Minneapolis "t" Buses....

[Guest]

I was going through my videos of my three recent trips to Minneapolis. I have lots of video I collected

of the MTC buses. Some of the video was taken at the Mall of America Transit Ctr. I have video on the street, MTC South Garage, at South Garage there sitting, a GMC 5301 #198 and many sitting, presumably dead storage were a fleet of MAN Americanas. also The now torn down Heywood Garage. They have a huge Gillig fleet. I also took some above shots from the Mall of America Parking garage so I could get the roofs of the MTC buses. Its pretty cool, they have the bus number on the roofs as well as the "T" logo. For those of you who have the Road champs 1/87 HO scale buses, they made an MTC Flxible #1948, thats how they look. Also a fleet of New Flyer Artic buses, Go Figure!! . Also a few MVTA (Minnesota Valley) buses make a cameo. Some good still video of MTC buses parked so I was able to get some good close up shots. Also got a nice traffic jam inside the MOA transit ctr. This was very interesting because many of the Minneapolis bus fleet as well as suburban buses are in the act. And then a bonus, on the way back from Minneapolis on I-94 we caught up to a brand new New Flyer D-60 Artic for New York City Bus #5451. Im going to see if I have some video of the the new LRT line that was recently built into in the transit ctr at MOA. More later....l.

[Busjack]

I also took some above shots from the Mall of America Parking garage so I could get the roofs of the MTC buses. Its pretty cool, they have the bus number on the roofs as well as the "T" logo.

Slightly off topic (although the one time I visited there, I thought the Mall of America and its transit center were cool): Numbers on the roof are quite common on CTA and Pace buses and I wonder why they are there. For traffic helicopter reports, such as on the Tri-State wreck? Is there a tower position at a garage for taking inventory?

The most curious was that a couple of years ago, you could see the Seattle fleet numbers on the roof of the 7300 series articulateds from the platform at the Howard L station.

[Guest]

Slightly off topic (although the one time I visited there, I thought the Mall of America and its transit center were cool): Numbers on the roof are quite common on CTA and Pace buses and I wonder why they are there. For traffic helicopter reports, such as on the Tri-State wreck? Is there a tower position at a garage for taking inventory?

The most curious was that a couple of years ago, you could see the Seattle fleet numbers on the roof of the 7300 series articulateds from the platform at the Howard L station.

Bus numbers were placed on the roofs for security reasons. In L.A. because their police dept. includes helicopters, they can be identified from the air. In Chicago CTA actually started placing the bus numbers on the roofs in 1996. Selected buses were chosen and had their fleet numbers placed on the roofs, all the 5800s had them done. Once CTA began the rehabbing of the TMC buses they were numbered vertically on the roofs, the Flx 6000s also have them. The Novas do not. And of course all future bus deliveries will now have them. Pace began with the Orions in 2001. Seattle was pretty cool, it had the old Seattle fleet numbers in the 2000s.

[VAT]

Where bus nomer go to airport LA?

[Guest]

Where bus nomer go to airport LA?

Theres is no LA bus that serves LA airport only the transit center at 96th/Aviation Blvd. just outside the airport. You would then have to transfer to an airport shuttle.

[VAT]

Theres is no LA bus that serves LA airport only the transit center at 96th/Aviation Blvd. just outside the airport. You would then have to transfer to an airport shuttle.

Ок, Thank you.

[Tcmetro]

Since this is the Minnapolis topic...

Metro Transit took delivery of 19 Gillig Low Floor Hybrids in November

They also got 10 New Flyer D60LFRs in September/October

They will get 132 Gillig LFs in May, and 15 D60LFRs in April.

MVTA has got some new cutaways, and 9 or 10 Gillig LFs to replace the 1984/1985 Phantoms. I am not sure if the new Gilligs are in service yet. The only high-floor buses in the fleet now should be the cutaways, the MCI D4500s, and the Blue Birds.

[Guest]

Since this is the Minnapolis topic...

Metro Transit took delivery of 19 Gillig Low Floor Hybrids in November

They also got 10 New Flyer D60LFRs in September/October

They will get 132 Gillig LFs in May, and 15 D60LFRs in April.

MVTA has got some new cutaways, and 9 or 10 Gillig LFs to replace the 1984/1985 Phantoms. I am not sure if the new Gilligs are in service yet. The only high-floor buses in the fleet now should be the cutaways, the MCI D4500s, and the Blue Birds.

Youre the expert T bus guy. Do you know the fleet #s and quantities of buses in the Metro fleet?

[Guest]

Youre the expert T bus guy. Do you know the fleet #s and quantities of buses in the Metro fleet?

What are the cutaways?

