artthouwill Posted December 10, 2025 Report Posted December 10, 2025 11 hours ago, Busjack said: Assuming the 255xxs are all 40 ft.. numbers indicate that they are into the second contract (first one was for 23). The rear shor indicates that Pace still got its rear destination sign. 225?7 looks like it has a PULSE wrap, so it's going to NW,so I'm withdrawing my prediction to that extent. The 6500s at NW are probably moving. The 225?? raises a different question for me. How far along or away is the Pulse 95th Line? Northwest really has too many Pulse wrapped buses to the point that Pulse wrapped buses are consistently appearing on non Pulse routes. Eventually SW is going to need Pulse buses and since there's some familiarity with Gillig already, a case could be made for at least the Pulse wrapped bus to go Southwest. That doesn't mean that it will but it's a possibility. Quote
Busjack Posted December 10, 2025 Report Posted December 10, 2025 I responded to 95th in that topic. Now, what I think what is happening is that when Wheeling was supposed to be CNG, Metzger said it was ordering 20 Pulse buses and 24 others. Now, substitute "hybrids" for "CNG." The order of contracts may have switched, but NW gets some, and as announced, W gets some, but probably out of the 2025 grant. Quote
Busjack Posted January 22 Report Posted January 22 Pace annual summary included this picture of the acceptance facility, showing a whole bunch of new buses, with one 255 fleet number visible: It also confirms @MetroShadow's observation that there is nothing (other than the fleet number) inside the front portion of the "roof wings." Quote
jtrussel Posted February 1 Report Posted February 1 On 1/22/2026 at 2:15 PM, Busjack said: Pace annual summary included this picture of the acceptance facility, showing a whole bunch of new buses, with one 255 fleet number visible: It also confirms @MetroShadow's observation that there is nothing (other than the fleet number) inside the front portion of the "roof wings." Unless there are drains not seen in see a definite problem with water and snow filling that area Quote
Busjack Posted February 15 Report Posted February 15 Looks like Pace is getting hybrid buses in addition to the 116 under the Washington state contract and No-Low grant: Quote
jtrussel Posted February 17 Report Posted February 17 On 2/15/2026 at 12:48 PM, Busjack said: Looks like Pace is getting hybrid buses in addition to the 116 under the Washington state contract and No-Low grant: So the possibility of more gilligs or New flyers I wonder how many are they ordering Quote
Busjack Posted February 17 Report Posted February 17 37 minutes ago, jtrussel said: So the possibility of more gilligs or New flyers Since Pace is putting it out for bids on a nonnegotiable basis (instead of buying off another contract), I guess so. Quote
Busjack Posted February 17 Report Posted February 17 19 hours ago, jtrussel said: I wonder how many are they ordering The spec. is a minimum of 8 and a maximum of 250. In short, nobody knows, especially if this turns out like the solicitation for up to 165 30' buses or up to 135 CNG buses. Manufacturers will not be happy about this. The full 250 plus the 116 already described above would be 366 hybrids. Based on fleet numbers, there's about 343 40' diesels ENCs* (plus the 48 or so BEBs on order) . so if one assumes South will not backtrack from CNG, either Project Zero is in the toilet as far as zero emissions is concerned, or the solicitation will turn out the same as the two I mentioned immediately above. _______________ *If one goes by the 2026 Budget, only 257 remain. Add in 80 of 85 NFIs as you will. Quote
YoungBusLover Posted February 26 Report Posted February 26 Not my photo,credits to the owner. This shot was taken in Bloomington,IL. 1 Quote
artthouwill Posted February 26 Report Posted February 26 9 hours ago, YoungBusLover said: Not my photo,credits to the owner. This shot was taken in Bloomington,IL. Wow. This appears to be a Gillig. There are only two people garages this bus could wind up. The first one is NW, but they seem to have too many Pulse buses now. Tuesday there was a Pulse bus operating on the 226. Sometimes regular Pace buses operate on both Pulse Dempster and Milwaukee Lines. Yet it's possible that this could go there. The other garage is SW. Though Pulse 95th is still not built yet, it could be operating in late 2027. It is probably a long shot, but that garage already has a Gillig. The 381 is a perfect route to start promoting Pulse. In the coming months I will be on the lookout on both Pulse routes and maybe check out the 481. Unfortunately I didn't see a fleet number in this pic. Correction. Looks like its 25541. Quote
Busjack Posted February 26 Report Posted February 26 4 hours ago, artthouwill said: Wow. This appears to be a Gillig. There are only two people garages this bus could wind up. The first one is NW, but they seem to have too many Pulse buses now. Tuesday there was a Pulse bus operating on the 226. Sometimes regular Pace buses operate on both Pulse Dempster and Milwaukee Lines. Yet it's possible that this could go there. The other garage is SW. Though Pulse 95th is still not built yet, it could be operating in late 2027. It is probably a long shot, but that garage already has a Gillig. The 381 is a perfect route to start promoting Pulse. In the coming months I will be on the lookout on both Pulse routes and maybe check out the 481. Unfortunately I didn't see a fleet number in this pic. Correction. Looks like its 25541. The only garage is NW. 95th Pulse isn't going to happen for at least 3 years. This is based on (1) when CNGs were onthe table, Metzger said 20 were for Pulse, (2) Pace probably wants the color destination signs,which the upper 6500s don't have, and (3) although Pace doesn't want to do it, it can always strip the wraps. If I were guessing,if the BEBs ever get into service in N, SW gets buses in the 6730-6781 range. Update:The number is 25541. Quote
