Valley Metro busfanning trip report 09.27.08

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Valley Metro busfanning trip report 09.27.08
Posted by phxtusbusfan on Sun Sep 28 02:42:17 2008 edf40wrjww2msgDetailB:detailStr fiogf49gjkf0d Today, I was either incredibly bored or I had no life or some combination of the two so I decided to embark upon the longest busfanning trip of the Valley Metro system I had so far. I had a goal in mind which was to see if I could find the 2008 hybrid. Unfortunately, I failed at that goal. However, I was able to make a decent amount of observations, ride a lot of buses, and have a very stress free day. The buses: 1.) 2007 New Flyer D40LF (Veolia-Phoenix) #6547 on route 106 from 90th St./Shea to Sunnyslope Observations: - this bus wasn't in great shape (malfunctioning Route Scout, extensive tagging in the rear high floor area, water dripping from the A/C unit onto the seats, the interior speakers seemed to be coated with dirt/grime) 2.) 2002 NABI 40-LFW (Veolia-Phoenix) #6311 on route 0 from Sunnyslope to Thomas/Central Observations: - the interior of the bus was fairly clean, the A/C worked reasonably well, the chipped paint on the interior speakers looks tacky as does that "black tar" on the rear of the bus 3.) 2007 New Flyer D40LF (First Transit) #6523 on Green Line from Thomas/Central to Thomas/Scottsdale Obvervations: - this bus was MUCH cleaner than 6547 - standing room only on the Green Line at approx 9am - there was a detour due to an accident at 32nd/Thomas that took the bus up 32nd to Osborn, down Osborn to 36th, and then back to Thomas 4.) 2006 New Flyer C40LFR (Veolia-Tempe) #6404 on route 72 from Thomas/Scottsdale to Southern/Rural Observations: - there wasn't all that much tagging in the rear - the bus was immaculately clean inside (other than very minimal tagging in the rear) - the A/C didn't seem as powerful as Phoenix's 2007 D40LFs - the sticker on the passenger side exterior of the bus stated "Owner Valley Metro/RPTA" and Operated by "Veolia Transportation" (the 2006 C40LFRs operated by (Veolia-RPTA) say "Owner Valley Metro (and not RPTA)" 5.) 2006 New Flyer C40LFR (Veolia-RPTA) #6437 on route 61 from Southern/Rural to Superstition Springs Observations: - the farebox wasn't working (everyone who boarded got a free ride) - the 61s deviation from Southern onto Country Club to the Home Depot south of US60 and back is the stupidest "gerrymandered" route I've ever seen, one person got off of the bus at the Home Depot and absolutely nobody got on 6.) 2007 New Flyer D40LFR (Veolia-RPTA) #6455 on route 30 from Superstition Springs to University/College Ave. Observations: - there are more LED lights on these buses than the 2006 C40LFRs (LED lights are in the stairwell inside of the bus, outside of the front and rear doors on the exteriors, and in the interior of the front door in the doorway. on the 2006 C40LFRs none of these are LED) - there didn't seem to be much of a difference on the window tint from this bus to the 2006 C40LFRs - there was an altercation between the operator and a passenger who felt that the operator was rude to him (the operator told the passenger to "hurry up and get on the bus" - there is no owned by or operated by sticker on this bus, also the builders plate looks as if it's been removed 7.) 2006 New Flyer C40LFR (Veolia-RPTA) #6451 on route 81 from University/College Ave. to 90th St./Shea Observations: - the operator was talking to someone who seemed to be either a friend/fellow operator (wearing street clothes) about how he was trying to figure out how to get the dispatcher to give him bus #6623. He and the friend seemed to agree that #6623 was a bus of choice. I may be reading between the lines too much but I am curious if maybe #6623 and NOT #6648 is the hybrid. - the 81 goes through Tempe Marketplace again (and almost was involved in an accident in the parking lot there) 8.) and 9.) 2006 New Flyer C40LFRs #6402 and #6408 respectively on the 72 S/B and N/B from College/University to Chandler Fashion Center Observations: - bus #6402 still has the RPTA formatted destination sign readings Other observations: - it appears that most of the local routes within Mesa (104, 128, 136) use 2001 NABI 40-LFW (CNGs) on Saturdays. - the RPTA seems to have the longer/busier routes (30, 45, 61, 81 (not sure about the 96), 156) using exclusively 2006/2007/2008 C40LFRs/D40LFRs/C40LFRs. - it seems that ALL Phoenix owned buses have that "FULL AMOUNT MUST BE PAID Fares Set By Phoenix City Ordinance" stickers on their rear doors as well as at the front of the buses - the highest numbered D40LFR I saw with the RPTA was 6458 and the highest numbered C40LFR was 6644
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Re: Valley Metro busfanning trip report 09.27.08
Posted by CentrolinerDD* on Mon Sep 29 00:13:31 2008, in response to Valley Metro busfanning trip report 09.27.08, posted by phxtusbusfan on Sun Sep 28 02:42:17 2008.