What Route Should The 500 Series OPTIMA OPUS Be On?

[CHI74]

Hello all, What route do you think the OPTIMA OPUS buses would be better on then the 62 Archer Route.

I think that thay would be better on routes like 55N or the 55A or on the 63rd street run that goes from MIDWAY(transit station 59th) to Harlem . and if thay are to be used on 62Archer route what about the off hour of service like after 10:00am or after the Am rush or the PM rush.

If you have ever gone down 55th and Austen or down 63rd (WEST BOUND toward Harlem) after the AM rush their are somthing like 4 people on the bus and one of them is the driver depending on the fact if CPS is in session.

And why can`t thay eather bring back or create a route along 31st street in the BRIDGEPORT area i have friends that live around 31st and thay all talk about how nice it would be to have a "LINE" running down 31st Street.

The reason that i heard was the busses were to big. The way that i see it the OPTIMA OPUS busses would be perfict for this application.

Thay could connect the ORANGE LINE STATION @ ASHLAND and the RED LINE STATION @ 35th Street (WHITE SOX) togheather. Or on game days use some of them as an EXPRESS from the ORANGE LINE STATION @35th street to White Sox Park have them borard at 35th archer and do not stop till it reaches sox park.

So please post your thoughts on this subject and thank you for you time. :D

[Busjack]

One would consider low ridership and narrow streets. Assuming that now that the CTA pension liability has been bonded out and is no longer on the books, and thus talk about wholesale route cancellations is over, the list in the post on weak routes would provide some idea, especially the routes in bold (but maybe setting aside the X routes that need time to develop). That comes up with a list of at least 38, 39, 55A, 55N, 56A, 64, 90N, 200, 201, 205. On the narrow street front, add 86, 96 and the 170s (of course). There doesn't seem to be problems running them on such routes as 68 and 88. 62H and 63W probably also qualify.

I also disclaim the effects of interlining.

The above list would indicate that if those routes are staying, I would exercise more of the Optima options. (However, the report that the DE60LFs will be 600s might be a sign that not all 80 will be).

Also, get Firefox and use the spell checker. And since you say "like 4 people on the bus and one of them is the driver depending on the fact if CPS is in session," are there trips without a driver?

Finally, on something like 31st, there also has to be evidence that some ridership will exist to meet service standards (although apparently less proof than before Jan. 16). See the discussion of Principled Discussion of Transit Restructuring.

[Guest]

Heres a route the Optimas should be on, the route that goes straight to the junkyard!. Lets face it the Optimas arent the most attractive looking buses with those little wheels come on, they look like toys!. Its degrading to professional bus operators. I cant even imagine them in smaller systems like Rockford, Beloit or even Kenosha Transit. I think CTA shouldve done better by buying New Flyer 30ft. models similar to MCTSs version. You would figure that NF is going to be the dominant bus in Chicago now with over a thousand NF 40 footers currently arriving and artics on the way, NF 30 footers wouldve been a better option, but I guess NF didnt come in with the most competitive bid for the 30 footers if they bidded at all.

[Buslover88]

Heres a route the Optimas should be on, the route that goes straight to the junkyard!. Lets face it the Optimas arent the most attractive looking buses. I cant even imagine them in smaller systems like Rockford, Beloit or even Kenosha Transit. I think CTA shouldve done better by buying New Flyer 30ft.

Why speaking so low about the Optimas? I like them. And I don't care how the buses we have look, as long as they have speed and are reliable. And where did you hear about New Flyer 30 footers? There's no such thing.

[Busjack]

There is a NF 30 footer, but the issue is that CTA wanted a narrower bus for Hyde Park, and a New Flyer isn't it.

Also, one's personal aesthetic sense should be a reason for advocating wasting taxpayer money. I could say to scrap all the NFs because CTA didn't buy the redesigned version, and accepted 1990 styling, but I don't have the $540 million to do that (buses have sure become expensive).

[Guest]

Why speaking so low about the Optimas? I like them. And I don't care how the buses we have look, as long as they have speed and are reliable. And where did you hear about New Flyer 30 footers? There's no such thing.

You obviously dont read New Flyers website BusLover. And by the way Milwaukee MCTS has 30 ft NF low floors in their fleet, 4200/4500 series.

[Buslover88]

I have to say i'm sorry for saying there's no New Flyer 30 footer.

You obviously dont read New Flyers website BusLover.

You're right, I don't. Got better things to do then that.

[Guest]

I have to say i'm sorry for saying there's no New Flyer 30 footer.

You're right, I don't. Got better things to do then that.

Yeah like chasing Diversey buses!

