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| Valley Metro - Should RPTA and Tempe divisions consolidate? (257097) | |
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| (257097) | |
Valley Metro - Should RPTA and Tempe divisions consolidate? |
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Posted by ABQ RIDE on Mon Mar 12 21:11:02 2012 The past few months, there has been discussion about Valley Metro's Tempe division being merged into RPTA. The City of Tempe has proposed the idea, and the new head of RPTA seems to support the idea.One thing, RPTA and Tempe have largely common fleets, consisting mainly of NABI XX-LFW LNGs and New Flyer C40LFRs (some of which RPTA already share with Tempe). Also, it would be more convenient for drivers if the following routes were operated from both the Mesa and Tempe facilities: •30 University Drive (currently RPTA) •45 Broadway (this used to be a Tempe route, but is now RPTA) •61 Southern Avenue (currently RPTA) •108 Elliot Road (currently Tempe) Also, another idea would be to extend the 77 Baseline all the way to Superstition Springs Mall, and use both the Tempe and Mesa facilities for the route. This would be a nice connection between Arizona Mills and Superstition Springs. What does anyone here think? |
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| (257106) | |
Re: Valley Metro - Should RPTA and Tempe divisions consolidate? |
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Posted by T8H5307N on Mon Mar 12 23:04:25 2012, in response to Valley Metro - Should RPTA and Tempe divisions consolidate?, posted by ABQ RIDE on Mon Mar 12 21:11:02 2012. The plan is to move most of the operation into the Tempe garage, and substantially reduce the Mesa operation. It would be a more central location for some of the routes. And there would be one less bureaucracy in Tempe. The downside is Sunday's strike against Veolia-Tempe would have also taken out RPTA. |
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| (257109) | |
Re: Valley Metro - Should RPTA and Tempe divisions consolidate? |
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Posted by ABQ RIDE on Mon Mar 12 23:20:35 2012, in response to Re: Valley Metro - Should RPTA and Tempe divisions consolidate?, posted by T8H5307N on Mon Mar 12 23:04:25 2012. One issue: Who will be the destination sign provider for the new RPTA? RPTA seems to have a preference for TwinVision while Tempe seems to have a preference for Luminator. I am personally a TwinVision fan myself.I'd like to see the next RPTA bus order (whether merged with Tempe or not) have either TwinVision Chroma multicolor signs or TwinVision Silver Smart signs. |
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| (257489) | |
Re: Valley Metro - Should RPTA and Tempe divisions consolidate? |
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Posted by ABQ RIDE on Mon Mar 19 18:37:49 2012, in response to Re: Valley Metro - Should RPTA and Tempe divisions consolidate?, posted by T8H5307N on Mon Mar 12 23:04:25 2012. Well, the strike is over. Lets see what happens.What will also be interesting is future bus orders. Tempe is already replacing most of their NABI XX-LFW fleet with new C40LFRs and DE60LFRs. RPTA, on the other hand, is still looking for a replacement for the Nova LFS fleet. It seems that in the past year, Gillig has been winning a lot of orders, as many TAs are resorting to simply awarding contracts to the lowest bidder, rather than going with the most compliant bidder. An RPTA order would be a big win for Gillig. Interestingly, most Arizona TAs outside of the Phoenix area are loyal Gillig customers, including Sun Tran in Tucson and Mountain Line in Flagstaff. |
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| (257518) | |
Re: Valley Metro - Should RPTA and Tempe divisions consolidate? |
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Posted by T8H5307N on Tue Mar 20 13:41:46 2012, in response to Re: Valley Metro - Should RPTA and Tempe divisions consolidate?, posted by ABQ RIDE on Mon Mar 19 18:37:49 2012. Remember that RPTA has at least one more year to go on its New Flyer contract. The recent arrivals in the Tempe garage were off that contract. Next year, it needs to replace 7 Scottsdale and 8 RPTA buses. |
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| (257520) | |
Re: Valley Metro - Should RPTA and Tempe divisions consolidate? |
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Posted by The Flxible Neofan on Tue Mar 20 14:47:13 2012, in response to Valley Metro - Should RPTA and Tempe divisions consolidate?, posted by ABQ RIDE on Mon Mar 12 21:11:02 2012. Also, another idea would be to extend the 77 Baseline all the way to Superstition Springs Mall, and use both the Tempe and Mesa facilities for the route. This would be a nice connection between Arizona Mills and Superstition Springs.I suppose...but what's with all of these marathon routes down there? |
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| (257533) | |
Re: Valley Metro - Should RPTA and Tempe divisions consolidate? |
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Posted by ABQ RIDE on Tue Mar 20 19:24:08 2012, in response to Re: Valley Metro - Should RPTA and Tempe divisions consolidate?, posted by T8H5307N on Tue Mar 20 13:41:46 2012. It would be cool if RPTA were to order some New Flyer XDE40s. |
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| (257667) | |
Re: Valley Metro - Should RPTA and Tempe divisions consolidate? |
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Posted by Euclid Avenue A Train on Fri Mar 23 03:04:16 2012, in response to Re: Valley Metro - Should RPTA and Tempe divisions consolidate?, posted by The Flxible Neofan on Tue Mar 20 14:47:13 2012. This is part of the Valley Metro/RPTA supergrid restructuring plan that began in 2000.The Following routes are currently Supergrid Routes 40 - Main Street 61 - Southern Avenue 70 - Glendale Ave/24th Street 72 - Scottsdale Rd/Rural Rd 96 - Dobson Road 156 - Chandler Blvd/Williams Field Rd 511 - Tempe - Scottsdale Airpark (Bi-Directional) Express 562 - Goodyear Express 563 - Buckeye Express 573 - Northwest Valley Express 575 - Northwest Valley Express 685 - Ajo/Gila Bend Rural The Plan originally to be complete in 2025. Neighborhood/Downtown Shuttle/Circulator Routes (City Funded) Mary, Dash, Buzz, Orbit, GUS.... Local/Neighborhood service Routes (City/Reservation-Nation Funded) 8, 10, 12, 52, 66...... Supergrid Local/Limited Routes (RPTA Funded (City/Reservation-Nation Suppliment)) 29, 41, 50, 70, 106, 35, 40, 44, 72.... LINK Light Rail Connection Limited Routes (RPTA/City Funded) Main Street, Country Club/AZ Ave.... RAPID BRT (City Of Phoenix Funding) I-10 E, I-10 W, I-17, AZ51, (S Central Ave) Express Routes (RPTA/City Funded) 520, 521, 562/563, 573/575...... Supergrid Bi-Directional Express Routes (RPTA Funded) 511...... Rural Service Routes (Pima County RPTA/Maricopa County RPTA/Pinal County Funding) 685......... Based on this plan: 3 to 5 hour One-Way trips on Supergrid Local Routes. |
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