All this to show off a new bus line?

Fred,

     If this is METRO's way of promoting this new bus line, then so be it.  They should also do something like this for the 32 - Renwick Crosstown bus.  I'm sure that route (the 32) may get a number of riders to METRO's liking.

YES, I will not only take photos of the bus(es) and possibly the stops but I'll also take time to actually ride the bus to see how it is.

There is one problem I have with the stops.  Some of the stops are across the interesection from the regular METRO service.  I can understand some distance, but somebody should be able to transfer from QL to /from local.  Remeber, other services use the Bellaire/Holcombe route.  Also, somebody my take 402 to overtake a 2, then go local.

I just wish Bugs started with a 482.........

But for services like 32, 39, 64, et. al., METRO should use a smaller unit.  I could see a contract cab or wheelchair van, and place the bigger units on 81, 82..........Mr. Fudd would agree!

Sliiy question but it wouldn't hurt to ask anyway since I'm not getting the answer via e-mail.

What type of blue color is the base of the bus coated in?  If anybody had seen photos of the new Greyhound USA Prevost X3-45 coaches, that blue is not just your average blue---it's Navy Blue.

Cedric:

Blue, Blue, my world is blue (60/70 song.)

I don't know.

But Doc, I think Cedric, Wi11ie and myself could make a better tape than the one on the homepage.  I know THE DOC, (Bugs) is expensive, but.....

And how about 6am to 7pm service.  The 2 and 82 (wish) have enough passengers to split using all day service.

Greyhound is moving to Prevost X3-45???

Here's a picture of the X345. I read some articles and it seems like they're going to be delivered in the Northeast region. But these are great, I love driving Prevost coaches

http://www.greyhound.com/home/en/images_cms/photos/Greyhound_Neoclassic_bus_SKYLINE.jpg

Yes, all this and more to show off a bus service that will benefit the poor, minority, elderly, and handicapped #2-dependent riders who have been dreaming about this service since it was first announced.

Thanks, METRO, for making getting around in Houston a much better experience for many of us.

Agatha,

Would one speculate METREAUX is preparing to "Spin" the Title VI Civil Rights "Findings" that they likely expected after the February compliance audit?

Agatha said:  

"Yes, all this and more to show off a bus service that will benefit the poor, minority, elderly, and handicapped #2-dependent riders who have been dreaming about this service since it was first announced."

How does this new service benefit the elderly and handicapped?

Those are the very people who cannot afford to walk longer distances to get to a bus stop.  There is a stop at Holcombe and Kirby and then at Bellaire & Bissonett so all those elderly and handicapped in between will not be wanting to walk up to 1-1/2 miles either way.

Those riders are the ones who might benefit by an improved MetroLift service rather than making people with handicaps or elderly, walk far longer distances than they currently do.

This is one of the inherant problems with the rail line as compared to the previous bus lines along those routes.  

Those who can ill afford to walk long distances, especially considering our extreme temperatures and weather suffer the most from having fewer drop points.

This reader also questions how it benefits the poor for the same reasons.  If I were poor and used the #2 to get from, say, my apartment at Renwick and wanted to go to my job close to Stella Link, this service is of no benefit to me.

It appears to benefit those who happen to reside at those stops and whose destinations are another stop or maybe for those who are headed simply to the TMC rail station terminal?

C,

 Yes---Greyhound is moving to Prevost and getting their X3-45 coaches because of some feud going on between them (Greyhound) and MCI---yes---the SAME MCI that's building OUR hybrid commuter coaches.

Chris,

     You are correct about the articles and eventually (whenever that is), Greyhound is poised to replacing the nationwide fleet with these coaches.  I can't wait to see one in person around here.

Dominic,

       It's OK that you don't know.  Hopefully METRO will give me some sort of answer---before I turn 50.  *lol*

Royko,

     You know you're not funny, right?  As I said before (sorry Dominic for repeating this) but I'll be there June 1st to ride this service and take photos.  It's about time that I ride something new.  Too bad I wasn't there when they did that intro stuff.

