Busjack Posted August 14, 2012 Report Share Posted August 14, 2012 I didn't realize that was on Milwaukee County's website. Thanks for the info. Now that you mention it, there is also a Business->Bids and Specifications link on ridemcts.org, which also gets you the document. I thought of the County first since MCTS is the operator for the county. I don't see where either has a Bid Awards or Press Release link, where the award would eventually be announced, but I'm sure you can find something along those lines. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
busfan2 Posted August 15, 2012 Report Share Posted August 15, 2012 As I read through the RFP for the new buses in Milwaukee I must say it is interesting because everything down to fasteners and wiring harnesses are being specified. One thing of interest is the proposal calls for a Hanover destination sign that we have seen on bus 5318. Also in the same section is requirements for a rear route number sign. This will be nice from a passenger perspective in downtown Milwaukee. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Busjack Posted August 15, 2012 Report Share Posted August 15, 2012 As I read through the RFP for the new buses in Milwaukee I must say it is interesting because everything down to fasteners and wiring harnesses are being specified. One thing of interest is the proposal calls for a Hanover destination sign that we have seen on bus 5318. ... Most of the stuff is based on the Standard Bus Procurement Guidelines, which the APTA site indicates were revised in 2011 (link to Word Document). I was surprised that even Pace specifications for paratransit vehicles conform to this format, but the new ones even apply to them. However, specifying a particular type of destination sign, rather than one meeting FTA ADA requirements, is a departure from that pattern. Since buses are pretty standard, one would wonder why the TAs have to do this.* However, CTA pointed out that the NABIs were the first articulated buses bid on the basis of this standard, and it did have the legal effect of giving CTA grounds for saying that they did not meet structural requirements, as required under the 12 year warranty. _______ *The genesis of the original guidelines apparently was that buses in NYC and Toronto fell apart (such as the Orion VIs in Toronto). Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
CURRENTZ_09 Posted August 15, 2012 Author Report Share Posted August 15, 2012 Get Ready Transit Advocates and Fans. The Milwaukee County Transit System is listed as one of the many buildings being open for tour for the Milwaukee Open Doors Project for 2012. I will have more details and a special flyer giving all the details Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
busfan2 Posted August 16, 2012 Report Share Posted August 16, 2012 @Busjack- Thanks for the info. I find it very helpful and I see there is a lot of information on the APTA website that I will check out as time permits. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
CURRENTZ_09 Posted August 16, 2012 Author Report Share Posted August 16, 2012 You may Preview Schedules online at RideMCTS.com or Download the Service Pack listed Below. I have included detailed information about the Doors Open Milwaukee 2012 MCTS Tour on Saturday September 22, 2012. Happy TravelsMCTS August 26th, 2012 Schedules Service Pack.pdfMCTS SUMMER 2012 TRANSIT TRAVEL GUIDE PT. II (Updated August 16th, 2012).pdf2012 Doors Open Milwaukee (MCTS Fleet Building Tour).pdfGreyhound Chicago-Milwaukee Express Timetable (Updated August 15th, 2012).pdf Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
flossman Posted August 17, 2012 Report Share Posted August 17, 2012 I noticed they started scavenging the InfoDev passenger counters from the scrapped 4300s and putting them into in-service buses... I noticed today that 5200 and 5204 have the counters on them. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
CURRENTZ_09 Posted August 18, 2012 Author Report Share Posted August 18, 2012 I noticed they started scavenging the InfoDev passenger counters from the scrapped 4300s and putting them into in-service buses... I noticed today that 5200 and 5204 have the counters on them. How do they look? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
busfan2 Posted August 18, 2012 Report Share Posted August 18, 2012 I noticed they started scavenging the InfoDev passenger counters from the scrapped 4300s and putting them into in-service buses... I noticed today that 5200 and 5204 have the counters on them. Where are those placed in the bus so I can look for them because I don't believe I've ever seen them. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
flossman Posted August 18, 2012 Report Share Posted August 18, 2012 Where are those placed in the bus so I can look for them because I don't believe I've ever seen them. I've spotted the counters above the rear door on 5200 and 5204 so far, and I assume they have the floor-level ones up front. They look just like little black boxes with a couple little LED-like things on them. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
