97 replies to this topic

[ieko]

bzcat, on 23 April 2012 - 02:21 PM, said:

Ok, I don't want this thread to go too much off topic but I see that Axcess is available in 40ft version which would be comparable to NABI/New Flyer/Gillig/Nova etc. 40ft transit buses.

Part of my confusion is just that I have never seen a 40ft Axcess so I didn't understand why Eldorado has 2 different 35ft buses that look almost identical.

I think the EZ Rider is a less expensive (lower quality chassis) option and the Axcess is the higher end entry with a stronger chassis, essentially made to get their foot in the door in the 40ft heavy-duty transit market.

[Ramirez]

I don't get Line 142. It's branding is the so called "Community Connection." Why does 142 have that name? Should'nt it be consisdered a "Commuter Express" line?

[sdlinguist]

Some Commuter Express Gilligs and Neoplans up for auction this weekend, as well as some Gardena RTSs:

http://www.kenporter...searchval=Buses

With the new El Dorados for DASH, maybe the 30' Phantoms from San Pedro are soon to follow?

[misstheoldLABusses]

Ive been by the LADOT Commuter Express yard in lake view terrace. Anyone wonder why there are still 6 old Neoplan Commuter Expresses sitting in the yard still why all the others are the new MCI's?Bus numbers visible are 92025 and 92035. Couldnt get the other 4 since they were at the back of the yard.

[ieko]

Ramirez, on 01 May 2012 - 07:53 PM, said:

I don't get Line 142. It's branding is the so called "Community Connection." Why does 142 have that name? Should'nt it be consisdered a "Commuter Express" line?

Line 142 is unique to LADOT, it's the only route they run that isn't a circulator & isn't strictly a commuter service. That's why is has that name.

[Shakey077]

ieko, on 07 May 2012 - 06:31 AM, said:

Line 142 is unique to LADOT, it's the only route they run that isn't a circulator & isn't strictly a commuter service. That's why is has that name.

Its a former Long Beach route that was taken over by LADOT in the 90's. Although I am sure exactly why LBT lost the route, it had something to do with the cost of operating it I think.

[FYBklyn1959]

Shakey077, on 07 May 2012 - 01:54 PM, said:

Its a former Long Beach route that was taken over by LADOT in the 90's. Although I am sure exactly why LBT lost the route, it had something to do with the cost of operating it I think.

And before LBT had it, RTD operated it. Before 1983?, it was part of a longer route (841). Started in San Pedro, went to downtown Long Beach via Terminal Island, then north up to Huntington Park. I rode it once during a busfannning outing in the spring of 1977. From the Ocean Blvd terminus (pre-Transit Mall/Gallery) up to Firestone Blvd (that was the zone boundary and I didn't want to pay another fare, look up the old SCRTD (and LAMTA before them) zones sometimes to see what I mean). There I transferred to the 832 on Firestone (predecessor to today's 115) and took that to Broadway, then took the 7 (the So. Broadway bus before the 45) to downtown L. A., I don't remember what I did after that). In 1983, RTD replaced the Long Beach-Huntington Park protion of the 841 with today's 60 (which also covered the old 9 line between downtown L. A. and Huntington Park). The Long Beach-San Pedro segment became the 142, but before too long, LBT grabbed it up, then LADOT which brings us to today. Waaaaaaay back in the day, the Long Beach-San Pedro segment was a Pacific Electric rail route (until 1949, I think, when it became bus, then at some point, it was added to the Long Beach-Huntington Park route, which was the 66 before it became the 841 in April 1976)). And that ends your history lesson for today

[Shakey077]

FYBklyn1959, on 08 May 2012 - 10:30 AM, said:

And before LBT had it, RTD operated it. Before 1983?, it was part of a longer route (841). Started in San Pedro, went to downtown Long Beach via Terminal Island, then north up to Huntington Park. I rode it once during a busfannning outing in the spring of 1977. From the Ocean Blvd terminus (pre-Transit Mall/Gallery) up to Firestone Blvd (that was the zone boundary and I didn't want to pay another fare, look up the old SCRTD (and LAMTA before them) zones sometimes to see what I mean). There I transferred to the 832 on Firestone (predecessor to today's 115) and took that to Broadway, then took the 7 (the So. Broadway bus before the 45) to downtown L. A., I don't remember what I did after that). In 1983, RTD replaced the Long Beach-Huntington Park protion of the 841 with today's 60 (which also covered the old 9 line between downtown L. A. and Huntington Park). The Long Beach-San Pedro segment became the 142, but before too long, LBT grabbed it up, then LADOT which brings us to today. Waaaaaaay back in the day, the Long Beach-San Pedro segment was a Pacific Electric rail route (until 1949, I think, when it became bus, then at some point, it was added to the Long Beach-Huntington Park route, which was the 66 before it became the 841 in April 1976)). And that ends your history lesson for today

Wow did not know RTD operated the line before LBT. Good history there. Thanks. I remember as a young kid going to Ports' o Call on the 14 (LBT line # before it became the 141/142). That had to be early 80's, maybe right after they took it over.