C,

  Actually, Greyhound had already started getting the Prevost X3-45 coaches when they started a new service out there in the Northeast region of the US.  It's called BoltBus->http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/BoltBus  Here's something else to look at in regards to Greyhound, Prevost, and BoltBus->http://www.prevostcar.com/cgi-bin/pages.cgi?page=media&newsid=1209130587

Mr. CoLLins,

The METREAUX abuse of the taxpayers, as well as their lack of transparency is a serious matter.

Futher, I just received the April numbers, via a TPIA request:

METRO fixed-route bus boardings again experienced a huge decline of -26.02% for April 2009 over April 2008.  Bus boardings for first seven months of FY 2009 is -21.83% below the same FY 2008 period.  In real numbers, there were 11,298,800 fewer bus boardings this fiscal year.  The fixed-route bus boardings for the Jan-Apr 2009 period are -29.43% less than the Jan-Apr 2004 period when the tram service was initiated.

The fixed-route bus boardings have DECLINED each of the past NINE months, -20%, with a net loss of -13,240,300 boardings. There have been bus boarding declines in 11 of the past 14 months.

The tram boardings were again off -2.44% for April 2009, and the estimated tram boardings for the first seven months of FY2009 have declined -4.3%.  The tram boardings have DECLINED each of the past SEVEN months as compared to the same 7-month period in FY2008.  The total loss of tram boardings totals -307,800.

Royko will you share revenue numbers? I have asked before for the num bers. I know you want many responders to subscribe to your monthly newsletter where you share that info;but, why not share here?

I ride overloaded buses everyday at peak times. So I find it hard to believe that there's a decline in ridership, it may be a lack of people paying fares, faulty passenger counting and most of it is METROs fault.

The few routes I use, the Qcard thing isn't working a majority of the time. So you have many trips not even being accounted for. I think the Qcard thing is making errors in counting.

Then you have the people who "forget" to load their cards so they get a free trip to wherever.

As for the tram, we all know everyone isn't being honest. And the machines on the platforms are out of service many times.

coug6666,

I can send you an EXCEL file where I have tracked Sales Tax, Harris County Population, Fixed-Route Bus boardings and Fare Box Revenue, as well as estimated Tram boardings and TVM Revenue.  I receive the Q-Card Revenue but do not track it.  The FTA allows METREAUX to assign the Q-Card revenue any way they wish, and since they "churn" the forced tram boardings, the allocation to the Danger Train is running double what the TVM revenue used to be, even though the majority of riders are transfers.

I would like to think I am as "Transparent" as the Urban Rail Robber Barons.

tom at bazan dot net

Royko,

     Say what you want but you and some of your cronies will not bring anybody down.  Not METRO; not the City of Houston; not even the FTA.

If those FTA folks would listen to you and what you have to say and would like to feel sorry for you and who you think you're representing (I'm not one of them---thank God), then ALL of mass transit in this country is doomed.  DOOMED, I tells ya!

BTW---Royko---you're still NOT FUNNY!  My recent comment is very serious enough.

Anyhoo (and back to the Quickline thing), I already printed out the current Quickline schedule and I can only get there to deal with the AM Rush Quickline buses.

Mr. CoLLins,

It was the FTA who, after a comprehensive audit, issued the Title VI Civil Rights "Findings" as a result of METREAUX's policies and actions.

The question should be "where were all the minority 'watchdogs' during years of METREAUX's abuse of the poor, minority, elderly, and handicapped bus transit dependent riders throughout the service area?"

You seem to be accurate in that METREAUX IS the LAW, and that no enforcement authority has yet to punish the Urban Rail Robber Barons for squandering the taxpayers' precious resources on the Lee. P. Brown Legacy boondoggle tram as well as wasteful extensions.

Anyone know why the quilckline ends at ranchester?

The question should be "where were all the minority 'watchdogs' during years of METREAUX's abuse of the poor, minority, elderly, and handicapped bus transit dependent riders throughout the service area?"

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

This was a very simple hurdle for METRO to jump. Pay off the minorities by giving them priority on many of the over-priced projects. That way they can kickback the surplus to whoever helped them receive the contract. The "watchdogs" hold a press conference about how great METRO is to the minority community and that's all minorities need. When have they actually needed tangible proof of anything?