CURRENTZ_09 Posted August 22, 2012 Author Report Share Posted August 22, 2012 New schedules out a little early as of Tuesday, but expect them out by wednesday. Also found a MCTS employee Transit Watch brochure, which i thing should be the passenger versión instead. Also, Route 137 name change is in Effect August 26th, 2012 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
CURRENTZ_09 Posted August 24, 2012 Author Report Share Posted August 24, 2012 Free ride to Jury Duty, sponsored by MCTS Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
CURRENTZ_09 Posted August 30, 2012 Author Report Share Posted August 30, 2012 Great News for our Transit System Announcement from RideMCTS.com To better serve our customers this fall, we will be adding several new trips for a limited time. These trips will be added in four different segments starting in August with the last addition in mid-September. For new trip times you can call our 24-hour automated BusLine at 414-344-6711. Once all of the trips have been added after September 16, 2012, the posted timetables online will be updated to reflect the new times (please note that the PDF's with NOT be updated). Details on which routes are affected are as follows: Starting August 27th through early December 2012, new trips will be added to improve service during the following times: Route 28 weekdays between 7 am and 8 pm Route 56 weekdays between 6 am and 6 pm Route 27 Saturdays between 8 am and 4 pm Starting September 2nd through early December 2012, new trips will be added to improve service during the following times: Route 28 Saturdays between 9 am and 5 pm Route 56 Saturdays between 8 am and 6 pm Route 28 Sundays between 11 am and 6 pm Starting September 9th through early December 2012, new trips will be added to improve service during the following times: Route 15 Saturdays between 7 am and 6 pm Route 54 Saturdays between 7 am and 7 pm Route 15 Sundays between 7 am and 6 pm Route 54 Sundays between 10 am and 6 pm Starting September 16th through early December 2012, new trips will be added to improve service during the following times: Route 55 weekdays between 6 pm and 10 pm Route 55 Saturdays between 6 pm and 10 pm Route 55 Sundays between 9 am and 6 pm Special Route 40 (Ryan-College Flyer) Reflected on August 27th, 2012 Timetable An addition AM Trip leaves from Ryan Rd P&R at 7:02 AM and afternoon trips 3:38pm & 4:33pm from 10th & Courthouse are extra trips due to the Rawson Avenue Detour. These trip will be discontinued when the Rawson Avenue detour ends. Watch for Passenger Announcement Please Note: No Passenger Announcements or Revisied Printed Timetables have been released about the additional service, but ill be keeping a watchful eye on these service adjustments. Also on the Morning of Thursday August 30, 2012 Good morning, MKE. We have an exciting announcement! This morning MCTS is proud to launch our new mobile website. The mobile site features many of the helpful tools from our full site, but in a version that is easier to navigate from your smart phone or tablet. So, grab your mobile device, visit www.RideMCTS.com and let us know what you think! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
flossman Posted September 10, 2012 Report Share Posted September 10, 2012 I didn't want to post about this until it actually ran, and I'm not usually one for self-promotion (nothing much to promote, really! ), but the MCTS internal newsletter featured an article about me this month as the "next generation of transit riders." The even more awesome news (at least, to me) is that the article is also going to be run in October's BusLines along with a picture of my clearly-handsome mug! I was honestly just stoked to provide a rider's insight into the system, and that alone was a great opportunity. The full text of the article: Riders are transit's next generation Transit is deeply rooted within families around the Milwaukee area. Children remember what they do with their parents when they are growing up. Sometimes how you get there is more memorable than where you go when you're a kid, and for many who fall in love with taking the bus at a young age, it becomes a way of life. One young man named Adam is an avid bus rider today, which makes sense in light of the fact that he's the grandson of former MCTS operator. Adam carries on a passion for riding the bus that started while his grandfather was still driving. A native Milwaukeean, 25 year old Adam recalls his earliest memories of riding the bus from when he was about 6 years old. He rode with his parents while his grandfather was at the wheel. His most vivid memories of those early trips as a boy were of riding the bus to the Central Library and the Milwaukee Public Museum. Riding the bus with his family when he was young made him a life-long transit rider. Now, while attending college, Adam uses the bus to get everywhere he needs to go and chooses not to own a car. Remembering buses from his childhood, Adam mentioned riding the RTS's, Orion V's and the Crown-Ikarus articulated buses before they were retired. The Orion V's were his grandfather's favorite to drive. He says he misses the articulating buses, but of all the MCTS vehicles he remembers, the new buses are his favorite, with their new interior colors and the dual "stop requested" signs. When asked about his favorite route, Adam couldn't choose just one. He did mention that he really likes the new MetroEXpress routes. Adam had great things to say about the MCTS operators he's met along the way (certainly including his grandfather), "…every single one of them has been amazingly helpful to both myself and other riders who have questions or need directions." Regarding the future of MCTS, Adam mentioned he is looking forward to new fareboxes and real-time tracking. He noted that the convenience of knowing exactly when the next bus will arrive will be fantastic. We appreciate riders like Adam who remind us that while providing great transportation service, we have the potential to establish lasting and sometimes life-long appreciation for transit. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
CURRENTZ_09 Posted September 10, 2012 Author Report Share Posted September 10, 2012 I didn't want to post about this until it actually ran, and I'm not usually one for self-promotion (nothing much to promote, really! ), but the MCTS internal newsletter featured an article about me this month as the "next generation of transit riders." The even more awesome news (at least, to me) is that the article is also going to be run in October's BusLines along with a picture of my clearly-handsome mug! I was honestly just stoked to provide a rider's insight into the system, and that alone was a great opportunity. The full text of the article: Congrades on the feature article, how did this come about? @ Flossman, will you be at Open Doors at the Milwaukee Transit Fleet Building on September 22nd? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
busfan2 Posted September 11, 2012 Report Share Posted September 11, 2012 @Flossman- Congratulations! I look forward to seeing this in print. If you are refering to the quarterly newsletter that goes out in the mail I'll see that also since the company has sent it addressed to my mom since my dad passed. @Flossman and Currentz- I plan on going to Fleet Maintainance during the doors open event. I went last year loved it and can't wait. They didn't take us through the stores division warehouse area but I got to look through the glass to see that area of interest cause my dad subbed in that area in the early 90s. 2 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
flossman Posted September 11, 2012 Report Share Posted September 11, 2012 Congrades on the feature article, how did this come about? @ Flossman, will you be at Open Doors at the Milwaukee Transit Fleet Building on September 22nd? MCTS's communications manager remembered me from last year's Dump The Pump event (which caught me off-guard, I didn't think I was that memorable!) and she felt I was a good person to get a transit rider's "inside" perspective from. And I will definitely be at Fleet Maintenance for the Open Doors event. Wouldn't miss it for the world! 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
CURRENTZ_09 Posted September 11, 2012 Author Report Share Posted September 11, 2012 Well you already KNOW, I WILL BE THERE WITH BELLS RINGING. Please grab your camera's and click for memories Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
CURRENTZ_09 Posted September 12, 2012 Author Report Share Posted September 12, 2012 Here are photos from a Transit Travel Kit that a friend got for serving jury duty. It seems that Milwaukee County is short of people serving jury duty and this packet seems like a nice little gift to county residence that haven't give transit in Milwaukee a try. Enjoy & Happy Travels Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
CURRENTZ_09 Posted September 14, 2012 Author Report Share Posted September 14, 2012 Doors Open Advertisement at the MCTS Fleet Maintenance Building, they have been posted since last week but i got to it today. Remember Saturday September 22, 2012 is the date between 10:00 am until 5:00 om with Four Free Tours. I WILL BE THERE Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
flossman Posted September 14, 2012 Report Share Posted September 14, 2012 Here's a scan of the article, if anyone is interested. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
CURRENTZ_09 Posted September 14, 2012 Author Report Share Posted September 14, 2012 Here's a scan of the article, if anyone is interested. Which publication is this being published in? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
flossman Posted September 14, 2012 Report Share Posted September 14, 2012 Which publication is this being published in? It's in Inside MCTS now, but the article will also be in the October issue of BusLines. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
CURRENTZ_09 Posted September 14, 2012 Author Report Share Posted September 14, 2012 It's in Inside MCTS now, but the article will also be in the October issue of BusLines. What's Inside MCTS? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
flossman Posted September 14, 2012 Report Share Posted September 14, 2012 What's Inside MCTS? The company's internal newsletter. A few were mailed to me by the communications manager. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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