jtrussel Posted February 27 Report Posted February 27 18 hours ago, Busjack said: The only garage is NW. 95th Pulse isn't going to happen for at least 3 years. This is based on (1) when CNGs were onthe table, Metzger said 20 were for Pulse, (2) Pace probably wants the color destination signs,which the upper 6500s don't have, and (3) although Pace doesn't want to do it, it can always strip the wraps. If I were guessing,if the BEBs ever get into service in N, SW gets buses in the 6730-6781 range. Update:The number is 25541. I'm in north territory and haven't seen no BEBs yet. I have a buddy who is a operator out of north, i will have to ask him if they got there electric busses yet. When they do roll out I see north hanging on to some 6730s for a little while just into the bugs are worked out of the electrics. You got to expect breakdowns and they got to keep service going Quote
Sam92 Posted March 4 Report Posted March 4 On 2/27/2026 at 4:05 AM, jtrussel said: I'm in north territory and haven't seen no BEBs yet. I have a buddy who is a operator out of north, i will have to ask him if they got there electric busses yet. When they do roll out I see north hanging on to some 6730s for a little while just into the bugs are worked out of the electrics. You got to expect breakdowns and they got to keep service going Isn't Waukegan part of North Territory? Cause I don't see any out here, not even busy stuff like 568 Quote
Busjack Posted March 4 Report Posted March 4 1 hour ago, Sam92 said: Isn't Waukegan part of North Territory? Cause I don't see any out here, not even busy stuff like 568 I hate to tell you, but a BEB is not a Gillig hybrid bus. For the correct place to see the response to this, go here. Quote
MetroShadow Posted March 4 Report Posted March 4 On 2/26/2026 at 7:27 AM, Busjack said: The only garage is NW. 95th Pulse isn't going to happen for at least 3 years. This is based on (1) when CNGs were onthe table, Metzger said 20 were for Pulse, (2) Pace probably wants the color destination signs,which the upper 6500s don't have, and (3) although Pace doesn't want to do it, it can always strip the wraps. If I were guessing,if the BEBs ever get into service in N, SW gets buses in the 6730-6781 range. Update:The number is 25541. My guess is the Eldorko Pulse buses go back into rotation as part of the regular fleet and NW gets the Gilligs. You're right that neither S or SW are ready to go for Pulse (and it'll be a ways out anyway). Quote
EasyMoney Posted March 5 Report Posted March 5 I Seen This Earlier at 95th Red Line Are These The New Pace Buses ? 1 Quote
Busjack Posted March 5 Report Posted March 5 2 hours ago, EasyMoney said: I Seen This Earlier at 95th Red Line Are These The New Pace Buses ? No. The fleet number is 20700, which is the BEB bus, which has been on 95th for at least a year Quote
rotjohns Posted March 5 Report Posted March 5 10 hours ago, Busjack said: No. The fleet number is 20700, which is the BEB bus, which has been on 95th for at least a year That does bring up a point: With all the March changes, we'd have to wonder if the Gilligs are closer to coming out to accommodate the increased service? Quote
Busjack Posted March 5 Report Posted March 5 1 hour ago, rotjohns said: That does bring up a point: With all the March changes, we'd have to wonder if the Gilligs are closer to coming out to accommodate the increased service? I'm sure one doesn't have to do with the other. Quote
Busjack Posted April 15 Report Posted April 15 Only thing of interest in the April Board meeting was that 47 buses will go into service at H, NS, and NW. Must be the first contract of 24 35' buses and 23 40' buses. NS is a surprise, and I guess R and W will get transfers Quote
artthouwill Posted April 16 Report Posted April 16 27 minutes ago, MetroShadow said: Latest update suggests that they are moving towards 70% ridership with some objection to McHenry being left out of that equation. However, the NITA law specifically points for agencies to achieve increasing ridership for more money. Melinda Metzger also announced that 47 Hybrid buses will enter service next month. The buses will be assigned to Heritage, North Shore, and Northwest. Quote
MetroShadow Posted April 16 Report Posted April 16 51 minutes ago, artthouwill said: Melinda Metzger also announced that 47 Hybrid buses will enter service next month. The buses will be assigned to Heritage, North Shore, and Northwest. I can't recall the last time 40 footers were at H, let alone how old are NS and NW ElDorkos? Quote
Busjack Posted April 16 Report Posted April 16 44 minutes ago, MetroShadow said: I can't recall the last time 40 footers were at H, let alone how old are NS and NW ElDorkos? The last time 40 footers were at H was with NABIs, until some were swapped with NS, and then eliminated by 2742-2765. Again, if you read up, I don't think H is getting 40 footers in 2026. Quote
rotjohns Posted April 16 Report Posted April 16 9 hours ago, Busjack said: The last time 40 footers were at H was with NABIs, until some were swapped with NS, and then eliminated by 2742-2765. Again, if you read up, I don't think H is getting 40 footers in 2026. Heritage does seem like a surprise to me, but I know they still have some 2700s left so I'm sure the 35 foot Gilligs will replace them. I happened to see one on the 834 the other day (can't recall the number) and you can see the rust spots. Quote
artthouwill Posted April 16 Report Posted April 16 10 hours ago, MetroShadow said: I can't recall the last time 40 footers were at H, let alone how old are NS and NW ElDorkos? O think th 35' buses will be split between H and NS with the 40' nuses going to NW . Quote
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