Culver

They haven't updated any announcements (blecker st, atlantic av, etc.) on any R160 yet, thus they have't updated the software that controls the LEDs and FIND systems. Unless it's a complete mechanical failure, they can fix the glitches with software updates. 

So it's a mechanical/maintenance issue then? These issues have been on Jamaica R160s since the beginning and persist to this day. Coney Island R160s have been perfect every time I ride one.

M13. Because Marble Hill.

https://maps.google.com/maps/ms?msid=202807188220210378870.0004d43c990bd9e6975ec&msa=0

Yep and then there's the taxes (surcharges) we pay to the supposedly when we take yellow taxis, pay our cell phone bills, and so on and so forth. We pay more than enough taxes to the .  The problem is most of that tax revenue is taken away from the . 

"WE NEED MOAR ROADS AND PARKING!!! BACK TO THE 1950s WOOH!!!"

- Every NY state and city politician

Listen we pay some of the highest taxes in the country so please. The difference is the tax monies that should go to the go to everyone but the .

I haven't kept tabs, but the non-MTA counties in NY State probably owe the MTA a cool half a billion dollars by now with all the money Pataki, Paterson and Cuomo stole from MTA-county-specific taxes to give out to the rest of the state. That's a lot of service restorations.

I'd hate to revive this but, years later they've still not fixed the damn problems with FIND displays on the R160s...and the interior ceiling LED displays...and occasional window LED display being stuck or being completely off. I've noticed that Coney Island yard R160s don't have this problem, while the F (and E) still frequently has borked FINDs and interior/window LED signs all over a train set. What is the problem and why have they still not fixed this at Jamaica yard R160s?

Well yes I would agree with that and only if Westchester ponied up their fair share of the dough.  However, it would still be pick up only going from Manhattan and drop-off only in the Bronx to Yonkers Raceway and vice versa returning to the city, otherwise the route becomes unattractive and isn't fast for what would be charged.  Premium fares is supposed to mean premium service, otherwise it would just be a local limited stop bus. 

That we can definitely agree on.

Took 4273 on S79 SBS. Literally the fastest, best-accelerating NG I've ever been on. Damn thing hauled ass up the bridge like no hybrid before. Felt like it had a Cummins ISX in the back. I'm guessing this bus just had some work done to freshen it up.

 Well explain to me how they can cut the BxM4C when it supposedly performs well... They only have one measley express bus route and they can't even service it without dumping their responsibility onto the city.  Seems pretty cheap to me. In short I say they can keep their damn service in Westchester and service their routes and we'll service our routes.  And if I sound like I'm annoyed I am because the LIRR and MNRR are subsidized esp. with city dollars when it isn't used by us nearly as much as Westchester residents and Long Islanders.

 

Our service should run to the city border and no further so that we can improve our service here in the city.  The only exception I would make would perhaps be with the BxM4 only because it is performing so poorly.

I'm actually not against the MTA doing services like the BxM3 or the alternate BxM4 routing proposed here where it goes to Yonkers Raceway because of the BL buses that go down Boston Road with open-door service. It more or less cancels out considering the service levels. I'd love for MTA Bus to take on the BxM4C route (and rename it BxM5 for less confusion) because of it being profitable. That p-word is the key; though since it's a Westchester DOT route, Westchester would also have to pay MTA Bus NYCDOT-style to run it.

Having two or three part-time buses run a bit into Westchester is not the same as outright subsidizing Metro-North or LIRR, so I approve of it.

lol... The kids are just as wild and savage like as the homeless/crazies.... Didn't you see that video with them jumping out of the window of that artic??

That's kids in general. If people aged 11-19 were not allowed on trains and buses, most of the damage and uncleanliness problem of our transit system would be stopped overnight.

I'd be all in favor of the MTA being split into separate divisions. Let the city manage the subway and buses; Nassau and Suffolk the LIRR with the city overseeing the city portion; MNCR for Westchester and further upstate. Why let Albany decide what we should get?

As bad as LIRR can be, Nassau County would run it into the ground completely.

which is a waste of city money it isn't fair to higher ridership routes that need the service. Heck it isn't fair that LIRR and MNRR users have to still pay $100 extra to use the subway and city bus on their monthlies. Why can't they get free transfers to lesser systems like the bus and subway like they do in other cities. Most other cities except DC and a few cross honor commuter rail passes on their bus networks at no extra charge I don't see why NYC can't do the same heck I would go as far to say that is a better use of city money than MTA bus reimbursement especially for some lines that people don't even use. 

How about the city keep its money on city-specific services? NYC ends up subsidizing the LIRR and MNRR for suburbanites enough as it is, and they're brazen about demanding that we subsidize them even more (see: demanding only NYC pay MTA payroll tax). With all due respect, you present an awful idea that would benefit shameless, greedy, entitled people.

What up with this JFK CNG ordeal?