So the "watchdogs" have been paid off and I doubt they use the transit system anyways. I think QuackyX runs around in a Escalade.  

Royko said:  "You seem to be accurate in that METREAUX IS the LAW, and that no enforcement authority has yet to punish the Urban Rail Robber Barons for squandering the taxpayers' precious resources on the Lee. P. Brown Legacy boondoggle tram as well as wasteful extensions."

PROVE IT!  Show proof that I said that METRO is the law.  Did I say anything like that?  NO!  METRO is only a TRANSIT AGENCY!  Do NOT put words into my mouth and you know doggone well I did NOT mean that!

Call me a supporter of mass transit in this country if you want, Royko---I don't care.  I like it that way.  Not everybody is perfect, OK?

(BACK TO TOPIC)  I just wish METRO would have used some sort of BRT-like bus for the Quickline but meh---what they have now will do.

Anyone know why the quilckline ends at ranchester?

My guess is that this line is directed at the potential ridership that works at the medical center. The TMC and Metro share aggegrate data and it was determined that the route chosen would be best. This is one reason that there is no direct link from east I-10 to the TMC. Not enough people (approx 400 that Ms Sit stated before on a different link) live and work to justify a direct bus at that time,

Well---I finally got the chance to ride one of these buses---the entire length of the trip.  Sorry Dominic but these seats are better than on their twins you see on such routes as the 30, 73, and even the 77.

The ride was nice, IMHO---minus certain areas that the bus had to go through that was under construction.

I'll post some YouTube vids of my ride on the bus when time allows.  Same goes for photos.  I'll go back Wednesday to take more photos of the bus.

Cedric:

I'm going to have to wait a weeek to ride Bugs.  Have to take care of family matters.  Did Mr. fudd try to ride?  At least it does not have "those seats"!

BTW, does Greyhound still own MCI?  At one time GH:MCI::Trailways:Eagle?

Why is the Greyhound going to a different line of buses?

Prevost does not have a hybrid.  Yet.

Dominic,

       Nope---didn't see Mr. Fudd.  I wanted to go back and take more pics today but I'll have to wait until next Monday.

Greyhound still has enough MCIs in their fleet---if that's what you're asking.

Greyhound is going to Prevost instead of MCI because of some serious feuding issues between The Dog and MCI.  I don't know the specifics so I rather not say further.  You'll have to research to find out what's going on and if it's still ongoing as of this message I'm posting.

As far as Prevost needing to make hybrid version of their coaches=>I like that idea but what type of hybrid technology will Prevost use?  GM/Allision?  ISE/Siemens?

Cedric:

I do know MCI is/was in bankruptcy.  that may have something to do with it.  Then again, it might be buying form two companies to keep both "honest"!

MCI "was" in bankruptcy but not anymore.  They did manage to handle their business and are now out of Chapter 11 Bankruptcy.  Go here (http://www.mcicoach.com/enTouchCMS/app/viewDocument?docID=700) for proof.

As for why isn't Greyhound buying anymore MCIs is a mystery to me.

Drive an MCI unit for a few years and you will have the answer to your questions.

I am not sure if MCI and Greyhound have a better track record than we do with them,but they tend to be broken down more than I would have thought was possible for ANY units costing what they do.

OR perhaps OUR problems are due to METRO maintenance.

Sadly there is little accountability there when it comes to repairs. Everything there is in CYOA mode from the REAL workers up.

I recently drove a bus that still has a problem in that between 30-50 mph it shakes.Same bus was written up last week for the same problem. SO, I went to the maintenance Superintendent and received the answer that it would be looked at. I actually witnessed the MAN go out and look at the bus,do nothing, and send the bus out on the road even though it was an issue that had been noted the previous week and then by me on Friday.

Perhaps the *bus fairy* will fix it over the weekend when there is no-one at the facility to witness it.

