THE WHEEL DEAL (6.4.02) Virtually anyone who has been following the Baltimore Transit scene lately undoubtedly knows about the well publicized problems of the MTA bus fleet wherein 17 buses have lost their rear wheels due to the cracking of the lug bolts holding the wheels on.  Thus I shall not go into great detail in publicizing this problem as the local media certainly has certainly jumped on the bandwagon in reporting numerous angles of the basic scope of the problem and possible faults regarding the subsequent investigation.  I will take this opportunity to share some aspects of this problem which have not been brought to light, as well as use this space to express some of the internal viewpoints regarding this problem that have been expressed by many within the company, viewpoints which the mainstream media has not deemed worthy to share with the public.  These viewpoints are being expressed simply in the interest of balanced reporting, and are not necessarily those shared by the webmaster or contributors to this website: Of interest to note is that Kirk Avenue Division has had the most occurences of this phenomena while Eastern Ave Division has not had any occurences.  At least one Artic, #9606 has encountered this dilemma, and most of the instances involve NABIs, likely since these coaches operate the most miles within the system. Despite the dangers presented by this problem, the overall demeanor of Bus Operators at all divisions is not one of fear at all, regardless of the now dwindling chances that this may occur yet again.  The problem is often joked about by Operators to each other ("Watch out, stand clear of the flying wheels!"), but otherwise there seems little worry of impending peril, as the odds seem more likely of encountering a verbal assualt by a patron than losing one's wheels. There has however been expressed a certain degree of dissatisfaction at how this dilemma seemed to be de-prioritized when it came to light, seemingly as a result of it being a bus fleet issue (and thus lower in importance than if it were a rail fleet issue).  Some have expressed that had there been found a wheel defect in the railcars, where two separate minor derailments had occurred as a result of some crack or defect, the entire line would have been shut down until the cause of the problem had been pinpointed, and a corrective action identified, and implementation begun.  Instead, this potential peril was not even known about by Operations employees even after several instances had occurred. Conspiracy theories have surfaced by some centered around this dilemma being an inside job, in an effort to ridicule the administration of Virginia White, who was seeking permanent tenure in the Administrator position following the resignation of Ron Freeland.  While this sort of talk borders on being simple rumors, one must find the timing of these occurences to be an odd coincidence worth looking into.  Others have made mention of a dislike for White by possible political affiliations soon to come into power, though this is highly speculative.  Also is the concern regarding the still unfinished negotiation of the ATU Local 1300 contract with management, which leads to thoughts among some that some unhappy Union members set this up as a way to oust White in an effort to better chances of a favorable contract.  Here again, this is also highly speculative, and should only be taken as a viewpoint that has been expressed from within the MTA.             This much having been said, let us hope that this mess is over, and that the public can return to riding MTA's buses without the worry or concern of an unsafe ride.

NEW BUS PURCHASES SLOWER THAN A 9000 SERIES ON A CODE RED 95 DEGREE DAY! - (7.26.02) - Last minute ordering specification issues have delayed the start of construction on the Low Floor Neoplan Order, having only been finalized and clearance to begin construction approved last week.  This may put the expected delivery of December 2002 in jeopardy, but this is not yet known.  Inside word has it that the coaches will carry an odd numbering scheme should the option for 125 annual coaches be approved.  In this scenario, letter suffixes would be attached to the fleet numbers making the already ugly leading zeros look appealing in comparison.  Considering that the Thomas Low Floors are numbered in the 3000's and these will be low floors as well, one hopes that common sense prevails, and the coaches are numbered starting at 3101.  BUS ORDER INFO (6.4) - At last report, the order of 100 low floor Neoplan coaches had been approved, and should be expected about the end of the year.  