Well there's a CNG filling station nearby, right? As CNG is apparently cheaper, maybe it would be worth it long term to convert the depot for CNG operations. Then you can order XN60's for West Farms and the JFK routes that the MTA wants to convert to artics.

Any further comments on the B18 & B71?

I think the consensus is that they're pretty good.

So I noticed just now that I apparently had posted this in another thread by accident. A thread where it had nothing to do with the topic. Lovely.

"LA County mta says the compobuses are goddamn tanks. Lightweight ones
that can survive crashes steel buses don't, and projected to last 18
years.

(Google Docs quick view link)

https://docs.google....cmFyaxKU-H06Vgw "

OK, so on the BxM4. How about this route:

https://maps.google.com/maps/ms?msid=202807188220210378870.0004d4f36b9a665556228&msa=0

So it takes the BxM3's Segwick portion, and the BxM3 (which is already long) sticks to Broadway in The Bronx and Yonkers at all times.

The rest of the route is Woodlawn and East Yonkers to Yonkers Avenue. Any idea if this would attract ridership?

I thought of maybe having it go Segwick->Moshulu(for like 300 feet...)->Gun Hill Road->Bainbridge->Jermoe->Rest of Woodlawn/East Yonkers route. I would be open to that modification.

EDIT: Of course this is a bottom-of-the-page post that'll get forgotten. FAIL.

The S52 has many hills where the buses bottom out, but I don't think any bus was worst than the novas. Just scraping up all of the street pavement like nobody's business!

So we're really down to two great choices, then. Damn it, Daimler...

Isolated incidents and all, but damn those Xcelsiors look to have all the reliability of a rusty 1970s British Leyland car. The MTA must be having themselves quite a conundrum. Pick the bus that everybody likes (but tends to break down...and stuff) or the bus that runs reliably but has all the interior space of a Ford Pinto and scrapes anything resembling a hill with its long overhang.

Wishful thinking, but I don't see many improvements being made on the North Shore for bus service. It is clear that the South Shore currently has the (MTA)'s ear when it comes to bus improvements on Staten Island.  There have been no express bus improvements on any of the North Shore routes outside of the X10, and the S53 continues to burst at the seams with no relief in sight.

Those poor 3G's are gonna get beat to shit with the 3rd world roads in Staten Island and the pack crowds the S53 gets.

<foam>

Could be useful for routes like the B42, Q64, Bx23, B39. Run all day.

Just grab some of those old C40LF and RTS buses and convert em.

</foam>

The Yonkers Raceway bus (BxM5) could skip Woodlawn and just have the people transfer from the Bx34 & Jerome & Bainbridge. If any version of the BxM4 doesn't stop at Woodlawn or Yonkers Raceway, then it will have even lower ridership (ex: BxM4A).

Hey, hey, we already got a BxM5 up in this thread a few pages now.

   Yea Kings Hwy is at capacity, the line stretches around the corner at times for the B100 in rush hour, buses on the 100 leave packed to the doors every time (I've had pleanty of experience), and even outside of rush hour you can have 35+ people waiting there for the 100, you do have a decent amount of people waiting for the 2.31 but not as many and there are always a ton of people waiting for the B7 and B82 around the corner under the tracks, so I am agreeing with everyone about that Kings Hwy is packed to capacity, I just thought I would share it from my POV.

I would've actually liked a 65 St/Ave P route and some Flatbush/Rockaways route to be added to Kings Highway, but yeah, where to put em, and the platforms at the station can get damn crowded as is.

<blockquote class='ipsBlockquote'data-author="Culver" data-cid="641340" data-time="1359935646"><p>

I dunno if Kings Highway station can handle any more people.</p></blockquote>

 

Kings Hwy is barely filled to the max with people, might as well service some areas.

You sure about that? The place is a madhouse in rush hours and Kings Highway the road is already packed as hell.

OK, how about we split the BxM4 into one that makes stops along Grand Concourse and ends somewhere short of Woodlawn and another route that goes express till Bedford Park area or something, then Woodlawn, and then to Yonkers Raceway. Call one BxM4, the other BxM14.

:bump:

I dunno if Kings Highway station can handle any more people.

and you know whats the funny thing? The Orion Vs can keep up with traffic.

Thing is, the hybrids have about 3,000 extra pounds on them, and due to the power generation not being that great still, the actual electric motor isn't so strong. If they made them plug-in hybrids (which they bloody should have considering the possibility of a one-time investment saving the MTA millions later on) which could charge at their downtime in the shops off solar cells and hydrogen fuel cells (sewer system hydrogen reclamation systems for this), they could afford to put in a 300+ horsepower electric motor (no transmission to step up, so you're going to want more ponies) with enough torque to spin the earth when the bus moves. They'd also need lithium-ion phosphate batteries placed within the floor Tesla Model S-style. Do all that and you got yourself a hybrid that will massacre a traditional bus on mileage and performance (and cost). In fact, what have these bus manufacturers been doing with their time? They're seriously still putting batteries on the bloody roof.