiet buses are better for everyone that has to be around them...I'm at a loss to understand how noisy buses rev your engine, but to each his own.

3) Ugly? Ugly are the D40LFs, the boxes on wheels. They've got seams all over the body and windows that aren't flush. The hybrid version, even with the restyling, basically just got a battery pack plopped on top. I'll take big, frameless windows and some clean curves any day.

4) The New Flyers have PROVEN that they BARELY last 12 years. Many are in sorry shape at a far younger age. MTA New York City Transit runs mostly Orions and they take a beating every day. Provided METRO can do a decent job of maintaining them, I have every reason to believe they'll last.

In short, this is the first METRO local coach that looks modern and offers an inviting experience. I'm on board.

And it should be noted that places that take pride in their transit - I have mostly noticed this in Europe - have had spacious, attractive buses for years. Finally, American design is catching up.

(1). I ride with this driver every Monday morning and he always has a New Flyer with the exception of today of course.  This was the slowest trip on the freeway and we had an Orion today, I'm just putting two and two together.

(2). I like the sound of loud bus engines.  Like some people like the sound of loud car engines. To each their own.

(3). The Orion doesn't have "clean" curves.  The front looks overstyled and has several "bumps."  The slanting window line looks bad and the strip Metro left on under the windown line looks tacky.  The rear end of the bus is ugly with the oversized lights and the odd um, "shape" in the back adds nothing.

(4). New Flyers are in bad shape because Metro has terrible maintenence.  The Orion bus 3603 already has a loose panel above the rear door.  In NYC, the Orions have had numerous teething problems spread over the last several years.  The first buses that arrived in late 2003-early 2004 were already two years late and had a litany of issues that delayed future orders.  

Attractive buses are one thing, overstyled buses are another.  What MCI does with their buses is nice, Orion not so much.  I prefer the New Flyer hybrids understated redesign.  Also, NABI has a nice looking BRT bus that pulls of Euro styling cues flawlessly.

I trust your judgement, J, but please allow me to suggest this: perhaps it only seemed slower because the bus doesn't rattle (yet), has better sound insulation, and/or offers a smoother ride. I haven't spent enough time aboard these newfangled vehicles to know yet. I understand you were probably looking out the window and watching cars pass you, but I felt compelled to offer this possibility.

DominicMazoch said:  "Forget Tidwell--Westheimer needs them yesterday."

Meh---Westheimer can wait.  Besides, if METRO really wants to worry about Westheimer, you're gonna have them put the wrong type of current buses there.  Either get the "A" bus or the "DD" bus for Westheimer.

ChloeMireille said:  "Based on my observations, the new buses are out of West Garage and either Kashmere or Hiram Clarke since I saw one running the 1-Hospital(which operates out of both). It was turning when I saw it, so I didn't get to look for the garage letter in the window or on the back."

To respond to this statement, only West and Hiram Clarke have the new Orions---for now.  West has 3601-3620 while Hiram Clarke has 3621-3636.

Kashmere---from what I was told via e-mail from a reliable source---is to get only five of the ten Orions painted for the Quickline service (3652-3656).

Hope that helps.

~Cedric Collins~

"Kashmere---from what I was told via e-mail from a reliable source---is to get only five of the ten Orions painted for the Quickline service (3652-3656)."

To add to this, I was told that for now (once they're ready for service) they'll be put on regular routes just like any other bus painted in the regular METRO livery.

Again, hope that helps.

~Cedric Collins~

Westheimer does not need articulated buses or expensive double decker buses.  Metro has an extremely difficult time as is maintaining their bread and butter fleet of New Flyer boxes.  Articulated buses are very difficult and expensive to maintain and the whole fleet usually does not make it to their 12th birthday (see Artic, Ikarus Crown).  Metro is also hiring poor quality bus drivers to replace and supplement the current professionals already behind the wheel.  I'd hate to see what would happen with a Double Decker bus in their hands.

Westheimer needs more frequent bus service and they need a QL to take pressure off the 53/81/82 trio.  Running QLs down Tidwell and OST is a complete and utter waste of precious funds.  The TMC Palm QL is on the M.A.D level of squandering money.  It makes perfect sense for Metro to run the first two QL services along routes that for over a DECADE have had the highest ridership numbers in the system.

Also 3636 was in service yesterday on the 5 - Southmore.  Interesting choice.

I can see DD's on the P&R's, but NOT Westheimer!

Did ride a 3600 today!  Chloe's discription is very correct.

Now, I could see some of the 3600's placed with P&R seats, and used on routes like the 286, which are the least used P&R routes in the system, and/or the midday/late evening 2X9 routes.

J. Liggins:

Question-I know the Artics cost more to run because of the "trailer" and the articulation.  But he thing can arrry more people.  Do the costs and benefits wash out, or are there negatives on the artic side?

Also, the NeoPlan artics are wired in such a way that you have to use a voltmeter at either end of the wiring harnesses, but there is no access to the wires anywhere near the articulation.

And METRO has to get parts form NeoPart, because NeoPlan is out of business.  That increases costs.

But any of the present bus makers of artics have improved on the concept?

Meh---whatever floats the boats here.  As Dominic said, artics can carry way more people than a mere 40' bus model of any type would.  Same goes for DDs=>they can carry more people than any bus model METRO currently has.

Dominic,

       I don't know if there's a way but you may can see about getting testimonials from TAs that already have artics in their fleet but that would ultimately depend on what exact type of artic bus you're inquiring about.  This should include both the positives and negatives about the bus.

Oh---and spotted 3619 on the 25 on Monday that just past.  Sounds too doggone quiet amist the other noises around me when I saw it at the Wheeler Station.

So, we have confirmed the arrival of 3603, 3604, 3619, and 3636.

Add 3615!

Opps, add 3625, NOT 15!