BusTalk

Q65A · Posted: Sun Aug 07, 2016 12:10 pm Post subject: MTA Bus Fleet by the Numbers

Looking at the latest MTA Bus Fleet Roster at Wikipedia this morning, some interesting numbers emerge:
1. Total bus fleet: About 5700 units
2. Fleet makeup by bus type: +/- 3800 40-foot local buses (about 66%); 1054 45-foot cruisers (about 18.5%); 861 60-foot artics (about 15.5%)
3. Manufacturers: 5 (MCI, New Flyer, Nova Bus, Orion, Prevost)
4. Fleet makeup by OEM: Orion 1992 (about 34%); Nova Bus 1366 (about 23%); New Flyer 1288 (about 22%); MCI 664 (about 11%); Prevost 390 (about 6%)
5. Fleet by Engine OEM: 3173 Cummins (about 56%); 1591 Detroit Diesel (about 27%); 546 Caterpillar (about 10%); 390 Volvo (about 6%)
6. Fleet by Transmission OEM: 2791 Allison (about 48%); 1640 BAE Hybrid Electric (about 28%); 1269 ZF (about 23%)
7. RTS In Service: 444

Source: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/MTA_Regional_Bus_Operations_bus_fleet

N4 Jamaica · Joined: 16 Apr 2007 Posts: 858 Location: Long Island

Many thanks to Q65A for the six threads you began yesterday, threads with a good analysis of the status quo. I have get myself into the big city to sample some of the riding.
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On Staten Island, how many transit buses are there vs. how many cruisers?
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Thank you!

Q65A · Posted: Mon Aug 08, 2016 7:51 pm Post subject:

My pleasure, anytime Smile

The Staten Island Division currently has 804 buses operating out of 4 depots, 3 of which operate 24/7 (Meredith Avenue Depot has weekends off).
Cruisers are in the majority in Richmond borough: there are 435 cruisers (MCI and Prevost) and 369 low-floor 40-foot transit buses (Nova LFS and Orion VII).
There are only 86 HEV's in the local mix, all Orion VII NG HEV's, all based at Yukon Depot.
It's interesting to note that the Staten Island Division was served only by one depot (Castleton) from 1950 until Yukon Depot opened on September 13, 1981. Charleston and Meredith Avenue Depots opened much later.
In July 1960, Castleton Depot had only 186 buses covering 18 local routes (source: James C. Greller, NYC Transit System Bus & Trolley Coach Fleet 1946-1958 , page 75).
By April 1976, the Castleton fleet numbered 376 buses serving 27 routes (17 local and 10 express).The makeup of that fleet was as follows: 153 Flxible 401's (1964-1965), 146 GMC T6H5305A's (1968-1970; some of the '68's were equipped with Bus-O-Rama "batwings"), 76 GMC T6H-5310A's (1972) and 15 Flxible 53102's (1975).

traildriver · Joined: 26 Mar 2011 Posts: 2458 Location: South Florida

Speaking of Staten Island....anyone know when NYC Bus first operated expresses to Manhattan via New Jersey? Just curious....
I recall that at one time, I believe they only ran via Brooklyn, and that private companies, notably the old Domenico, started running via NJ..... Question

N4 Jamaica · Joined: 16 Apr 2007 Posts: 858 Location: Long Island

The NY Times of January 10, 1965, reported low patronage on the new bus route offered by Domenico Bus Service. The fare is 55 or 65 cents. Buses leave Ross Avenue, New Dorp, and travel through Midland Beach, Dongan Hills, Grasmere, New Brighton, Port Richmond, and Arlington. They leave from Platform 172 at Port Authority. Thirty-three trips daily.
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I never rode it.

Q65A · Posted: Tue Aug 09, 2016 7:40 pm Post subject:

According 2003 DOB The Insider's Guide, "November 3, 1965: NYCT creates the first express bus route, the R-8X, to link Staten Island with Downtown Brooklyn. This route was discontinued in the late 1980's."
Seems strange to me that an express bus route from SI would not terminate in Manhattan.
I do remember the Domenico buses. They had a nice cream and red livery somewhat reminiscent of the old livery used by Red & Tan Lines. Domenico pioneered the use of MCI cruisers in express service.
They had some MC-7's on their routes (equipped with sedan-type entrance doors; no bifold doors on a cruiser back then) so in many ways they blazed the trail for NYCT's use of MCI's as express buses. NYCT also ran some Greyhound MC-8's on SI express routes. This may have happened during the early '80's when the Flxible 870's began cracking in service.

traildriver · Joined: 26 Mar 2011 Posts: 2458 Location: South Florida

Domenico Bus was one of the first to purchase ex Greyhound PD-4501 Scenicruiser's, when GL retired them from their fleet. These had an extra row of seats, for a total of 47. As a long-time fan of these magnificent coaches, I was very sad to see them reduced to this type of use...

As for the NYC MC-8's....these were ex-Greyhound, painted a generic white, and leased to the MTA by Hausman during the 870 frame crisis....