JAzumah

It also gives NJT a snapshot of how their services are being used. They could target the segments with more usage with more service.

Oof. The elevator problem is now invading buses regarding parts only available in Europe. Is it a Neoplan part or a MAN part?

It is rare for drivers to be fined for DOT outside of medical card or hours of service violations.

For those interested: The MTA plans to implement the Queens changes in Spring 2025. It might happen in two phases, with the Brooklyn/Queens stuff happening later.

The volume of ferry service does not justify every bus going there. There is an argument for more service in the summertime, but I would like to see the test case work.

Hospital & school cluster in the area.

That sounds odd. I could see Six Flags trying to create a security zone where the employee section is more controlled, but they could have mitigated such an issue on both sides.

I am planning to use my own equipment, but I am not happy about the prospect of managing 200-300 people at an on-street bus stop at once. That is the value of the PABT.

Many years ago, Larry Littlefield (IIRC) thought that the MTA would reduce frequencies everywhere down to 15-30 minutes and the city would encourage more bicycling to offset the issue. If the bus system were to become free, I could see your "superroutes" becoming a reality with a 40% articulated fleet. 100%. That's my beef with most transit supporters. They do not understand that the less they pay for the buses, the less buses they will get. That does not mean they have to pay 100%, but 0% means that the bus funding will be subject to the political winds or fluctuating streams of money. In a free bus system and a paid rail system, we become WMATA overnight in terms of demographics. Outside of Manhattan, the class divide on the subways is not that strong today.

Free bus systems do not respond well to demand spikes except at Disney. People are asking for a transportation crisis...and they will get one. The MTA could "articulate everything" to keep costs down and the subway/bus class divide would increase by making the bus system free.

I believe it is credit card fraud related. The only part of my business that I see significant credit card fraud is in the Amusement Park section. I would pay for the bus and park ticket and then get a hit in my merchant account right after the trip is completed. I started manually screening bookings and requiring people to bring ID to the pickup to cut down on it. I tried to have the police intercept one of the frauds at the bus stop, but the cops wanted me to "hold them there" once they arrived instead of waiting right there for them. If NJT has just 5% CC fraud on the 308, that is potentially a six digit number. That would drive the 308 into the red, but NJT wouldn't come out and say what I said because it would be perceived as racist. If NJT wants to give me the buses, I'll make sure they don't have that problem any more.

I am not sure why anyone thought that wouldn't happen. If you are paying railroad prices for a bus, you expect similar seats to the railroad. They don't care how new the bus is if their butt hurts when they get off.

It is certainly cheaper. You have to go where the customer is comfortable going.

The mall foot traffic during the week isn't that great in the winter.

I am hearing things about the Coach USA ecosystem that aren't good. I hope they can keep it together and restructure as needed.