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(MA) Worcester upgrades bus fleet

 
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RailBus63
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PostPosted: Wed Jul 30, 2008 9:48 pm    Post subject: (MA) Worcester upgrades bus fleet Reply with quote

Worcester Telegram - Bus fleet upgraded

WRTA adds vehicles, aims to lure riders

By Bronislaus B. Kush TELEGRAM & GAZETTE STAFF

Click here to see an image of new WRTA Gillig #8401

WORCESTER— The Worcester Regional Transit Authority will spend about $2.3 million to upgrade a portion of its aging bus fleet this fall, and hopes to implement programs that may woo motorists tired of escalating gas prices.

The efforts to entice area residents to public transportation include the possibility of a “super pass” of sorts, which would allow WRTA passengers to also use commuter rail and other services operated by the Boston-based MBTA.

“We’re hoping to make it more attractive for people to take the bus,” said WRTA Administrator Stephen F. O’Neil.

The WRTA recently agreed to purchase seven “full-size” buses — for about $325,000 apiece — from the Gillig Corp. of California, the second-largest producer of transit buses in North America.

Two of the vehicles are 40 feet long and can accommodate up to 38 passengers. The five others are 35 feet long and can carry between 25 to 28 passengers.

The agency, which also owns a number of minivans, has not purchased a bus since around 2000, officials said.

WRTA officials bought the Gillig buses, in large part, to replace vehicles with thousands of miles of service that are frequently crippled by breakdowns.

The agency also has to retire some of the fleet because the federal government mandates that public transit systems cannot run buses that are 12 years old or older.

“Many of our buses have simply run out of gas,” said Mr. O’Neil, noting some of the discarded buses will be used for parts and others will be sold.

WRTA officials hope to have the new vehicles in service sometime in September or October.

The new buses are “low-floor vehicles” that may be boarded at the curb and do not require passengers to step up into the compartment.

Mr. O’Neil said the Gillig buses, which use low-sulfur diesel, are much quieter and more fuel-efficient than the GMC coaches now in use.

“They burn cleaner and run quieter,” he said, noting the existing fleet is made up of 46 buses that are 40, 35, or 30 feet long.

One of the new buses has been delivered to the WRTA’s barn on Grove Street and is being used to train drivers.

“The new buses are little different than the one’s we’re now using,” said Mr. O’Neil. “For example, the drivers will notice a wider swing in the rear of the vehicles.”

The WRTA funded the purchase out of its capital improvement account.

The agency is also seeking to buy a hybrid bus.

The WRTA has joined the Brockton Regional Transit Authority, the Merrimack Valley Transit Authority, and the Greater Attleboro Transit Authority in seeking a $29 million grant that would help to purchase the fuel-efficient hybrids.

Officials hope to know within 30 days if their grant application is successful.

Besides the purchase of the buses, WRTA officials are studying ways to get motorists out of their cars and into public transit.

One idea involves development of a pass that can be used on MBTA as well as WRTA routes.

“Unfortunately, it’s going to take some time, because although the technology is available, we just don’t have the money to move forward,” said Mr. O’Neil.

He said the agency has also put up new signage and that all WRTA vehicles will be primarily painted blue, with white and red flourishes.

The fleet now features five different color schemes.

Mr. O’Neil said informal surveys show ridership has increased since the recent implementation of the “flex-routes ” that allow passengers to schedule stops up to a quarter mile from established routes.

The WRTA, which operates on an annual budget of about $20 million, serves 35 Central Massachusetts communities. Recent ridership figures were not readily available.

© 2008 Worcester Telegram & Gazette Corp.
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ripta42
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PostPosted: Thu Jul 31, 2008 7:28 am    Post subject: Re: (MA) Worcester upgrades bus fleet Reply with quote

Quote:
The agency also has to retire some of the fleet because the federal government mandates that public transit systems cannot run buses that are 12 years old or older.


Er, not quite...

What is Worcester running these days?
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RailBus63
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PostPosted: Thu Jul 31, 2008 8:08 am    Post subject: Reply with quote

The current Worcester fleet consists of 35-foot and 40-foot Nova RTS's purchased in several orders from 1996 to 2000.
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