Optima Opuses

[pudgym29]

When returning home from downtown today; I wound up at Cicero & Pensacola waiting for either the #54 or the #X54.

I was surprised when I espied a 30-foot Optima Opus running northbound on #54A North Cicero. I looked at the route on Bus Tracker later, and discovered that three of the four buses on the route were Optimas (the 4th was a Flxible).

Previous times I've seen buses on #54A have always been Novas.

I did not check any other routes from Forest Glen (aside from #77 Belmont; but #77 never gets a 30-footer - and could use a 60-footer for some runs), but hypothesize that more lightly-trafficed routes from Forest Glen are going to get Optimas for their service?

Can Forest Glen drivers corrorborate?

Here is the best picture I managed to get of it. (My camera was put away.)

Edited April 16, 2009 by pudgym29

[MetroShadow]

Speculation: Smaller routes or feeder service that won't yield high ridership would get the smaller bus. That frees up the 40-footers (and since you're out a net number of buses thanks to NABI, you need the 40 footers where you need them the most)

I've not seen a 500 on the #77, not even a night route for that matter!

[Guest]

When returning home from downtown today; I wound up at Cicero & Pensacola waiting for either the #54 or the #X54.

I was surprised when I espied a 30-foot Optima Opus running northbound on #54A North Cicero. I looked at the route on Bus Tracker later, and discovered that three of the four buses on the route were Optimas (the 4th was a Flxible).

Previous times I've seen buses on #54A have always been Novas.

I did not check any other routes from Forest Glen (aside from #77 Belmont; but #77 never gets a 30-footer - and could use a 60-footer for some runs), but hypothesize that more lightly-trafficed routes from Forest Glen are going to get Optimas for their service?

Can Forest Glen drivers corrorborate?

Thirty foot Optimas are not uncommon on the 54A route. The 54A route is very underutilized by riders so it dosent always require a 40 ft bus to operate it.

[jacksone44]

Thirty foot Optimas are not uncommon on the 54A route. The 54A route is very underutilized by riders so it dosent always require a 40 ft bus to operate it.

Ive seen a few 30fters on the 54A. Its fairly common.

[MVTArider]

At least the CTA doesn't have a mess of these

[Busjack]

I have been sort of advocating that, but

• Given the haphazard way FG allocates Optimas (i.e. it doesn't run many on Saturday, when you would think loading would be lower in the far northwest side) I wonder.
  
• Since NABI took over manufacturing them, I don't think any options will be exercised (it is hard to see how CTA then thought it could use 125).
  

When you see them, it is often on a route like 88 or 90N.

[trainman8119]

When you see them, it is often on a route like 88 or 90N.

Lots on the 85A too !!! I have found that 90N and 69 interline during the

day, so you would see them on the 69 also.

[cta_44499_FG]

Speculation: Smaller routes or feeder service that won't yield high ridership would get the smaller bus. That frees up the 40-footers (and since you're out a net number of buses thanks to NABI, you need the 40 footers where you need them the most)

I've not seen a 500 on the #77, not even a night route for that matter!

Don't be so assurring of that......back when these things were assigned to North Park (of course, I will still at Forest Glen at that time)....I have seen an Optima on the 151 and also the 147 (YES, thats what I said....147).

Never underestimate the lack of thinking of any garage! (Of course, with the RTSs still around at that time...and North Park's superior maintenance...this probably was all that was left to fill the run).

[artthouwill]

I have been sort of advocating that, but

• Given the haphazard way FG allocates Optimas (i.e. it doesn't run many on Saturday, when you would think loading would be lower in the far northwest side) I wonder.
  
• Since NABI took over manufacturing them, I don't think any options will be exercised (it is hard to see how CTA then thought it could use 125).
  

When you see them, it is often on a route like 88 or 90N.

I thought FG got them to run on its Evanston routes in addition to the 88s, 90N, 64, 81W.

Archer uses its Optimas on 39 and 43 routes in addition to the UC routes. I don't know if they use them on routes like 55A, 55N, 622H, 63W and 165.

[cta_44499_FG]

I thought FG got them to run on its Evanston routes in addition to the 88s, 90N, 64, 81W.

Archer uses its Optimas on 39 and 43 routes in addition to the UC routes. I don't know if they use them on routes like 55A, 55N, 622H, 63W and 165.

Forest Glen does not have Evanston routes....North Park does (200,201/N201,205,206, and to an extent 93/97).