* edf40wrjww2msgDetailB:detailStr fiogf49gjkf0d Today, I was either incredibly bored or I had no life or some combination of the two so I decided to embark upon the longest busfanning trip of the Valley Metro system I had so far. I had a goal in mind which was to see if I could find the 2008 hybrid. Unfortunately, I failed at that goal. However, I was able to make a decent amount of observations, ride a lot of buses, and have a very stress free day. Wow. Thanks so much for your efforts. I appreciate the report and the photographs. - standing room only on the Green Line at approx 9am Great to hear! - the 61s deviation from Southern onto Country Club to the Home Depot south of US60 and back is the stupidest "gerrymandered" route I've ever seen, one person got off of the bus at the Home Depot and absolutely nobody got on I would have to agree with you. Prior to 28 July 2008, Route 156 - Chandler Boulevard/Williams Field Road turned onto Dobson Road to access Chandler Regional Hospital at Dobson Road and Frye Road (0.5 miles south of Chandler Boulevard). When Route 96 - Dobson Road became a supergrid route, Route 156 stopped going to the hospital because it could be serviced by Route 96. (Note: The Bus Book and map still show that the hospital is served by Route 156 although "156 - Dobson Road turn elimiated" is listed in the "Route Changes" section at the front of the Bus Book.) Why would they not do the same thing with Route 61 at Country Club Drive? The only reason I could think of is because Route 112 - Country Club Drive/Arizona Avenue only runs Monday through Friday. - the operator was talking to someone who seemed to be either a friend/fellow operator (wearing street clothes) about how he was trying to figure out how to get the dispatcher to give him bus #6623. He and the friend seemed to agree that #6623 was a bus of choice. I may be reading between the lines too much but I am curious if maybe #6623 and NOT #6648 is the hybrid. I rode 6623 about a week and a half ago. There was no hybrid markings on the exterior (I did not look for them, but I would have seen them if they were there), and there was nothing that would set it apart from other 2008 C40LFRs. - the 81 goes through Tempe Marketplace again (and almost was involved in an accident in the parking lot there) What do you mean by "again"? I actually feel Route 81 should not go into Tempe Marketplace. In August, the route for Orbit Earth was modified (Orbit Earth serves North Tempe). At first, it had a terminus on College Avenue and at Tempe Marketplace. To go between these two points, it wound around North Tempe. In order to provide a more direct connection between Arizona State University and Tempe Marketplace, Tempe turned the route into a big circle (using "Forward" and "Back" as directions). Orbit Earth now travels along University Drive. I feel that this direct connection means that Route 81 - Hayden Road/McClintock Drive no longer needs to go into Tempe Marketplace. It wastes time and is mainly used by ASU students who can now use Orbit Earth.
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Re: Valley Metro busfanning trip report 09.27.08
Posted by roscoman1986* on Sat Oct 4 13:55:29 2008, in response to Valley Metro busfanning trip report 09.27.08, posted by phxtusbusfan on Sun Sep 28 02:42:17 2008.* edf40wrjww2msgDetailB:detailStr fiogf49gjkf0d 1 and 3. Once again, this proves that Phoenix-North has some of the worst maintenance in the Valley Metro system (along with Tempe). Nice to see that even with some "heavier" routes, Phoenix-West can still keep its buses clean. Interesting that there was standing room only on the Green Line on a Saturday morning. I guess that explains why they run artics on the weekends now. 2. The 2002 NABIs are in reasonably good shape except for the speakers. The "black tar" in the high-floor section will be a thing of the past soon, as rehabs and other buses are now getting a "white tar" that covers the entire area between the windows in the high-floor section, and mimics the corrugated side walls on the C40LFRs. Much more attractive than the "black tar" and I hope they put this on all of the NABIs pretty soon. It is very hard to notice it from a distance, as well. On the topic of the C40LFRs, it appears that you rode on a lot of 2006 versions (both with Tempe and the RPTA). Other than the darker windows, I really like these buses and they are still clean. On routes, the 81 was extended to Chandler Fashion Center from the ASU Research Park via McClintock back in July 2008, which makes it more connected. As for the 61, hopefully that "branch" off Southern will get eliminated to speed up the bus ride. Also, as I stated before, it is nice to see the D40LFR suburbans back with the RPTA and nice to have a suburban on a weekend ride. I wonder how many suburbans are with them now?
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Re: Valley Metro busfanning trip report 09.27.08
Posted by roscoman1986* on Sat Oct 4 13:58:57 2008, in response to Re: Valley Metro busfanning trip report 09.27.08, posted by CentrolinerDD on Mon Sep 29 00:13:31 2008.* edf40wrjww2msgDetailB:detailStr fiogf49gjkf0d Did 6623 sound different, by any chance? I also still think 6648 is the hybrid. As for the 81 going into Tempe Marketplace, I think that it should stay like that because remember the 81 will no longer be going into downtown Tempe starting in December, so it will link south Tempe (and south Scottsdale) with Tempe Marketplace. The Orbit Earth was rerouted in order to make up for the loss of route 81 service (although they did it before September). And oh yeah I forgot that the 112 only runs on weekdays for some reason. I don't know whey they don't put Saturday service on this route like all the other Mesa north-south routes, even with hourly intervals. It seems odd given how busy Country Club Drive is.
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Re: Valley Metro busfanning trip report 09.27.08
Posted by CentrolinerDD* on Sat Oct 4 19:47:55 2008, in response to Re: Valley Metro busfanning trip report 09.27.08, posted by roscoman1986 on Sat Oct 4 13:58:57 2008.* edf40wrjww2msgDetailB:detailStr fiogf49gjkf0d Did 6623 sound different, by any chance? Sorry, I cannot recall. As for the 81 going into Tempe Marketplace, I think that it should stay like that because remember the 81 will no longer be going into downtown Tempe starting in December Good point. So, do you think Route 81's northern terminus during early morning and late night hours will be Tempe Marketplace?
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