BusTalk

[Q65A]

Orion is no longer in the new bus business, and for the past several years DOB has test fleets in operation consisting of vehicles manufactured by NF, NovaBus and Prevost.
It's all speculation at this point, of course, but what do you guys think the future DOB might look like?

[frankie]

Pardon my ignorance, but what does DOB stand for?

Frankie

[Hart Bus]

[Mr. Linsky]

[Q65A]

Oops! Mr. L. absolutely correct. I should have defined my acronyms.
With regard to the bus fleet of the future, it will be interesting to see how Nova and New Flyer compete for the MTA local bus business. Nova/Prevost have a final assembly plant at Plattsburgh NY (much as Orion had their US plant at Oriskany NY), so New York $$$ can stay in-state.
On the topic of new cruisers, it also will be interesting to see how the fleet of Prevost X3-45s are doing on their express routes in Brooklyn and Staten Island. Every time I see a Bolt Bus working the I-95 corridor I'm reminded that Prevost buses are no longer purely "high-end" touring coaches; they can slug it out in daily linehaul service alongside MCI's.
I suppose MTA is compiling lots of in-service data to compare and contrast the performance of these experimental fleets before they "take the plunge" on larger future orders.
A few trends have emerged:
1. Hybrid purchases seem to be on hold, at least in the near term.
2. CNG buses still serve JG, CP, WF and SC depots, but there does not seem to be any major push to extend CNG operations elsewhere.
3. The recent Van Hool TD925 double-decker trials did not pan out.
4. "Clean diesel" engines appear to have made alternative fueled buses less appealing.
5. MTA and New Flyer have "kissed and made up", as recent orders for artics, CNGs and Xcelsiors indicate.
6. Low floor local buses are here to stay.
7. Expect artics to be procured in larger numbers as new SBS routes are extended city wide.

[R62CNG]

To answer your question, by 2018 or so, I think the MTA may have:

-Orion VII OG hybrids
-Orion VII OG CNGs (possibly close to retirement by this point)
-Orion VII OG clean diesels (MTA BC's units)
-Orion VII NG hybrids
-Orion VII NG clean diesels (MTA BC's units)
-Orion VII 3G clean diesels
-Nova LFS's (including the upcoming ones)
-New Flyer C40LFs
-Nova LFSAs (possibly more to come)
-New Flyer XD40s (including up coming ones)
-New Flyer XD60s (possibly more to come)
-TBA new 40ft CNG model( to replace the Orion VII OG CNGs)
-MCI D4500CLs
-MCI D4500CTs
-Prevost X3-45s (including upcoming ones)
Everything else built before 2003 would be retired.

And for the hell of it, NICE
-Orion VII NG CNGs
-Orion VII 3G CNGs
-TBA new 40ft CNG model ( to replace any remaining Orion V CNG's)
Everything else built before 2008 would be retired.

[ripta42]

I don't see the MTA wholesale retiring 10 year old buses.

[R62CNG]

I know, that's why I said circa 2018. The 2003 Orion VII OG CNGs (if still around) will be 15 years old by then. All the remaining D60HFs, Orion Vs, and possibly even the RTS's will be gone by then. As will the remaining 1999-2002 MCI D4500s and NICE's 2000-2004 Orion V CNGs.

[ripta42]

I was referring to your comment that everything built before 2008 would be retired.

Of course, no one has a crystal ball and DOB is full of surprises. I wouldn't be surprised if some 20+ year old RTSes and the 1999 Orion Vs are still hanging around in service in 2018. The newest D60HFs will only be 15 by then and will probably still be in service.

[R62CNG]

I actually added an extra section for NICE Bus. I said they'll retire everything built before 2018. The 2004 Orion V CNGs would be 14 years old by then if they are still around (which I doubt, Long Island bus rarely keeps CNGs pass 13-14 years of age). As for the MTA's D60HF, based on their documents about the MBDFs that these buses have, the MTA seems to be implying that the remaining D60HFs will be off the streets of New York by as soon as next year (early 2016 latest).