[Tcmetro]

Here are fleet #s:

300-370 1995 Gillig Phantom - 71 buses

373-393 1996 Gillig Phantom - 21 buses

394-487 1998 Gillig Phantom - 94 buses

488-497 1998 Gillig Low Floor (Advantage) - 10 buses

500-566 1999 Gillig Phantom - 67 buses

600-710 1999 Gillig Phantom - 111 buses

711-755 2000 Gillig Phantom - 45 buses

800-879 2001 Gillig Phantom - 80 buses

900-988 2002 Gillig Phantom - 89 buses

989-1069 2003 Gillig Phantom - 81 buses

2300-2396 1995 Gillig Phantom - 97 buses

3000-3054 1998 New Flyer D60 - 55 buses

3055-3064 1999 New Flyer D60LF - 10 buses

3100-3149 2003 New Flyer D60 - 50 buses

3230-3239 2007 New Flyer D60LFR - 10 buses

7100-7102 2002 Gillig Low Floor Hybrid - 3 buses

7103-7109 2004 Gillig Low Floor - 7 buses

7111-7129 2007 Gillig Low Floor Hybrid - 19 buses

Some of the 98, 99, 00, 01, and 03 numbers may be slightly off.

I got the fleet list from Chicago Transit and Railfan, and some of the Phantom #s off of busdude.com. I have confirmed most of them through sightings. Some of the Phantoms and D60s are painted for Plymouth and Maple Grove service, which is under contract to Metro Transit.

There are some MCI D4500s (#s 50-51), but I think these may have been transferred to a different operator (Most of the buses, in Metro Transit's are owned by the Metropolitan Council). Most of the 1995 Phantoms will be retired next year, when 132 new buses are delivered. The 25 new articulateds will replace some old 1994 D60s, which are not in service. The extra articulateds were not needed at the time, as MT lost the MVTA contract.

The new cutaways for MVTA are Glavals and Ford Senators (I think they were built by Transtar).

[Guest]

Here are fleet #s:

300-370 1995 Gillig Phantom - 71 buses

373-393 1996 Gillig Phantom - 21 buses

394-487 1998 Gillig Phantom - 94 buses

488-497 1998 Gillig Low Floor (Advantage) - 10 buses

500-566 1999 Gillig Phantom - 67 buses

600-710 1999 Gillig Phantom - 111 buses

711-755 2000 Gillig Phantom - 45 buses

800-879 2001 Gillig Phantom - 80 buses

900-988 2002 Gillig Phantom - 89 buses

989-1069 2003 Gillig Phantom - 81 buses

2300-2396 1995 Gillig Phantom - 97 buses

3000-3054 1998 New Flyer D60 - 55 buses

3055-3064 1999 New Flyer D60LF - 10 buses

3100-3149 2003 New Flyer D60 - 50 buses

3230-3239 2007 New Flyer D60LFR - 10 buses

7100-7102 2002 Gillig Low Floor Hybrid - 3 buses

7103-7109 2004 Gillig Low Floor - 7 buses

7111-7129 2007 Gillig Low Floor Hybrid - 19 buses

Some of the 98, 99, 00, 01, and 03 numbers may be slightly off.

I got the fleet list from Chicago Transit and Railfan, and some of the Phantom #s off of busdude.com. I have confirmed most of them through sightings. Some of the Phantoms and D60s are painted for Plymouth and Maple Grove service, which is under contract to Metro Transit.

There are some MCI D4500s (#s 50-51), but I think these may have been transferred to a different operator (Most of the buses, in Metro Transit's are owned by the Metropolitan Council). Most of the 1995 Phantoms will be retired next year, when 132 new buses are delivered. The 25 new articulateds will replace some old 1994 D60s, which are not in service. The extra articulateds were not needed at the time, as MT lost the MVTA contract.

The new cutaways for MVTA are Glavals and Ford Senators (I think they were built by Transtar).

So are the earlier 2200 2300 Gilligs gone then? also are they rebuilding Snelling? I havent been to Minn. in three years. I like to know whats changed. I rode the new LRV to downtown and back from MOA. Do you know what Metro does with its retired buses. Do they solicit bids for sale of the buses? I wouldnt mind getting one.

[Tcmetro]

The old Gillig's were:

1500-1577 1990 Phantom - 78 buses

1700-1825 1989 Phantom - 126 buses - numbers unconfirmed

1900-2029 1990 Phantom - 131 buses

2200-2221 1992 Phantom - 22 buses

2222-2226 1993 Phantom - 5 buses

2227-2231 1992 Phantom - 5 buses

Thanks to Chicago Transit and Railfan for the roster! http://hometown.aol.com/chirailfan/msprosb.html.