[Ramirez]

Wow, that's alot of history!

I remember Shaun telling me once that there were still some old LBT bus stops signs over there, so I went hunting Yesterday. They seem to be gone now, I only saw the Commuter Express Bus stop signs I didn't go all the way to Ports' O' Call tho', could they still be there?

[Shakey077]

Ramirez, on 08 May 2012 - 07:53 PM, said:

Wow, that's alot of history!

I remember Shaun telling me once that there were still some old LBT bus stops signs over there, so I went hunting Yesterday. They seem to be gone now, I only saw the Commuter Express Bus stop signs I didn't go all the way to Ports' O' Call tho', could they still be there?

Last time I was in Ports O Call the sign were it stops inside the village and layovers was the old blue LBT sign. That was about a year and a half ago though so they may have replaced them all finally.

[Jon11]

Rode DASH Vehicle #06310 up in the valley yesterday and it had a TAP thingy to tap the tap card. It looks like LADOT is getting ready to start using the TAP system in June!

Here is what LADOT posted on their website:
http://ladottransit....051012_tap.html

Something I noticed on Vehicles #06310 and 06314 (the other bus I rode) was that they are really clean from the inside. The windows look REALLY clean no graffiti whatsoever and the panels as well . Except 06314 since it was tagged with sharpie near the A/C vent holes in the back . Other than that they look really good. They are also much quieter, not like 06307 which is here in L.A (operated by Veolia), 06307 is loud AF! Units 06301-06307 have HORRIBLE windows and interior. They are all scratched with vandalism and the windows are filthy and dirty from the inside.... I hope Veolia does something about this!!

Anyways, I don't know if Coach America (the contractor operating the valley routes) is doing good maintainence to the buses or if it was Veolia that left them like that before they switched to Coach America back in November.

[bzcat]

LADOT owns those buses, Veolia and Coach America just operate them. I assume that means other than basic cleaning, Coach America or Veolia are not allowed to replace anything, nor would they want to, on a bus that they don't own without LADOT authorization.

But I'm sure if there is a way for LADOT to authorize repairs... but it probably involves the bus drivers and maintenace staff making an effort to report the conditions to their their corporate office, and for the corporate office to request LADOT to make/pay for these repairs. Knowing these are giant companies with corporate staff located out of state, I don't think it will be a very efficient process.

[Ramirez]

What about the ones at MV transportation? Are those also owned by LADOT?

[Jon11]

bzcat, on 15 May 2012 - 02:10 PM, said:

LADOT owns those buses, Veolia and Coach America just operate them. I assume that means other than basic cleaning, Coach America or Veolia are not allowed to replace anything, nor would they want to, on a bus that they don't own without LADOT authorization.

But I'm sure if there is a way for LADOT to authorize repairs... but it probably involves the bus drivers and maintenace staff making an effort to report the conditions to their their corporate office, and for the corporate office to request LADOT to make/pay for these repairs. Knowing these are giant companies with corporate staff located out of state, I don't think it will be a very efficient process.

Actually, yes they are allowed to replace things. They're even allowed to repaint them but only as necessary.

Ramirez, on 15 May 2012 - 03:10 PM, said:

What about the ones at MV transportation? Are those also owned by LADOT?

Yes, all Commuter Express buses are all owned/leased by LADOT as well as all DASH vehicles are owned by LADOT.

So I found the LADOT RFP for the DASH Downtown and DASH Mid-City shuttle bus services. Here are some parts of the document and what the contractor is respnsible for doing:

Vehicle Cleanliness:
 Vehicle Cleanliness.JPG   149.28K   21 downloads
Graffiti, Repair of Accident damage:
 Graffiti, Repair of Accident damage.JPG   161.34K   28 downloads
Repair of Destination signs, Display Monitors... :
 Repair of Destination signs, Display Monitors.JPG   122.84K   16 downloads
Repair of Decals, Painted Surfaces:
 Repair of Decals, Painted Surfaces.JPG   144.15K   10 downloads

Edited by Jon11, 16 May 2012 - 05:25 AM.

[C40LFRZeke]

Jon11, on 16 May 2012 - 05:23 AM, said:

Graffiti, Repair of Accident damage:
Graffiti, Repair of Accident damage.JPG

I clapped out loud I read this. EVERY agency should have this policy about graffiti.