Lesser known has been an order for a number of MCI Cruiser coaches, some of which would remain at MTA (while others would go to Commuter Service contractors) and be used on the 120 and 210 lines.  To accomplish this, the #120 line would be reassigned to Bush Street.  This order may be in around the end of the year as well. AT LAST, SOME NEW BUSES ON ORDER (1.19) It took two tries at the bidding, with an initial victory by Orion being tossed out, and a new round of bids begun.  Finally, just after the Christmas holiday, the final bids were submitted for a 5 year renewable contract.  The Winner - (DRUM ROLL PLEASE!............) NEOPLAN!  Yes, only a couple years after the retirement of the last of the ten demonstrators delivered in 1986, MTA has turned once again to Neoplan, this time to supply the mainstays of the fleet.  Not many details are yet available, but it appears that the first year of the order may consist of 200 coaches, with some of these being low floor models.  More details as they become available. IT'S ORION, OH, NO.... IT'S NOT! (10.15) - MTA has received a winning bid on it's search for 500 buses over the next 5 years, but has decided to scrap the bidding, apparently the result of recieving only one bid that could satisfy the search for a single company that could and would supply both low floor and high floor coaches. ORION would be getting to work by now on their order, but it appears that the proposal may be restructured and placed out for bid yet again. PROSPECTIVE SUITORS (6.22) Inquiring minds continue to want to know just where our next buses for 2002 will be coming from.  Here, then, is a recap of what has been found out so far:  First, it is confirmed that MTA's order for 2002 will consist of 100 coaches (and is likely to continue at that rate for a few years in an attempt to lower fleet age).  For 2001, at least, the make-up of the order will consist of 60 40-Foot conventional buses, and 40 low-floor 40 Foot Buses.  Still unknown is whether the contract will be set up so as to recieve the entire makeup from the same manufacturer, but it seems more likely that the two components of the order are to be separate from each other.  The following builders have been confirmed as being interested in supplying part or all of this 2002 order: Novabus, New Flyer (NFI), Neoplan, Orion, and believe it or not: NABI. Gillig has however declined to bid on this order.  In looking at the competitors, one can assume that Novabus and Orion are among the front-runners in this field, although any of these builders could come forth with the best offer, and any variation of outcomes are possible, particularly in light of the low-floor bus segment of the order. THE RETURN OF THE RTS?!? (5.8)  After the latest troubles with the 2000 Order, the MTA appears more ready than ever to find a new supplier for its new buses.  Among the potential suitors is Novabus, who appear poised and ready to try to reintroduce the RTS to Baltimore once again.  Unlike their predecessors: the 3300 series, today's RTS design is a far cry from the problem plagued coaches of 1979 and 1980.  MTA's current plan is to acquire 100 buses in 2002, 60 of which will be high-floor 40 footers, as well as 40 Low Floor coaches.  Novabus trucked down NJTransit #1563 for the presentation, while specs were ironed down for the bid.  It is not clear as to what other companies may be vying for the upcoming bid, but it appears that neither MTA nor NABI wish to resume doing business with each other, leaving the possible likely suitors as Orion, Neoplan, and perhaps Gillig.  More concrete info as it becomes available!

 

SCHEDULE AND ROUTE CHANGES POTENTIAL CHANGES IN THE WORKS (7.26.02) - Despite tightening budget fears, there has been no sign of imminent cuts in service for MTA bus service in the near future.  However, the ambitious expansions eyed will likely see a good deal of scrutiny before they may be approved.  In any instance, following is a survey of some potential service changes:  Service on Route #11 via the Ellicott Machine Company may soon be dropped, following the purchase of the firm by another which has since laid off personnel, resulting in a drastic drop in the usage of this service.  Route #15 will soon have to undergo drastic changes due to the replacement of the Forest Park Avenue bridge over the Gwynns Falls.  This will almost certainly result in buses using Gwynn Oak Avenue to reach the Western termini, a lenghty detour that will require a complete headway rebuilding to accomodate the extra running time and mileage expenses attached, awful shame that the 35 car is not running any more!  A short extension of Route #17 through the Hock Business Park may be in the works as well, which will offer greater convenience to Employees there.  