I can guarantee you one thing though.I will not get that bus again to see if it still is bad. There is the "switch and forget it" policy being used at my facility,

SAD....

wi11ie

Tightening the maintenance budget is just like cutting your nose off to spite your face.There will be issues,and we are now seeing the result of that on a daily basis

What's the deal with 5050-5102?  Are they still being stored @ Fallbrook?

Wi11ie:

Was that bus out of FB or Polk?  

FB

wi11ie

I did see 509X on the North HOV lane the other day,

Wi11ie:

Was the bus 4963?  My thought was the MCI's were "tighter" than the NeoPods; they seem to me they are!

Now in the blow your mind department:

First Transit is owned by First America.  Now gues who else First America owns?  I give you a hint:  it has something to do with a canine!

First America owns Greyhound Lines, Inc.  They recently bought the company from Laidlaw International after Laidlaw admitted that it only wanted to pursue its school bus side of the business.  Speaking of Greyhound, First America has consolidated all of Greyhound's subsidiaries. They will all operate as Greyhound.  Too bad for Valley Transit Bus Company (VTC) in Harlingen and Texas, New Mexico, & Oklahoma (TNM&O) out of Lubbock.  

Dog Driver:

Too bad about VT.  I always liked them.  Very friendly service.  and from my house to downtown Corpus Christi was actually faster on VT than flying using their limited stop shedules!  (I am meanind front door to front door.

Now did TNM&O actually owned and made the RTS bus out of a factory in....Roswell NM.......Where is Agent Molder?

J. Liggins said:  "What's the deal with 5050-5102?  Are they still being stored @ Fallbrook?"

J,

 Who knows (if that question hasn't been answered yet) BUT here how I see who's getting what group of MCI hybrids (in case anybody else wants to know):

5001-5002, 5008-5030=>Fallbrook

5003-5007 (Airport Direct)=>Polk

5031-5052=>West

5053-5077=>Kashmere

My question is who will get 5078-5102?

Cedric:

NW?  OH NO!!!!

Hmmmmmm, interesting.  I spotted 5053 today Not in Service and it was from Kashmere, but I saw 5033 still at Fallbrook as well on the 209 route.  I wonder where these buses will end up because no garage has any buses in need of retirement yet.  We'll just have to wait and see.

I rode the QL today.  It's not really quick per se but it does save time.  I wish the speeds were faster but what can you do.  We passed up two local Bellaire buses near the end of the route.  I like the new scheme and the padded seats.  Nice.

Bus was 3580.

well, Fallbrook could retire a few of those buses on the 102.

Last week 2 SB buses in a row were out of service. One had a flat, the other had a/c issues. I waited at Greenspoint TC for an hour and a half. You think METRO sent a spare bus? So naturally the following route was overloaded.

Not to mention the condensation issue on some buses.

METRO might be retiring the 3700 NeoPods!

Also, the Greyhound-MCI fight might be because of FT now owning GLI.  Did like that new dog livery!

I hope the FTA orders METREAUX to restore precious taxpayer funds to critical bus service throughout the service area, which had been slashed in favor of the Lee. P. Brown legacy boondoggle tram.

Neopods are gone.  The Vikings on the 102 aren't even 11 years old yet, though they are close.

Well the "Viking" fleet should have been replaced long ago. Because that model was recalled 4 years in a row by New Flyer for inadequate braking systems.

I would love to see METRO waste as much money on the buses as they do on that "boondoggle" (I love that word) tram. I'm sure the drivers would love to drive some Prevost buses. But, MCI is a great start.

days without a new post by Mary...

Time for a call...

wi11ie

Dominic,

        Don't forget about Hiram Clarke Garage.  How knows if they'll be next in line to get new MCI hybrids.

J,

 You're right that the Quickline was not too fast but it was a nice ride and it does save time as opposed to the 2.  I thought I would never get back to the TMC Transit Center.

For Dominic, your rear will feel a little bit better with those seats than the ones on their twins with the regular METRO livery.

wi11ie,

      I think Mary must have heard ya and/or read your most recent post.  It looks like she just posted a new blog topic.  Now---Mary---how about checking those e-mails...........

I past K BOF today.  A large gaggle of MCI's in the yard where the 3600's were.