[CHI74]

On Apr 2nd 2008 i saw 2 OPTIMA`S working Archer 62 i can not recall their numbers but it was around 4pm . Thank you for you time.

[qwantae]

I have to say i'm sorry for saying there's no New Flyer 30 footer.

You're right, I don't. Got better things to do then that.

There is 30 footer New Flyer operating in St. Petersburg/Clearwater FL for PSTA.

Anyways, did anyone see any Optimas on #21 Cermak yet?

[cta_44499_FG]

There is 30 footer New Flyer operating in St. Petersburg/Clearwater FL for PSTA.

Anyways, did anyone see any Optimas on #22 Cermak yet?

U mean #21 Cermak?

last i checked the 22 was Clark, and they definite do NOT belong on Clark.

[qwantae]

U mean #21 Cermak?

last i checked the 22 was Clark, and they definite do NOT belong on Clark.

Sorry, I did meant 21 Cermak.

[Guest]

Sorry, I did meant 21 Cermak.

Im sure a 500 made it on Clark route some time.

[Busjack]

BusTracker (surprise, the new routes are up as scheduled, also a new first page) shows some (521, 522, 531) on 43.

[trainman8119]

BusTracker (surprise, the new routes are up as scheduled, also a new first page) shows some (521, 522, 531) on 43.

That would be a good route for those buses to say the least.

[nflyer22]

I'd say any good route that is small and light, and doesn't need such a 40-footer on, and the #60 Blue Island/26th surely isn't it! Putting it on the #62 Archer was bad, now one on the #60, this really is not good!

[kendo26]

While riding around yesterday I saw 520 on the 39. I think that route is perfect for this kind of bus.

[Buslover88]

I'd say any good route that is small and light, and doesn't need such a 40-footer on, and the #60 Blue Island/26th surely isn't it! Putting it on the #62 Archer was bad, now one on the #60, this really is not good!

Now i've seen it all! That's insane! What's CTA thinking?? LOL.

[qwantae]

I'd say any good route that is small and light, and doesn't need such a 40-footer on, and the #60 Blue Island/26th surely isn't it! Putting it on the #62 Archer was bad, now one on the #60, this really is not good!

Maybe is because they want them to go to Downtown so that more tourists and downtown people can see those since it barely none to see in Downtown except PM Rush periods on Route #173 on Michigan, that route is also crowded too. And I have never saw any 500s on #56 Milwaukee since in the beginning when Forest GLen had just started to received them. I tought #56 was pretty bad for them too, I remember last summer I rode a 500 on #36 Broadway from Washington (Daley Center) to North Ave on a Saturday night, It was way far from bad. But I love those little babies.

[qwantae]

I dont know how many 500s that Archer has, but Everytime I go to Midway, even two Saturdays ago, I still see a Nova on #55A-N West 55th/Narr/ Austin, I thought it was expecting only a 500 on those routes plus 62H/ least couple on 63W especially on those trips to Harlem that turns to #165 W 65th. I do agree that #39 and #43 is a perfect route for them.

[nflyer22]

I dont know how many 500s that Archer has, but Everytime I go to Midway, even two Saturdays ago, I still see a Nova on #55A-N West 55th/Narr/ Austin, I thought it was expecting only a 500 on those routes plus 62H/ least couple on 63W especially on those trips to Harlem that turns to #165 W 65th. I do agree that #39 and #43 is a perfect route for them.

Archer, according to the many visits of Bus Tracker, has around 32 Optimas (highest one I've seen on Archer is 531, while lowest I saw at Forest Glen is 532), and Forest Glen should have the rest 13.

[Zol87]

One would consider low ridership and narrow streets. Assuming that now that the CTA pension liability has been bonded out and is no longer on the books, and thus talk about wholesale route cancellations is over, the list in the post on weak routes would provide some idea, especially the routes in bold (but maybe setting aside the X routes that need time to develop). That comes up with a list of at least 38, 39, 55A, 55N, 56A, 64, 90N, 200, 201, 205. On the narrow street front, add 86, 96 and the 170s (of course). There doesn't seem to be problems running them on such routes as 68 and 88. 62H and 63W probably also qualify.

I agree with your list, however the 201 has significant ridership at times especially during rush hour. I'd like to add the 17, 49A, 54A, 69 & 81W because of their low ridership.

Routes with low ridership on weekends and off-peak hours should use smaller buses because there are less customers to pick up.

[RIPTA42]

Optimas already run on the 69 and 81W, and a 40' bus can get a standing crowd on the 81W.

[dre_cta6221]

i think a good route will be the #64 because it is so short.