Controversy among some NIMBYs in Riviera Beach may result in a rerouting of the selected #64 line trips operating through here.  However, the regular riders of this service are vociferous in their support of the service, and the MTA may even look at adding a mid day trip to the area, something it has not had in about 25 years!  Personally, I could tell the NIMBYs where they could go, but they wouldn't appreciate my viewpoint.  Finally, the question concerning one of the final legacies of the long ago JET service has once again come to surface, and that is: What to do about the 86 line?  The line carries a few dozen riders daily on it's 4 trips to and from SSA Woodlawn who are generally very dependent on the service.  However, it falls far short of hitting the 50% recovery mandate.  Some tinkering may be done to make the schedule more friendly to riders, though the possibility of scrapping the line and extending some trips on the #33 line to SSA has also been raised.  My personal preference to operate the line locally as the #87 did, which would encourage riders on the M6, M1, 22 and 3 line stops to use the service as well, hopfully boosting ridership to more presentable levels. UPCOMING CHANGES FOR 6-16-02 (6.4) - It surely appears that the days of numerous service improvements have ceased for the time being, as tightening financial reigns have allowed for even fewer schedule improvements for the June 2002 schedule change.  In fact, there will likely only be one change made, and that will involve a change that has already been made in April (yet never made very public at all) on Route #64 which involves the routing of a limited number of trips into the new Port Covington Shopping Center.  While this change is needed, the resulting sporadic level of service has left employees and customers of the Walmart and Sams Club locations there less than thrilled.  When one considers the use of the line by Senior Citizens, the 4 block distance between the center and the "mainline" and the lack of protective shade trees along this walk, it is easy to see why the riders of this service are infuriated.  To add insult to injury, little to no literature was prepared to inform riders of which trips were being added to the Center, while the store employees have been given the impression that ALL trips would be serving the Center as of mid-June though this is not the case at all.  There has been talk of extending route #29 from Cherry Hill to serve the center, but implementation of such a change would seem to be a long way off.  Another change listed is the extension of the last Southbound Route #1 trip to Paca Street from Carey Street, but this change was also effected months ago in the middle of the pick. BUG IN THE WORKS (6.4): Effective in September of 2002, the MTA will seek to expand its well respected Shuttle Bug program by introducing what has been termed so far as the "Digital Harbor Shuttlebug."  This new route is expected to serve Federal Hill, Sharp-Leadenhall, and Locust Point, and may also serve the Port Covington Shopping Center currently underserved by the occasional service on route #64.  Thomas coaches are already on hand to equip the line, are blank white, and should be numbered 3010 and up and will be assigned to Bush Street Division. MTA SERVICE CHANGES FOR 1-27-02 (1.19) - Tightening budgetary woes have meant fewer schedule changes and service expansions than had originally been anticipated.  For the Winter Schedule change, only the following changes are to occur: Additional route #11 service will operate VIA GBMC, an additional afternoon bus will operate on route #16 (which was operating already for months as a daily "150" block,  early morning service (which has actually be operating since November) on route #17 is to be operated from University Hospital to BWI Airport, the standardization of route #23 to have only Wilson Point buses operate VIA HAWTHORNE, times of two AM trips on route #61 will be adjusted to make connections to MARC service, while the Hampden Shuttle will be extended to operate using 28th Street, thus serving Remington and Wyman Park Medical Center. MONDAWMIN METRO SHUTTLE BUG BEGINS 12-18-01 - Just in time for Christmas, operation of the second neighborhood shuttle line began on December 18th, 2001.  The route, utilizing a fleet of 5 new Thomas SLF-230's wrapped in a new "Cricket" scheme, generally operates as originally envisioned, with the exception of the use of Gwynns Falls Parkway to return from Walbrook Junction, as well as the use of Ocala Avenue to Reisterstown Road after using Towanda Avenue.  Early indications show that the line has already developed something of a following, though it does seem to carry more student riders than the MTA anticipated, much to the dismay of the elderly riders of the line.  It will be interesting to see if appearances of the Crickets are witnessed on the Hampden line, as well as sightings of the Lady Bugs on the Mondawmin line, as both are operated from Northwest Division.  The next potential Neighborhood Shuttle line is supposed to be termed the "Digital Harbor Shuttlebug", though it's routing is not set at this time.  A fleet of seven plain white Thomas buses wait in reserve at the Carroll Park facility for the implementation of the next line. FOR SCHEDULE CHANGES OF SEPTEMBER 2001 - SEE THE LAST DAYS page with a complete summary

 