When the first HB MCI's came in, they first came to FB, then to other points.  I don't know why FB first;  I would think K would get first shot at them.

Guess we can start calling the NF P&R buses in the 3700's NewPods!  (OK, wi11ie, stop laughing!)

We still have some 44/4500 NeoPod a-buses left.

Any word about the proposed DD buses?

I think the remaining Hybrid MCIs will replace the 4400 series Neoplan Artics.  It's about that time as Northwest has stopped taking care of them, they all look rough.  Of course, the MCIs that were stored at FB were plastered with a number of limited use and defect stickers.

Random Bus Notes - 2875, 2876, 2878, 2881, 2883, 2884, 3363, and 3364 have been spotted at West from Hiram Clarke.  4037, 4039, 4040, and 4041 have been transferred to West from Fallbrook.

2866, 2868, 2871 from Hiram Clarke have been transferred to Fallbrook.

Yes it seems that the MCI hybrids are having their share of problems also...

Friday I had the "pleasure?" of driving 5030 (not my regular hybrid)

After just one trip it went down with a NOT GEN lamp and no A/C.

Followed with 4791 that had an inoperative accelerator after any door opening.

The 4700-4800 buses are New Flyers me thinks as they have the same dash and such as the low floor buses.

So the term NEWPODS is accurate for them, however the 3700s are still NEO-PODS as they are carrying the same dash as the NEO-PODS and are hopefully gone.

I can only think that METRO in its infinite wisdom? will learn from the NEO-PODs and get a little feedback from the operators that drive the MCI buses and not from pocket liners at the companies that manufacture them.

Also it seems that METRO has bought a trainload of seats that say Recaro on them and yet are seemingly not the same as what is coming in the MCIs.The MCIs have AIR RIDE and are comfy, the knock-offs that say Recaro have AIR ADJUST and do not allow more than a few degrees of rear tilt.

I wonder if this is an attempt to deceive us into believing that they are the real deal?

Or is this just another attempt to give us the look of quality with another "brother-in-law" company?

The seatbelts even seem to be for left handed people as they are opposite from the real thing..

wi11ie

J. Liggins said:  "I think the remaining Hybrid MCIs will replace the 4400 series Neoplan Artics.  It's about that time as Northwest has stopped taking care of them, they all look rough."

If that's true (I really hope so), that's the kind of tune I would like to hear.  It's about time Northwest gets some of those MCI hybrids.  We'll just have to wait and see.

DominicMazoch said:  "Any word about the proposed DD buses?"

I second this question.  Will there be any real future orders for those or..........?

Willie, I guess the reason the seatbelts are backwards involves safety issues. Every passsenger will be able to see that the driver is wearing a seatbelt. Why because your fellow metro drivers still drive without their seatbelts. One call and a superior can meet a driver not wearing a seatbelt or talking on a cell phone. If the driver from the northshore express was wearing her seatbelt she would have never wrecked into the parking garage last year.

I believe the next garage to receive the next batch of MCI hybrids after Kashmere is (drum roll) Hiram Clarke.  While I was at the TMC Transit Center, I saw 5091 (H) operating on the Hiram Clarke employee shuttle.  This while I was waiting to board a Quickline bus (3586).  One was already there but I let that go because it was the exact same one I rode on the first day with the exact same driver (I remember what he looked like, of course) and I didn't want to go for a two-peat.

http://www.youtube.com/htownman24 =>view it and enjoy, folks!  It's about time that somebody from Houston does something like this---and I guess that person will have to be me.

The next fifty (50) MCI buses will be assigned to Kashmere, Polk and to Hiram Clarke as follows:

·        Kashmere - buses 5053-5077 (25)

·         Polk – buses 5078-5090 (13)

·        Hiram Clarke - buses 5091-5102 (12).

This is what I had gotten via e-mail.  It also states a huge number of bus moves.

I still thing a constant thread for equipment would work.  People want to talk about this stuff.  For example, postings on this topic could stay on buses Buggs, Peter, and Energizer would ride!