Metro Transit retires buses every 12-13 years.

Snelling Garage most likely will not be rebuilt. There are some old buses on site, though. The East Metro Garage was opened in 2001, and Metro Transit is considering building a new garage on the Hampden Overhaul Base. The Hampden site is in an industrial area not far from the Snelling site. MVTA opened a new Garage in Eagan in 2006.

There is a new light-rail line in planning, with construction scheduled to start in 2010. It will run along University Ave. from Minneapolis to Saint Paul. It will replace the Route 50-Limited Stop bus. The website is: http://www.metrocouncil.org/transportation...ralcorridor.htm. The Southwest Corridor is under study, and will most likely be a light-rail line from Minneapolis to Eden Prairie. The website for this project is http://www.southwesttransitway.org.

I am not sure how Metro Transit sells it's buses, but I have seen an old Gillig Phantom at a church in the suburbs, as well as an old Americana at a church in Minneapolis. I am not sure if the old bus is still there. I saw an old NF D60 on ebay before and the seller was from Minneapolis, and the picture was taken at the lot that is the Snelling Garage now.

It seems that a private company, Lorenz has 2 1990 Phantoms, numbers 1502 and 1504.

[Guest]

The old Gillig's were:

1500-1577 1990 Phantom - 78 buses

1700-1825 1989 Phantom - 126 buses - numbers unconfirmed

1900-2029 1990 Phantom - 131 buses

2200-2221 1992 Phantom - 22 buses

2222-2226 1993 Phantom - 5 buses

2227-2231 1992 Phantom - 5 buses

Thanks to Chicago Transit and Railfan for the roster! http://hometown.aol.com/chirailfan/msprosb.html.

Metro Transit retires buses every 12-13 years.

Snelling Garage most likely will not be rebuilt. There are some old buses on site, though. The East Metro Garage was opened in 2001, and Metro Transit is considering building a new garage on the Hampden Overhaul Base. The Hampden site is in an industrial area not far from the Snelling site. MVTA opened a new Garage in Eagan in 2006.

There is a new light-rail line in planning, with construction scheduled to start in 2010. It will run along University Ave. from Minneapolis to Saint Paul. It will replace the Route 50-Limited Stop bus. The website is: http://www.metrocouncil.org/transportation...ralcorridor.htm. The Southwest Corridor is under study, and will most likely be a light-rail line from Minneapolis to Eden Prairie. The website for this project is http://www.southwesttransitway.org.

I am not sure how Metro Transit sells it's buses, but I have seen an old Gillig Phantom at a church in the suburbs, as well as an old Americana at a church in Minneapolis. I am not sure if the old bus is still there. I saw an old NF D60 on ebay before and the seller was from Minneapolis, and the picture was taken at the lot that is the Snelling Garage now.

It seems that a private company, Lorenz has 2 1990 Phantoms, numbers 1502 and 1504.

A few MTC MAN Americanas made it up to Chicago look on the MAN Americana forum on this site and there you will see pics of the few that were here.

[MetroShadow]

I rode a hybrid on my trip there last month, it was a nice ride and the inside looked very chic. Not to mention that I love the LRV's too. Very fast, and always made me ask "Why can't the CTA do this?"

I think it's a nice fleet that they have--a combination of New Flyers and Gilligs.

[Tcmetro]

A few MTC MAN Americanas made it up to Chicago look on the MAN Americana forum on this site and there you will see pics of the few that were here.

Yup, I saw those. It's too bad they're gone now.

[Tcmetro]

Metro Transit will unveil a new paint scheme in the coming months.http://councilmeetings.metc.state.mn.us/Tr...%20combined.pdf.

According to the diagram, the 132 new Gilligs will be of the new "BRT" model. It does not look like they will have the frameless windows. These new Gilligs will most likely replace the 1994, 1995, and 1996 Gillig Phantoms. In April, 15 New Flyer D60LFR buses should be delivered.

I also was able to track down some of the suburban bus fleet numbers:

Plymouth Metrolink:

2006 NFI D40LF - 2600-2610 (11 buses)

MVTA got 9 new Gillig LFs in December to replace some 1985 Gillig Phantoms.

[Guest]

Metro Transit will unveil a new paint scheme in the coming months.http://councilmeetings.metc.state.mn.us/Tr...%20combined.pdf.

According to the diagram, the 132 new Gilligs will be of the new "BRT" model. It does not look like they will have the frameless windows. These new Gilligs will most likely replace the 1994, 1995, and 1996 Gillig Phantoms. In April, 15 New Flyer D60LFR buses should be delivered.

