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| Re: PHOTOS Valley Metro New Flyers 09.27.08 (117799) | |||
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Re: PHOTOS Valley Metro New Flyers 09.27.08 |
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Posted by roscoman1986 on Sat Oct 4 13:44:33 2008, in response to PHOTOS Valley Metro New Flyers 09.27.08, posted by phxtusbusfan on Sun Sep 28 01:53:57 2008. Nice pics (once again sorry for the late response, but I wanted to respond when I realized what was special about 6458)2. Note that the owner/operator sticker on this bus has been edited to say that it is still owned by "Valley Metro/RPTA" rather than the city of Tempe. 3-6. These pictures bring up three main points. First it has to do with the spare buses that the RPTA puts out on weekends. As you know, there is at least one spare bus at College and University for route 81 on Saturday and Sunday, and it sits there and idles all day. I did not know that there were more spares at Superstition Springs Center, and I wonder why they even have spares parked at those locations (and why only on weekends). It appears that there is also a C40LFR in the background but I don't know if that one is in service or not. The spare at College/University is always a C40LFR or D40LFR and can be a 2006, 2007, or 2008 model. The second point that this brings up is that these buses idle ALL DAY LONG. This is an inefficient waste of fuel (especially with high prices) and not to mention it is still polluting, even with low emissions on these buses. The good thing is that this will end (at least at College Avenue) in December 2008 when the 81 goes to Tempe Division, and I think this practice of idling spares at College and University on weekends is a reason why they switched it to Tempe. However, I also have a feeling that it will go on at Superstition Springs Center as well, and unless they have a good explanation for it I could possibly comment to them about it (for their sake mostly). The third thing is I have become so used to the 2007 D40LFRs at the RPTA being transits (since July 2008), and the fact that I did not look "closely enough" at the pics on this thread that I forgot that 6458 was a SUBURBAN bus! Yesterday, I saw 6458 heading westbound on route 30-University and finally realized that it was a suburban bus in local service. These pics are the first time since July that I have seen a D40LFR suburban back at the RPTA! Either this bus was at the RPTA for the entire time (but ran mostly in express service) or this bus is a recent transfer from Valutrans (possibly for more Nova RTS so that they could be more flexible in terms of service). In addition, I am wondering if the RPTA now has 6457-6460 and if these are recent transfers from Valutrans (considering that I have not seen them since July). Regardless, it is still nice (for local riders, at least) to get to ride express buses in local service (even if they lack the reclining seats, luggage racks, and reading lights/vents of the Novabuses and CompoBuses) 7-10. I am still trying to figure out the division of the 2007 D40LFs between Phoenix-North and Phoenix-West. It appears that the 6501-6530 series are at Phoenix-West, the 6540-6560 series are with Phoenix-North, the 6560-6570 series are with Phoenix-West, and the 6570-6596 series are with (and have always been with) Phoenix-North. Still, Phoenix-West seems to treat their buses better than Phoenix-North. 13-14. As confirmed earlier this week, all of the 2008 C40LFR have been delivered, with the highest number spotted in service being 6647. Now, the search begins for the elusive 6648! 15-16. It seems like Tempe is still taking care of the 2006 C40LFRs as this bus appears to be in attractive shape. 17. As you may know, these stickers are only on Phoenix buses (there is also an interior sticker) but the Route Scout announcements are on ALL buses that have Route Scout, including the FLASH (which is free!) One thing is I find it funny that Phoenix can change fares whenever it wants, although if Phoenix decides to change the fares for its routes only the Valley Metro system will be fragmented (unless the other cities decide to as well). Just another reminder that Valley Metro is still not yet a truly unified system, whether it is with fare ordinances or bus orders (the 2007 D40LF and 2007 D40LFR, for example, only have their manufacturer, color scheme, and Twin Vision signs in common, with virtually everything else being different, right down to the color of the interior A/C grille) |
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