Orginally thats why they were at North Park...but needless that didnt go far. The latter of the routes wouldn't get one anyhow due to higher ridership (and many a times a 60 ftr has been spied on the 97)!

In case u wonder why I mention N201 separate...it is because it pretty much is its own route.

[cta 5555]

I think North Park needs to get them back for the 155. ;)

[cta_44499_FG]

I think North P ark needs to get them back for the 155.

How about....NO.

That would be like Chicago getting them for the 66. Of course, you could link them up together with chains like an L train and run them in groups of six.

Oh wait...I forgot, you Chicago drivers like to travel in packs anyway!

[cta 5555]

Yea u North Park operators are no Better! All u do is cry about our 1300/1400s. Now u know how it is. ;)

[T8H5307A]

Oh wait...I forgot, you Chicago drivers like to travel in packs anyway!

Thats right. I forget it's hard to travel in packs when you run 10 mins. hot!

[artthouwill]

Forest Glen does not have Evanston routes....North Park does (200,201/N201,205,206, and to an extent 93/97).

Orginally thats why they were at North Park...but needless that didnt go far. The latter of the routes wouldn't get one anyhow due to higher ridership (and many a times a 60 ftr has been spied on the 97)!

In case u wonder why I mention N201 separate...it is because it pretty much is its own route.

There were 2 routes that FG did operate in Evanston. Unfortunately I don't remember which ones, but I remember seeing a 6000 Flx operate on a route up there. Perhaps since the last bids they now all operate out of NP like before, but there was a period where FG did have at least 2 routes (97 not being one of them).

[Busjack]

There were 2 routes that FG did operate in Evanston. Unfortunately I don't remember which ones, but I remember seeing a 6000 Flx operate on a route up there. Perhaps since the last bids they now all operate out of NP like before, but there was a period where FG did have at least 2 routes (97 not being one of them).

Forest Glen had 206, but not since the big garage swap of routes over a year ago.

North Park used to run Optimas at least on 205, but that ended when those buses were swapped out even before that.

[sw4400]

Yea u North Park operators are no Better! All u do is cry about our 1300/1400s. Now u know how it is.

As a NP Passenger who gets 1300's and 1400's on Rt. 11 pretty reguarily, I see no problems with them. They are just the same as the 1500's, 1600's, 1700's, 1800's, and 1900's(both with and without the Allison Transmission) that are also used on Rt. 11. Can you further elaborate what is wrong with the 1300's and 1400's?

[MetroShadow]

Don't be so assurring of that......back when these things were assigned to North Park (of course, I will still at Forest Glen at that time)....I have seen an Optima on the 151 and also the 147 (YES, thats what I said....147).

Never underestimate the lack of thinking of any garage! (Of course, with the RTSs still around at that time...and North Park's superior maintenance...this probably was all that was left to fill the run).

LOL. I was thinking in FG's point of view since I've seen the logic of what NP is capable of in the past 2 years. Those 500's have been used in routes where it shouldn't, and people can get packed like sardines.

Although come to think of it, a 500 on the #147 would've been a hilarious sight anyway.

[jajuan]

As a NP Passenger who gets 1300's and 1400's on Rt. 11 pretty reguarily, I see no problems with them. They are just the same as the 1500's, 1600's, 1700's, 1800's, and 1900's(both with and without the Allison Transmission) that are also used on Rt. 11. Can you further elaborate what is wrong with the 1300's and 1400's?

I also have not seen many problems with them. I used to ride them on X54 and 53 with no problem and now on occasion on 36, 135, 136 and a few times on 147 with no issues. Plus I don't really remember seeing any complaints from any NP operators about how any of those buses operated. The only complaints I've seen had to do with what's going on with all the needless swapping.

[qwantae]

Don't be so assurring of that......back when these things were assigned to North Park (of course, I will still at Forest Glen at that time)....I have seen an Optima on the 151 and also the 147 (YES, thats what I said....147).

Never underestimate the lack of thinking of any garage! (Of course, with the RTSs still around at that time...and North Park's superior maintenance...this probably was all that was left to fill the run).

HA HA, Optima on 151, 147?? Thats so hilarious!!! I was even laughing the whole time when I rode one on 36 in Downtown and it was so crowded. When 103rd had them, I thought that #28 was the first busy route that I saw one on. But I love those little babies, but fits better in Hammond.