Jump to content

MCTS: Service Disruptions and Uncertain future


Recommended Posts

No, this was Route 8 (Quad/Graphics Sussex/Pewaukee), which was elminated in 2010 after Quad Graphis stopped finding for the route. Route 8 served the Quad/Graphics plants in Pewaukee and Sussex. The route started at Kinnickinnic & Mitchell, and operated through the northwest side of Milwaukee, connecting with many major routes along the way. The route ran seven days per week, and offered two trips per day. The trips are scheduled to meet Quad's 7:00 shift change time (the company has 12-hour shifts, that change at 7:00 a.m. and PM).

Link to comment
Share on other sites

Here are some new route 143 signage patterns 143 Ozaukee County Exp "flip" to Sauk-Port Wash "Flip" via 7th St and they have adpoted CTA patterns of signage when heading to their bus terminals "to KK/MITCHELL" to FOND DU LAC/35TH" "to CAPITOL/19TH" and new Route 54 signage 54 Mitchell-Burnham "flip" to UMOS via KK"

Link to comment
Share on other sites

On the Pad inside IT says Service to KK&Mitchell I'm Glad it does not Say Service on the Outside

@ Archon, is these signage changes system wide or are they just configured for the new and revisied Routes that were introduced on January 29th, 2012. Also, are there anymore changes that we should expect from MCTS this year and will they FINALLY have a timetable, brochure on the Route 90 (Miller Park) instead of that paragraph that they give out every year in the April edition of Buslines?

Link to comment
Share on other sites

I'd just put "NOT IN SERVICE" on the destination sign, and "2BAD" on the run number sign. Saw that one night by KK lol

When I was at the tour of the Maintenance Facility, the two drivers who were showing us the "We <3 The Bus!" bus were fiddling with the control panel and getting the run box to say amusing things including "2BAD." It was awesome.

Link to comment
Share on other sites

Also, I didn't know this, but after the 55 bus order from New Flyer coming in March, the 3-year contract with them is up and it'll be put up to bid with other companies (well, and New Flyer) for the remaining buses. I think it would be awesome if we stuck with New Flyer and bought Xcelsiors for the remaining buses, but I don't think we have the money for that. :P

Link to comment
Share on other sites

... I think it would be awesome if we stuck with New Flyer and bought Xcelsiors for the remaining buses, but I don't think we have the money for that. :P

I thought that as a result of low bidder requirements in the US, the Xcelsior was mostly purchased by Canadian operators, but NF's "In the News page" had a link to WMATA buying some. There was also a link to another article that the WMATA hybrids were $571K each, which doesn't hit me as being that far out of line.

The main issue, as reflected in the first story, is whether Milwaukee needs a bus that has, essentially, the capacity of a 12 year old 40 foot bus.

Link to comment
Share on other sites

The main issue, as reflected in the first story, is whether Milwaukee needs a bus that has, essentially, the capacity of a 12 year old 40 foot bus.

That's a good point that I didn't think of. On a route like the 15, GreenLine, or 10 which are already standing room only, a capacity of 69 would murder the route. We also have a couple high schools that "charter" buses and those obviously get packed to the gills from the get-go, so we'd have to keep putting the D40LF/LFRs onto those routes, limiting flexibility.

Link to comment
Share on other sites

Also, I didn't know this, but after the 55 bus order from New Flyer coming in March, the 3-year contract with them is up and it'll be put up to bid with other companies (well, and New Flyer) for the remaining buses. I think it would be awesome if we stuck with New Flyer and bought Xcelsiors for the remaining buses, but I don't think we have the money for that. tongue.gif

I didn't know that either. I wonder if we will see the return of articulated buses someday. I'm really curious what the passenger loads are like on route 23, the Blue line and Green. When I used to ride the 15 from downtown to South Milwaukee it was usually standing room until we were into Bay View. I think it would be cool but admittedly unrealistic if Milwaukee got BRT style buses for the MetroEXpress lines or dedicated buses with a special paint scheme. Also I have the wish for buses other than New Flyer because while having a pedigree fleet is easy on maintainance budgets and warehousing parts, it is kind of boring for bus watchers.

Link to comment
Share on other sites

While going on a trip to chicago on greyhound, they gave me this printed on both sides paper that included there schedule. I said how can you be a transit operator and not have a vaild printed schedule, Amtrak has one, so why not Greyhound? I took the time out to create one, with the schedule being effective as of May 17th, 2011

GREYHOUND MKE CHI EXPRESS TIMETABLE.pdf

Link to comment
Share on other sites

While going on a trip to chicago on greyhound, they gave me this printed on both sides paper that included there schedule. I said how can you be a transit operator and not have a vaild printed schedule, Amtrak has one, so why not Greyhound? I took the time out to create one, with the schedule being effective as of May 17th, 2011

Is the attachment official, or did your create it yourself?

Anyway, the days of Russell Guides are seemingly long gone, although the Internet indicates that they are still in business, and the Interstate Commerce Commission isn't around to require the filing of schedules and tariffs.

Let me assure you that when there were timetables printed by Russell, they might have been o.k. for Greyhound, but Trailways agents would write tickets for nonexistent connections. I once got stuck on one. Goof at the bus station in Bloomington Indiana didn't tell me to wait across the street for some Kentucky bus that was supposed to connect with Trailways in Indianapolis. Of course, Trailways was later absorbed by Greyhound, or at least some of the Trailways operators were, as it apparently was an association of independent companies.

Anyway, I thought people going between Milwaukee and Chicago were using the web to book Megabus at $1 per ride, or using the Pottawatomi Casino bus, which at least connects with the Chicago area transit system in Skokie.

Link to comment
Share on other sites

Join the conversation

You can post now and register later. If you have an account, sign in now to post with your account.

Guest
Reply to this topic...

×   Pasted as rich text.   Restore formatting

  Only 75 emoji are allowed.

×   Your link has been automatically embedded.   Display as a link instead

×   Your previous content has been restored.   Clear editor

×   You cannot paste images directly. Upload or insert images from URL.

×
×
  • Create New...