Will There Ever Be a Joint Purchase of 40 Footers by CTA and Pace?

[geneking7320]

Some members may recall back in the 1970s CTA,Safeway,Nortran, and Suburban Transit System operated 40ft GMCs. Is it likely that in 10 years or so (whenever the NFs wear out) CTA and Pace may buy a nearly identical bus from one vendor?

Gene King

[Busjack]

If you are putting it off for 10 years, anything can happen and probably will.

However, I am not betting on this.

Back in the 70s, a TDH5307A was as standard a bus as you can get. The federal government tried to come up with a new standard bus (Transbus), and failed.

As I see it, the only way to standardize is to merge the operations or at least purchasing, and no one is currently talking about that. Even now, the Pace budget says that the state money (if it ever arrives) has to be spent on "green buses," but they indicate that otherwise they don't want to do it, by saying the usual capital funds will be spent for usual buses.

It was also reported today that future mayor Rahm wants to centralize purchasing among city departments, including CTA. While this seemed to deal more with office supplies, it doesn't sound like a platform for regional coordination.

Meantime, if you are talking 10 years out, Pace (if it still exists) probably will be replacing 30 foot buses with paratransit vehicles. That's what the Regional Bus Authority, after taking over Hammond Transit, is apparently doing.