This policy has worked flawlessly in NYC on their Subway trains. New Yorkers I know say there is a very noticeable difference and trains look much cleaner.

[Ramirez]

This maybe old news (or new?) To Jon11
DASH Wilmington has a ElDorado BRT CNG on its line now, I think it looked like #12229(not sure because I saw it from a Torrance Transit Advantage) so MV Transportation has some for south bay service...

C40LFRZeke, on 17 May 2012 - 12:24 AM, said:

I clapped out loud I read this. EVERY agency should have this policy about graffiti.

This policy has worked flawlessly in NYC on their Subway trains. New Yorkers I know say there is a very noticeable difference and trains look much cleaner.

MV Transportation is a repeat offender of not reporting damages of its vehicles, hope this improves their maintenance...
The only ones we can't complain about are the Orion VI they have for LACMTA, as MV Transportation owns them

[C40LFRZeke]

Ramirez, on 17 May 2012 - 02:07 AM, said:

MV Transportation is a repeat offender of not reporting damages of its vehicles, hope this improves their maintenance...
The only ones we can't complain about are the Orion VI they have for LACMTA, as MV Transportation owns them

Understandable, I can imagine this policy can be very expensive at first, but after awhile, taggers will start to give up as in the case of NYC and the cost will gradually go down.

They only continue to tag our buses and trains only because Metro lets them get away with it.

[Jon11]

Ramirez, on 17 May 2012 - 02:07 AM, said:

This maybe old news (or new?) To Jon11
DASH Wilmington has a ElDorado BRT CNG on its line now, I think it looked like #12229(not sure because I saw it from a Torrance Transit Advantage) so MV Transportation has some for south bay service...

MV Transportation is a repeat offender of not reporting damages of its vehicles, hope this improves their maintenance...
The only ones we can't complain about are the Orion VI they have for LACMTA, as MV Transportation owns them

Omg r u serius? Try to keep track of the new buses you see and what DASH route is on for I could update the LADOT wiki http://www.cptdb.ca/..._Transportation as much as possible. I've been working hard on there to update info as much as i can.
Well, I don't think MV or any other contractors need to report graffiti damages. Unless its something severe like the bus getting involved in a crash, caught on fire... or something serious.

C40LFRZeke, on 17 May 2012 - 12:24 AM, said:

I clapped out loud I read this. EVERY agency should have this policy about graffiti.

This policy has worked flawlessly in NYC on their Subway trains. New Yorkers I know say there is a very noticeable difference and trains look much cleaner.

I don't think the contractors for DASH service even follow these rules. Well most of them, Coach America up in the valley is doing a good job so far. The DASH MV Transportation yard that covers the Pico Union/Echo Park, Boyle Heights/East L.A and ElSereno/City Terrace routes are trying their best on maintaining the buses. Those buses run through areas infested by Graffiti and Vandalism. Some of the 2045-2067 buses they have, have windows free from graffiti because they're changing the windows, but in my opinion it looks like they never do anything because within one to two weeks those windows will be all tagged up.

[Ramirez]

Jon11, on 17 May 2012 - 03:13 AM, said:

Omg r u serius? Try to keep track of the new buses you see and what DASH route is on for I could update the LADOT wiki http://www.cptdb.ca/..._Transportation as much as possible. I've been working hard on there to update info as much as i can.
Well, I don't think MV or any other contractors need to report graffiti damages. Unless its something severe like the bus getting involved in a crash, caught on fire... or something serious.

I don't think the contractors for DASH service even follow these rules. Well most of them, Coach America up in the valley is doing a good job so far. The DASH MV Transportation yard that covers the Pico Union/Echo Park, Boyle Heights/East L.A and ElSereno/City Terrace routes are trying their best on maintaining the buses. Those buses run through areas infested by Graffiti and Vandalism.

Yes sir, I am serious, like the one in your avatar! I turned into jelly when Isaw it then I realized it was operated by the South Bay MV Transportation Ther'ye going to suffer... D:
The only ones I can help you out is for now are DASH San Pedro and Wilmington, along with Community Connection 142, as those are closest to me, but ill plan trips to other places later this month.
I looked at the LADOT Wiki, the 96XXX, series come from the UTA(Utah Transit Authority) I believe, I might, have to check again but the have strong similarities...

And if you're really wondering, MV Transportation blows in the South Bay, damn evildoers

Do you have pictures of the 30' DASH Phantoms?
Also, May I ask what part of LA county are you located?

[Ramirez]

Jon11, you'll be happy to know that I spotted 12320, a EZ Rider BRT CNG on DASH Wilmington earlier, still not sure about yesterday's unit, but I can confirm todays unit