I also was able to track down some of the suburban bus fleet numbers:

Plymouth Metrolink:

2006 NFI D40LF - 2600-2610 (11 buses)

MVTA got 9 new Gillig LFs in December to replace some 1985 Gillig Phantoms.

Thats awesome that Minneapolis is beginning commuter rail, I think it was way overdue. I still like the current Metro paint scheme and when the stripe was orange.

[exitzero]

The old Gillig's were:

1500-1577 1990 Phantom - 78 buses

1700-1825 1989 Phantom - 126 buses - numbers unconfirmed

1900-2029 1990 Phantom - 131 buses

2200-2221 1992 Phantom - 22 buses

2222-2226 1993 Phantom - 5 buses

2227-2231 1992 Phantom - 5 buses

You forgot about their experimental methanol fleet:

7000-7004 1992 Phantom - 5 buses

You could hear those buses down the street back in the day! Along with the 2200s, these buses were the first in the Twin Cities fleet to have their exhaust stack come out of the top left, rather than under the bottom.

I am not sure how Metro Transit sells it's buses, but I have seen an old Gillig Phantom at a church in the suburbs, as well as an old Americana at a church in Minneapolis. I am not sure if the old bus is still there. I saw an old NF D60 on ebay before and the seller was from Minneapolis, and the picture was taken at the lot that is the Snelling Garage now.

It seems that a private company, Lorenz has 2 1990 Phantoms, numbers 1502 and 1504.

I wonder (but highly doubt) whether Metro Transit still has any Americanas sitting around at any of their garages. Probably they've all been long since scrapped, but I'm going up there in May and will need to see for myself.

I also wonder if the new D60LFRs will get numbered in the 3200s.

[Guest]

Metro Transit will unveil a new paint scheme in the coming months.http://councilmeetings.metc.state.mn.us/Tr...%20combined.pdf.

According to the diagram, the 132 new Gilligs will be of the new "BRT" model. It does not look like they will have the frameless windows. These new Gilligs will most likely replace the 1994, 1995, and 1996 Gillig Phantoms. In April, 15 New Flyer D60LFR buses should be delivered.

I also was able to track down some of the suburban bus fleet numbers:

Plymouth Metrolink:

2006 NFI D40LF - 2600-2610 (11 buses)

MVTA got 9 new Gillig LFs in December to replace some 1985 Gillig Phantoms.

I was just watching my video I took at MOA Transit Ctr. I got a nice slow run by of a Gillig 1928 MVTA. on 415 Mendota Hts. And Metro Gillig #1746 on the 590 W 78/Eden Prairie

[Tcmetro]

Here is another pdf that has an actual picture of the new paint scheme: http://councilmeetings.metc.state.mn.us/co...le%20design.pdf.

[Tcmetro]

You forgot about their experimental methanol fleet:

7000-7004 1992 Phantom - 5 buses

You could hear those buses down the street back in the day! Along with the 2200s, these buses were the first in the Twin Cities fleet to have their exhaust stack come out of the top left, rather than under the bottom.

I wonder when these were retired...

I wonder (but highly doubt) whether Metro Transit still has any Americanas sitting around at any of their garages. Probably they've all been long since scrapped, but I'm going up there in May and will need to see for myself.

I also wonder if the new D60LFRs will get numbered in the 3200s.

All the Americanas are probably gone. They were selling them for like $100 back in 2000.

[rmadisonwi]

Here is another pdf that has an actual picture of the new paint scheme: http://councilmeetings.metc.state.mn.us/co...le%20design.pdf.

Yawn. I didn't think anything could get more boring than SEPTA's paint scheme. It looks like Metro is trying to prove me wrong.

[Busjack]

Yawn. I didn't think anything could get more boring than SEPTA's paint scheme. It looks like Metro is trying to prove me wrong.

There does seem to be a trend among some operators to color only above the windows. I would rather see a more colorful bus.

[Tcmetro]

Lorenz will get 4 new MCI D4500's for north metro express service, Shakopee Transit will get 1 more D4500 (they currently have 4 from 2007), and MVTA will replace 6 Blue Birds with 6 new unknown buses. 2 of the new coaches for Lorenz will replace 2 1985 Phantoms.

[qwantae]

Here is another pdf that has an actual picture of the new paint scheme: http://councilmeetings.metc.state.mn.us/co...le%20design.pdf.

[/quoteT

The color sheme looks more similar to Portland OR Tri-Met current logo, but Tri-Met looks more colorful though. I love those type of Gillig Low Floors. My 2nd hometown of Grand Rapids MI (The Rapid) has 5 of those Hybrid Gillig Low Floors, it looks similar to Van Hools like AC Transit in California.