Question Reguarding the ex-NYCTA RTS's at MTA Bus

[Bracamonte]

What was the purpose of sending the ex-NYCTA RTS buses to the MTA Bus depots? Just wanted to ask.

[trainfan22]

Well, when the MTA first took over the PBL some of the TMCs and all of the GMCs needed to be retired because of old age, machincal problems etc. There was a bunch of repowered TMC's sitting around in storage thought the city which were better shape than the worst conditon PBL RTS. Also, the MTA didn't have to buy as many hybrids to replace the older PBL buses, even though they suck but those VII's are expenive, IIRC there 600,000 a bus.

[rmcconnell]

Well, when the MTA first took over the PBL some of the TMCs and all of the GMCs needed to be retired because of old age, machincal problems etc. There was a bunch of repowered TMC's sitting around in storage thought the city which were better shape than the worst conditon PBL RTS. Also, the MTA didn't have to buy as many hybrids to replace the older PBL buses, even though they suck but those VII's are expenive, IIRC there 600,000 a bus.

 

That also applies somewhat for the initial transfer of the 1993 Orion Vs to MTA Bus, that there weren't enough express buses to provide for MTA Bus express routes after the Classics began to be retired. The 3xxx-series MCIs were supposed to provide all express service, I believe, but some non-MCI buses still operate on certain express routes.

[Ken S.]

For the most part, the DOT Orion Vs were basically the only buses in decent shape with some of the TMCs (namely the ex-JB and ex-QSC buses) in decent shape for the MTA to save and repaint. I'm sure if Command's TMCs weren't CNG, they would have been kept as well.