Last week, I personally rode the 402QL Bellaire bus from TMC transit center to Sharpstown mall. Honestly, the whole concept of quickline stupid. First of all, there was hardly no one on the bus, and the only thing better on the quickline bus was the outside (being wrapped). The interior was just as uncomfortable as any of the newer New Flyer hybrids (the seats are "padded", but still very hard). A greater frequency for the 2 could have been implemented!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

"A greater frequency for the 2 could have been implemented!!!!!!!!!!!!!!"

...and it'll STILL take forever for the 2 to get from Sharpstown Mall to the TMC Transit Center.

Forever?  More like black hole.

At least they have not quite those seats.  And, for some odd reason, I do like the insides.  It's like nothing else METRO runs.  Considering the Med Center 2-3PM shift change, the buses should start runnng earlier, doc!

Plus we do need this on the two.  EIGHTY two!

*LOL!*

You're right, Dominic---more like black hole for the 2---especially when it looks like people are getting on at almost every last stop along the line.  On that, that's why there needs to be A-Buses running the 2=>HINT, HINT METRO!!

My rear tells me that the seats were fine---and still.  Does one expect these buses to look more like P&R buses (on the inside, of course)?

I'll be glad when the articulated buses are gone, they look atrocious and are embarrasment.  Hopefully the next batch of bOrions replaces those and not the  4000 series Flyers.  I rode 4025 yesterday and it reminded me why these are my favorite buses; they are fast, sturdy, and overall reliable (they'll never be an RTS, but what will?).  All of them are over 10 and holding up very well.  I don't think I'll be able to say the same about the 3200-3535 series.  Not well put together at all, broken down alot, and look terrible.

OK, what is it about the 4000 class of LF NF's which places them out of the PODS class?

OK, the NeoPods artics need to go.  but even with the NP's gone, METRO will still have 18 bi-a's left!  Numbers:  100-117!

It is a bit refreshing, might I add, to have some MCIs on the 244, 246, 247, 249, and 297 routes instead of those beat down 4700s.  Polk and Hiram Clarke garages put all of their hybrids on those routes the first day they received them.  There wasn't a New Flyer in sight.  I rode a 4700 on the 247 Fuqua on the HOV lane and the doors wouldn't stay closed!  As soon as the driver hit 60 MPH, the doors would automatically fly open.  METRO is always talking about safety first.  This bus should have been called out of service!  

Also, why in the he** is Polk putting the 3500 New Flyer hybrids on the 247 Fuqua???????  Also, Hiram Clarke has thrown some Neoplans and the new Orions on the 297 Southpoint/Monroe TMC.  

Those uncomfortable seats are not made to commute from the TMC TC to Southpoint P&R!

Also, I don't think that it takes a genius to see that the 88 Hobby Airport via Hobby Airport (so redundant) needs to serve the Fuqua P&R lot.  It would take only 5 minutes for this route to connect to the P&R lot, giving those riders a connection to the hospital and San Jac.  

Why don't the 40 Telephone serve the Gulfgate TC?  It has a stop about a block or two away?  

I would like to see the 79 Little York discontinue service to the Northline TC and downtown.  It should run from its current terminus to the Mesa TC via Little York, making connections with the 78 Irvington, 6 Jensen, 39 Parker Circulator, 83, Lee Road Circulator, 77 Liberty/Homestead and at the Mesa TC with 45 Tidwell, 52 Hirsch, 77 Liberty/Mesa TC, and the 97 Settegast Circulator.  

LMAO @ the 88 - Hobby Airport, I've been saying that for ages!

And it seems as if HC is going through a bus shortage if they are putting Orions and the dreaded NeoPods on the park and ride routes.  There must be alot of 4700s out of service.  

Good thinking on that 79 too.

