Culver

I don't drive a bus, but I can't think of a reason the union would oppose it. I'm sure whatever needs they have in terms of who gets to work where would get sorted anyways. I'd hope that while they're at it, they absorb the Atlantic Express SI express bus routes, and get a more unified bus route signing system for the express lines. Keep BM/BxM/QM for those three boroughs, keep X for the Staten Island division. Brooklyn's 4 X routes can just become BM6/7 and BM8/9. Queens' current X routes (and the X51 if that ever comes back for some reason) can all fit in the unused route list between QM1 and QM25. I believe QM9, 13, 14 and 19 are available. Simple conformity and it's clear that all X routes go to SI and the others to their respective boroughs.

Random Thought: Can MTA bus operations completely merge already? Keep the NYCDOT mandate on NYCDOT routes, but let one complete agency operate them, so routes can be better distributed among the depots and so that there is one service new buses are distributed to. I'm happy they've gone halfway there with the regional Bus Operations brand, now just take it all the way already. I can't seem to find any news on this subject, but is there any chance of this ever happening? If so, what BS political reason for why not?

Last time I took one, 8 of the seats in the back where pretty much...well nobody would sit on them.

Well I don't have any roach stories, but I've taken the S79 to Staten Island plenty of times, and those buses are always filthy on the way back to Brooklyn for some reason.

4888 sounds like a dying rhino. Only 90 buses and they're dropping like flies. I hope NovaBus has been developing and shaker-testing a long-wheelbase LFS in secret. Bloody hell.

Right, but the interior is still hindered by the placement of the wheels too far to the middle (Seriously, Nova, why, WHY such a short wheelbase), so you have the weird single seat behind the driver, and thus a few feet less to place seats and standing space between upper level and front wheels. In the rear it results in at best 2 less seats than the basic New Flyer C40LF layout. I was on an S53 a few months ago when SI had some that wasn't really crowded when you counted the amount of people on it, but felt like it was packed because every passenger was essentially in a Tetris crunch. If we do end up with the LFS, I hope they at least do that new nice interior layout they presented last year with the LED lights and white window frames. Keep the rear window, too.

I've only been on this forum for a week, but I've already seen more than a handful of things about XD40s breaking down or performing badly. I don't suppose they can work on the reliability...because those LFS 40-footers are bloody awful with their cramped interior and scrape-the-tarmac-on-every-slight-incline overhang. NovaBus can't win that 600-bus contract. I mean, in the end it's just a bus, but the crap interior layout really sucks on those LFS buses when more than say, 4 people are on one. Disclaimer: just to clarify, this isn't some fanboy crap. It just appears to be clear that from a utility standpoint, the LFS suffers a bit on interior space with their short wheelbase.

Well then, the MTA could definitely use a route that brings in a profit. BTW, I haven't seen the entire thread (what with it being 80+ pages long), but what's the consensus here on how to handle the proposed Brooklyn waterfront line b/w Queens and Williamsburg?

Yeah, it's an insanely long route. I don't understand why the patrons that so vehemently demand it do so when MNRR exists. That being said, if ridership remains, I say give it to Yonkers Depot (and the lower MTA Bus express fare might encourage more riders). Your idea of it making limited stops might help as well. Now I just need to work on that elusive (and useless) Brooklyn-to-St. George bus route.

According to the MTA's 2011 numbers, it's middle of the road in terms of ridership.

I figure it'll last at the MTA Bus fare, especially with all the outcry from riders to keep the bus. Only thing I'd do with the route is extend it the quarter mile from its current terminal to the White Plains station where there are transfers available to a magnitude of other routes and the Metro-North. Back on the topic of Brooklyn, thanks for the constructive criticism to all on the stuff I posted. I'll see about how to change them based on input; thanks for the feedback, folks.

