Mahoning Valley Forum

Youngstown & The Mahoning Valley => Mass Transit => Topic started by: Towntalk on January 18, 2013, 09:16:17 PM

Title: New Small Buses
Post by: Towntalk on January 18, 2013, 09:16:17 PM
WRTA is now using some cleaner, greener technology thanks to federal funding.

Three new 24-seater buses were just put into the rotation a couple of weeks ago, although they were approved in 2010 by former Ohio Gov. Ted Strickland. Originally, WRTA was one of several transit systems to be approved for funding for three years afterward, which would have allowed it to get at least nine new buses.

But Ohio Gov. John Kasich eliminated the program shortly after taking office, so the transportation authority only ended up getting three.

"We're still looking at different grants. We're hoping over the next year to year and a half ambitiously to bring on about 16 to 18 full-size coaches and they'll be clean burning diesel also," said WRTA executive director Jim Ferraro.

Two of the buses already are running the Boardman and Canfield loops. Ferraro said he plans to try the third in Austintown, but there are also some lesser traveled routes out toward Struthers that could benefit from the use of a smaller bus.

"It's environmentally friendly but also they're brand new. Our other buses are obviously 12 years old, they're a little tired, a little more difficult to finely tune and continue to run without some mechanical problems. And just the inside of a new bus makes you feel better," Ferraro said.
Title: Re: New Small Buses
Post by: iwasthere on January 18, 2013, 10:56:52 PM
the buses are comfortable and spacious. these are the buses they should run on sat night and sundays.
Title: Re: New Small Buses
Post by: Rick Rowlands on January 19, 2013, 09:41:59 PM
Its no wonder the Strickland administration had this state so deep in the hole. Free buses for everyone!!!
Title: Re: New Small Buses
Post by: northside lurker on January 20, 2013, 09:41:53 AM
I agree w iwt.
Title: Re: New Small Buses
Post by: Why?Town on January 20, 2013, 10:22:33 AM
Serious question: How often are there more than 20 people on a WRTA bus at the same time?  I don't ride but I can see in the buses in the evening when they are lit up inside and sometimes in the day if the light is right and I've never seen more than half a dozen riders, tops.
Title: Re: New Small Buses
Post by: irishbobcat on January 20, 2013, 10:31:37 AM
Good question....but when the day comes we need a 24 seat bus...I'll be glad we have them....
Title: Re: New Small Buses
Post by: northside lurker on January 20, 2013, 10:38:17 AM
I ride the Cornersburg in the morning, and Austintown in the evening.  Ridership has been unusually heavy for the last week, and I would guess there have been at least 20 people on the buses for those 9 trips. (I took a different bus Friday evening)  20+ people on the buses I ride isn't a regular occurrence, but it happens often enough that they shouldn't use any of the new smaller buses for those routes, on weekdays.
Title: Re: New Small Buses
Post by: Towntalk on January 20, 2013, 11:10:04 AM
I can remember the days when every seat in the buses were full and people were standing, and that was just on the inbound trips. The outbounds were just as full and folks were carrying packages.

Between 7:00 PM and 10:00 PM things were slow, but then between 10:00 and Midnight, the buses were full again.
Title: Re: New Small Buses
Post by: jay on January 20, 2013, 12:17:55 PM
Not everyone who boards a WRTA bus downtown rides all the way to the end of the line.

On the 35-Cornersburg bus for example, some people board the bus at the Brandywine Apartments and then get off in the Wedgewood area.  That's about a two mile trip.  When homeowners won't shovel their sidewalks after a heavy snow, I've taken the bus for a one mile trip rather than risk walking through the deep snow.
Title: Re: New Small Buses
Post by: Why?Town on January 20, 2013, 06:44:56 PM
Quote from: irishbobcat on January 20, 2013, 10:31:37 AM
Good question....but when the day comes we need a 24 seat bus...I'll be glad we have them....

I'm thinking that a 24 seat bus is all they ever need, not the 16 to 18 full sized coaches that Jim Ferraro wants.
Title: Re: New Small Buses
Post by: northside lurker on January 20, 2013, 06:57:48 PM
Quote from: Why?Town on January 20, 2013, 06:44:56 PM
I'm thinking that a 24 seat bus is all they ever need, not the 16 to 18 full sized coaches that Jim Ferraro wants.

The oldest of the full size--32 seat--buses are 12 years old.  Most transit agencies retire their buses when they reach 12 years old.  The newest of the full-size buses are 7 years old, BTW.  Sorry, I don't know how many full size buses are in the fleet.
Title: Re: New Small Buses
Post by: iwasthere on January 20, 2013, 11:28:32 PM
the buses are full when the buses leave the wrta station but they are empty by the time they arrive at thier final destintion. the return trip back to the wrta station is th reverse. everyday wrta ridership has different numbers.
Title: Re: New Small Buses
Post by: Rick Rowlands on January 21, 2013, 10:56:44 AM
Hopefully WRTA keeps ridership numbers, route by route and stop to stop so they can predict with a high level of certainty what the ridership will be on any bus and at any time.  They would then be able to match available equipment with the expected demand.   



Title: Re: New Small Buses
Post by: mrniles266 on January 21, 2013, 11:18:47 AM
 ???

Does anyone have any exterior and interior pictures? Do they  have destination signs?
Title: Re: New Small Buses
Post by: Towntalk on January 21, 2013, 11:41:09 AM
Here
Title: Re: New Small Buses
Post by: iwasthere on January 21, 2013, 11:59:54 AM
Quote from: Rick Rowlands on January 21, 2013, 10:56:44 AM
Hopefully WRTA keeps ridership numbers, route by route and stop to stop so they can predict with a high level of certainty what the ridership will be on any bus and at any time.  They would then be able to match available equipment with the expected demand.   
they do. jf gives a monthly report on ridership at the monthly wrta board  meetings.
Title: Re: New Small Buses
Post by: jay on January 21, 2013, 08:14:30 PM
This reminds me of the person who buys a car (capable of carrying six passengers) but drives alone.  I know some people who drive a pickup trucks but rarely carry anything in the back let alone a load that would occupy the entire space.
Title: Re: New Small Buses
Post by: jay on February 01, 2013, 01:47:43 PM
QuoteDoes anyone have any exterior and interior pictures? Do they  have destination signs?

This is the interior looking toward the back from the passenger entrance.
Title: Re: New Small Buses
Post by: Towntalk on February 01, 2013, 04:52:16 PM
Happy now mrniles226 or do you now want mechanics specks, photos of motor, and other details, or are the two photos and the article enough?
Title: Re: New Small Buses
Post by: mrniles266 on February 01, 2013, 08:31:23 PM
 :)
Yes, those are good pictures. I hope they will switch them around to other routes. Test how reliable, and do they save money. Do they do the job, they are supposed to do. What type of fuel do they use? At one time, WRTA had a Natural Gas filling station. I saw it. They had big Natural Gas buses.(Federally funded) They sold them no to long after they got them. I don't know why. Does anybody?
Title: Re: New Small Buses
Post by: Towntalk on February 01, 2013, 08:41:27 PM
Clean diesel whatever that is. If someone can furnish the name of the maker, I can possably find more details.
Title: Re: New Small Buses
Post by: Towntalk on February 01, 2013, 08:45:24 PM
Here's a link that talks about clean diesel fuel.


http://auto.howstuffworks.com/fuel-efficiency/alternative-fuels/how-clean-diesel-fuel-works.htm (http://auto.howstuffworks.com/fuel-efficiency/alternative-fuels/how-clean-diesel-fuel-works.htm)