J. Liggins:

I would assume that there must be a ton of the 4700s that Hiram Clarke has is out of service.  Those buses are not near retirement yet, but they should be forced to retirement.  Polk and Hiram Clarke has the most beat up of these buses.  Either the A/C leaks inside the bus, there is a horrible rattling noise that entire ride to the P&R lot, the freakin doors won't remain closed safely, or the destination signs are broken!  Also, Hiram Clarke used to only put the 4700s on the 170 Missouri City Express and the other day, they has a D30LF on this route!  A 4200/4300 New Flyer on a 170 route was horrible.  There were professionals in suits and dresses standing up all the way to the Missouri City P&R lot!  Something has got to give at METRO!!!!!!!  This is a shame and a scandal!!!  Hiram Clarke must be elated to have received only 12 of the new MCI hybrids!  What a joke!  I hope that there are more MCIs on order for Polk and Hiram Clarke.  And if they don't burn those Neoplans at Northwest, I am going to scream.  Those buses are a disgrace to METRO and the Northwest BOF.  None of those destination signs work!  Please put those on the chopping block ASAP!  

About the 79 Little York, its route from Downtown to the Northline TC could be given to the 44 Acres Homes.  Then from the Northline TC, the 44 Acres Homes would resume its regular route.  Hell, the 56 Airline Limited could serve the Northline TC.  It runs on the next street, along the back of the mall, for crying out loud.  

Does anyone know what numbers will be assigned to the new Orions when we get them?  Obviously, METRO will probably skip over the 3700 numbers in favor of the recently retired Neoplans.  Are they going to be given 3800-3999?

I really, really wish that Kashmere would put a MCI on the 137 Northshore Limited.  Almost all of the other "Limited" routes have a commuter bus on it.  

102---------4700s-5000s

108---------4700s-5000s

131---------4800s-5000s

132---------4400s-4500s

137---------2900s

163---------4400s-4500s

170---------4700s

Does anyone see the problem?

DominicMazoch:

I don't know anything about TNM&O making the RTS buses.  That would be quite something, though.  

Interestingly enough, I seen a TNM&O bus leaving Houston heading north on I-45 towards Dallas.  Whats interesting about that is that TNM&O buses never had service to Houston, despite the "T" in its acronym.  That company only serviced north, northwest, and the panhandle of Texas.  The presence of that bus in Houston only signifies that First America has completely finished its consolidation of Greyhound's subsidiaries and that they are truly operating as one big bus line!  

Actually, the 132 uses 5000 series buses, but other than that you are spot on.  The only "limited" routes that don't use the commuter style park and ride buses are the 137 and the 163.  The beat up 4400s on the 163 don't count.  

Now, can anyone tell me what Northshore and Fondren have in common? Hmmmmmmmmm?

To answer J. Liggins' trivia question---the D40LF buses.  That's what the 137 and the 163 have in common---if every last Neoplan artic were to retire.

On another note=>Yup---I stand corrected---this entire blog is a joke!  Whining about buses is NOT going to help in any case---trust me.  Ta-ta!

The 79 suggestion:

1.  Run it east doen Little York, OK.

2.  Run an every other 15 from Northline TC to N. Shepherd P&R to replace the 79 down that way.

3.  On the West end, have it run from Lttle York and Antione to the NWTC, where you could conncet with the 33.  And/or hook with the 33.  A semi-circle route!  One bus from northside to get to the Galleria!

OK, there is a problem with 4700= buses on the 108.  The 108 goes to three different places:

1.  N. Shepherd Only

2.  NS, then Seton Lake

3.  NS, then local to FM 1960.

GENERALLY, if a bus is going to NS only or SL, it gets a 4700+ bus.  If it goes to 1960, a NewPod LF.  But.....there is one 1960 trip which gets a MCI.  And I did see a 29.9 foot bus on a 1960 trip ths week.

Now, for those who have ridden those 35/3600 buses, now you know why I use the term "those seats"!

Concernng Greyhound:

Sometimes I have seen buses from other parts of the Greyhound system here n Houston, before the new owners.  Sometimes a bus would run through, with an op from the area the bus is run.

Kirville used to be a part of GH, but is now part of Coach America.

Instead of adding a branch to the 15 Fulton, the 24 Northline should be renamed to the 24 Nordling/ North Shephard P&R via Northline TC.  It would have the same route up to the Northline TC then pick up the 79's route only to the N. Shephard P&R.  It could still have its little via Enid branch as well.  As a result, there would be no gap in service along the route changes.  On the west end, I don't think that it going to NWTC would be beneficial, considering its connection with the 85 Antoine and the 40 Pecore.  However, another consideration is that is continue on West Little York to a new terminus, the West Little York P&R, connecting it to the 216, 219, and the 286, if you're trying to get to Uptown or the NWTC!  