Pretty much the major reason for me. It's an NYC bus route, and I feel MTA Bus (even from Spring Creek depot deadhead) could provide better regular service. Having it appear on a bus map might draw riders, too (and hence me adding a stop downtown). My stance on the B110 is the same as my stance on the X23 and X24, BxM4C*, and the MTA Bus/NYCTA issue in general: just have one agency run them all and stop with the nonsense of different operators and fares, etc. The B110 just happened to have an extra reason regarding legality. *On the BxM4C, btw: Just rename it BxM5, give it to Yonkers depot and run the same schedule as is. I know it's a Westchester DOT route, but MTA Bus was formed for this sort of thing, wasn't it? To take on DOT routes...

The reason it got into the news was they told those who didn't want to move to move to the back. Regardless, back on the topic of the route, I would've liked to extend it to Williamsburg bus terminal for better connections to other buses on the north end, so passengers didn't have to walk there. Same for the extension south from 18 Ave to McDonald Ave. I added one downtown stop to provide a connection there from both areas serviced.

That's the reason I'd have the MTA take over the route, not the reason for the changes. My route is about 90% same as the route is now. I just added a stop downtown and extended it a couple of blocks on both ends for better connections to subways and other buses.

Segregation is illegal in this country, and the B110 isn't a private club service that requires membership, it's an NYDOT route franchise operated by a private company, as were the Triboro and Command, etc. lines. If they want to keep the route, they can stop telling women to go sit in the back.

Interesting. An alternative for B110 would be same route but keep the couple-of-blocks extensions to bus terminal in Williasmburg (current route turns on Division Ave), and extension to Ave I station (current route terminates on 18 Ave). I understand they want it "private," but it's an NYCDOT route franchise, and thus they can't enforce religious law on the bus. If they don't behave and continue, I have no sympathy about that route being taken away. The law is the law. Besides, MTA Bus would run it more reliably, if anything, even if they just ran it with the same route.

Well, I figure it's about time I got ripped to shreds for proposing a bus route. Here goes. B23. The original got canned. I figure let's extend it to provide more service as a subway feeder for the D and maybe get some transfers going southwest from Prospect Park. https://maps.google.com/maps/ms?msid=202807188220210378870.0004d4388a0c93da0499d&msa=0&ll=40.630109,-73.982449&spn=0.078558,0.154324 B101. An old route number never used (Wikipedia says Pioneer bus lines proposed this number). I'm proposing a different route than the 70s proposal, but using 101 as it shares a terminal with the 100. Anyways, connection to the F train and B/Q for those living along Ave P, and service along Bensonhurst to Lutheran Medical Center. https://maps.google.com/maps/ms?msid=202807188220210378870.0004d4387b43710de3a48&msa=0&ll=40.628546,-73.990002&spn=0.07856,0.154324 B102. This will get destroyed by comments. Crosstown route, maybe take some pressure off the B35, provide service to Gateway Mall. https://maps.google.com/maps/ms?msid=202807188220210378870.0004d4388451eefa3aee9&msa=0 B110 Limited. Take over the route by MTA Bus. That whole "women sit in the back" routine should've lost PT their franchise months ago. I'm adding one stop in Downtown Brooklyn. Also, extending it to the bus terminal by the bridge in Williamsburg and down to Ave I F-train stop (a few extra blocks) at its southern terminal. https://maps.google.com/maps/ms?msid=202807188220210378870.0004d4388ef4256f2bb54&msa=0

I think he is suggesting an S53 Limited.

Tuskegee Airmen would've been a good place to add a floor for midday express bus storage while it was being rebuilt. The locals probably wouldn't have much appreciated it though, due to the higher asthma rates that are apparently the result of fumes there.

I've ridden a few RTSes on the 82 that sounded like they were going through a meat grinder (with complementary bus rattling) when the driver let off the gas and the bus downshifted. Any maintenance shop workers post here? I assume it's the transmission, but for all I know could be something else.

This is quite a concern in terms of the chances of the XD40 being chosen for the big order. The concept of the LFS being chosen is a haunting one. Maybe Nova can whip-up a longer-wheelbase model or something. Bloody hell, 600 buses witht that interior and long overhang is an unpleasant thought.