MISCELLANEOUS NEWS - BUSES Shuttlebugged (7.26.02) - When originally purchased, the Thomas SLF-230's were expected to be sufficient in number to roster the two current Shuttlebug operations, but in the past months, the site of 30 foot 8700 Flxibles has been a more and more common site on these lines.  This has only intensified as of late, now with the several sightings of 40 foot coaches working both of these routes.  Today, 9239 was out on the Hampden run, while 8906 did duties on the Mondawmin line yesterday.  0040 has also been seen on the Mondawmin bug, and 0056 on the Hampden bug.  What next?!? Artics? Fleet Roster Impossibilities (7.26.02) - With the continuing Wheel stud campaign continuing, it appears that Northwest Division is starving for buses the most, with sightings of Bush Street's 8717 on the 44 line, and Kirk Avenue's 7016 on the 51 line.  Meanwhile, 8803 continues to operate back at Bush Street, despite the affixing of the indicative E on the back. Paint scheme variations continue to be spotted about the MTA, including 9914 wearing an alternate font for it's side numbers, 0011 among others wearing Helvetica front numbers, 9433 sporting the same numbers as 9914, and also carrying white louvre grill up front, and 7040 wearing Blue and White scheme, but wearing the heavy Futura numbers.  Artics have since appeared in new paint with most recipients being among the 5 Bush coaches sent 'downnyoshun' to serve the Summer.  Oldest coach wearing the scheme now is Short coach #8752, which appeared at the MTA Roadeo freshly painted in this scheme. As of mid January 2002, there are about 80 coaches now attired in the new MARYLAND MTA Paint scheme, including 24 which are currently off the property in Salt Lake City for use in the 2002 Winter Olympic Games.  The ratio of repaints is decidedly NABI biased, with NABI's accounting for more than 80% of coaches attired so far.  Oldest series to recieve the application so far is the 8800's, represented by coach #8857.  In addition, three varieties of the scheme are visible: (1) The early version, consisting of a state flag graphic containing 6 horizontal checkers, and extending below the rub rail to the bottom, (2) The revised version, of the same graphic, not journeying below the rub rail, and (3) the final, condensed version, with a smaller graphic consisting of only 4 horizontal checkers, and also stopping at the rub rail. Another new-look program of tail light replacement has been all-but completed on Flxibles dating back to the 8800's (though NWBS' 8609 contains the same retrofit) in which the cubic tail lights have been replaced with round LED lights that look much like those seen on today's model RTS Buses. Despite the progression of the Tail Light Replacement, there appears to still be no progress whatsovever on the program to replace about 250 destination signs with Orange LED signs manufactured by Ballios Technologies.  The program, which was supposed to have been underway back in June of 2001, may have been quietly cancelled.  The only strange signs seen rambling about the system are those on a handful of Northwest Division 7000 series coaches, whose original late model jumbo Trans-Dot signs have been replaced with the early model two-piece Luminator signs.  Only one of these retrofits has appeared to work, the rest show signs that are just as blank as the malfunctioning signs they replaced. Coach 8371, as well as the remaining 8400's that remain on the roster, have all been finally retired (5.8).  They WILL be missed!  Coach #8707 has been made into the Bush Street SHOP BUS, replacing #8557 which was abruptly retired when the engine seized due to lack of oil.  This coach had been used in lieu of #8434, which was the original Shopman Bus. Wraps in 5.01: 8639 - BLACK Amtrak ACELA(sides); 8760 - GREEN Baltimore Zoo(sides-back); 8813 WHITE USi Systems (sides and back); 9201, 9401, 9537 - Violet Hair Cuttery (wedge on Left Side); 9408,9411 Purple Americaid Health (sides and back); 9430 - Blue & Green Arundel Mills Mall (sides and back); 9435 White MTA (sides and back)