DominicMazoch said:

OK, there is a problem with 4700= buses on the 108.  The 108 goes to three different places:

1.  N. Shepherd Only

2.  NS, then Seton Lake

3.  NS, then local to FM 1960.

GENERALLY, if a bus is going to NS only or SL, it gets a 4700+ bus.  If it goes to 1960, a NewPod LF.  But.....there is one 1960 trip which gets a MCI.  And I did see a 29.9 foot bus on a 1960 trip ths week.

Now, for those who have ridden those 35/3600 buses, now you know why I use the term "those seats"!

To be honest about the 108, only Fallbrook runs the 108 schedules that go to N. Shephard only or North Shephard then Seton Lake P&R.  For the schedules that actually go to FM 1960, Fallbrook and Northwest share the route.  And to be perfectly honest, I have seen Northwest throw some 4400 Neoplans on the route.  You are correct, however, the D40LFs are normally the case on the FM 1960 schedules, especially on the schedules that are run by the Northwest BOF!  

On the other hand, METRO should split this route up for less confusion.  A 108 North Shephard/Seton Lake route doesn't make sense even to a retard.  Why don't they just call this bus the 212 Seton Lake via North Shephard, instead of the possiblity of passengers boarding the wrong bus and ending up at Seton Lake P&R instead of someone along Veterans Memorial.  Please, will someone call back the 201 N. Shephard!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!  Maybe, there could be a 207 Kuykendahl via North Shephard to help alleviate all of the unnecessary and confusing three branches of the 108 Veterans Memorial.  

DominicMazoch said:  

Concernng Greyhound:

Sometimes I have seen buses from other parts of the Greyhound system here n Houston, before the new owners.  Sometimes a bus would run through, with an op from the area the bus is run.

Kirville used to be a part of GH, but is now part of Coach America.

What other buses from the Greyhound family of companies have you seen operating a regular schedule?  I haven't seen that until recently, the TNM&O bus that I referred to.  And actually, Kerrville was never a part of the Greyhound company.  Kerrville used to partner with Greyhound as if they were together, however, Kerrville has always been its own company until they merged with Coach USA.  Now Coach USA has broken up and our region has the Coach America brand.  Coach USA only officially operates in the Northeast.  The Coach America still has buses branded with the Coach USA logo.  They are still authorized to use that name until they are able to phase out the old buses and replace them with the new companies name and logo.  

Re: MCI's on the 137

I like the idea, but I don't think it's terribly practical. The 137 and the 163 have had to fill the function of being a local bus more than being a P&R bus. P&R patrons will ride the 236 over the 137, and the 170 over the 163. (The latter was a fairer comparison when the 170 used to go downtown.) It's the same reasoning where people will take the 274 over the 132, or the 102 over the 56.

Re: 79-W. Little York

I like the idea of getting rid of the downtown segment. It already doesn't run during Midday anyway, and the 44-Acres Homes makes it completely redundant. If someone wanted to go between Northline and downtown, they could take the 15 or the 24.

Continuing it down East Little York seems feasible, but I expect a lot of complaining from people along the discontinued segment. There's a lot of grocery stores and shopping centers near the route. If E. Little York between the North Freeway and Mesa TC has enough retail to support it, then that's fine.

Its not fair that the 132 Harwin Express (Limited) route gets fewer coach/park and ride style buses. Many people, including myself ride this bus all the way from wheeler station to bellaire and addics-clodine (beginning of line - end of line). Being in uncomfortable fixed route style buses puts extra stress and discomfort on valued metro patrons. I cant wait till West garage gets more MCI's so they can throw them straight to the 132!!!

Um, the 132 is one of the few former express lines besides the 131 that has been using soft seat coaches before it was the thing to do.  They were using NeoPods as far back as when I was in high school along with the Ikarus suburbans and most of the trips I see on the 132 are MCI coaches.