Nova planning return to US?

[rmadisonwi]

54B? You're kidding, right? I don't think the regular 54 would have that much of a need for them either. Nor the 80.

The real question about whether a route needs artics is peak loading, not average daily ridership. If a route has pretty good ridership all day long, it may show a high total daily ridership. However, something like the 134 or 156 may not have a very high total, but during the peak, the routes get jammed and clearly need them.

The best way to determine that is to see which routes have the most frequent headways with 40-foot buses. Of the list mentioned above, the 22 and 66 come to mind. The 22 was running two-minute peak headways in the AM rush last fall, and the 66...well, anyone who rides the 66 during the rush on the east end knows what a hopeless cause it can be to fit on a bus.

Meanwhile, routes like the 192 get their artics for a comfortably seated load, but that's a different story.

[ChicagoNova]

54B? You're kidding, right? I don't think the regular 54 would have that much of a need for them either. Nor the 80.

The real question about whether a route needs artics is peak loading, not average daily ridership. If a route has pretty good ridership all day long, it may show a high total daily ridership. However, something like the 134 or 156 may not have a very high total, but during the peak, the routes get jammed and clearly need them.

The best way to determine that is to see which routes have the most frequent headways with 40-foot buses. Of the list mentioned above, the 22 and 66 come to mind. The 22 was running two-minute peak headways in the AM rush last fall, and the 66...well, anyone who rides the 66 during the rush on the east end knows what a hopeless cause it can be to fit on a bus.

Meanwhile, routes like the 192 get their artics for a comfortably seated load, but that's a different story.

Let's not forget #79.

[BusHunter]

54B? You're kidding, right? I don't think the regular 54 would have that much of a need for them either. Nor the 80.

The #80 could definitely use artics especially on cubs game days. The arrival times get really inaccurate on that route due to the crowds and the traffic. Just yesterday there was no service for about an hour on the EB service in the evening. It was reported by the Tribune that new customers have increased on the #80 by 50 percent since the canning of #X80. That alone would support more frequent service or artics (if they want to save money) But I wouldn't run the artics out of FG, I'd run them out of NP and share the route with FG's 40 footers. The artics would leave the route around 7 or 8 in the evening. Sort of like what was done with the #74 after the Feb cuts with the sharing between Chicago and FG.

[RJL6000]

I agree w/Busjack. I feel that routes 3, 4, 9, 12, 20, 22, 49, 54, 54B, 55, 66, 77, 79, 80, 82, 87, & 152 should be hit with artics. Additionally I think that routes 120-125, 134, 136, 143, & 144 should also be covered with artics. I'm thinking again of Nova LFS Artics as well.

And currently, four of the above mentioned routes - 12, 22, 82 and 124 - are either mostly or entirely artic-equipped on weekends.

By contrast, 130 is run entirely with 40-footers because it mostly duplicates 146 (which is almost always run with artics). Same thing with the #10 due to the presence of the #6 and the #14.

[artthouwill]

Yesterday on the way to work I saw at least two brand spanking new Novas (all white) traveling NB on the Dan Ryan Expressway coming into downtown, apparently continuing on the Kennedy.

[i8itall4u]

Yesterday on the way to work I saw at least two brand spanking new Novas (all white) traveling NB on the Dan Ryan Expressway coming into downtown, apparently continuing on the Kennedy.

I saw one as I headed home at 4pm. It was NB at 63rd.

[qwantae]

Yesterday on the way to work I saw at least two brand spanking new Novas (all white) traveling NB on the Dan Ryan Expressway coming into downtown, apparently continuing on the Kennedy.

Any ideas where could those be on their way too?

[ChicagoNova]

Any ideas where could those be on their way too?

Or if CTA is gonna use those (hopefully so).

[Busjack]

Or if CTA is gonna use those (hopefully so).

This is definitely no, at least on a permanent basis, or otherwise they would have stripes and probably would have gotten off at 79th.

I looked at the novabus site for any definite lead, but there wasn't one.

[sw4400]

This is definitely no, at least on a permanent basis, or otherwise they would have stripes and probably would have gotten off at 79th.

I looked at the novabus site for any definite lead, but there wasn't one.

Could just be demo buses to show off the latest NOVA LFS models(poster didn't specify 40' or 60'). I know the CTA had a demo bus from NOVA at 77th awhile back. With the 12th year of some of the NOVAs approaching in 2013, the CTA might've just wanted to see some more of the latest technology NOVA had... Other possibilites include...

-CTA planning to procure Electric Buses. Maybe these are Electric demo buses NOVA put together and sent from their HQ to entice the CTA to giving them that contract.

-PACE putting in a procurement for buses in the next year or two. Maybe NOVA took those buses to the PACE HQ to show them off.

[Busjack]

Could just be demo buses

..........

-PACE putting in a procurement for buses in the next year or two. Maybe NOVA took those buses to the PACE HQ to show them off.

Again, definitely not either of the two.

1. Unless you are assuming they were getting off to go to the CTA Mahal at 567 W. Lake,* they would have exited at 79th.

2. I just said that Pace let the procurement for from 9 to 416 buses go to the bid opening. While Nova might have bid, any demo would be too late, compared to ElDorado and NABI, who have already had their demos here (although Pace wasn't looking for a Metro 45C, I'm sure NABI will take business for 40LFWs, should Pace go in that direction).

I suppose that all the New Flyers heading in the opposite direction, with WMATA and OC Transpo livery, were destined here too.** Maybe it is somehow cheaper for Nova to transport buses assembled in Plattsburg to its western customers through here, although I tend to doubt that, too.

_________

*Like some hybrid. But they probably wouldn't have needed two for that purpose.

**Just like the CTA Tattler assumes that everyone who goes to residential colleges here, including Northwestern and U of C, either has a car or needs a U Pass. Too darn much provincialism.

[sw4400]

Maybe for CTA/PACE yes or no.... but demo buses, good possibility as they are all white. If they were meant for a transit agency, they would've been painted to the Transit Agencies' specifications before being sent to their new destination.

The procurement is opened, but not yet awarded, and you said we might hear something in the next 15-45 days. Enough time for PACE Brass to look at two demo buses and maybe go on a short test drive(this probably would take only a day or two). When the NOVA demo bus came to 77th awhile back, the grant was awarded to the CTA to procure two Electric buses. NOVA might've gotten word of this grant from the CTA Brass at that time and might be working on two demo buses to present to see if the CTA likes them and will name them the manufacturer of the two buses. That story was posted about almost a year ago by Kevin, Oct 28, 2010. It's possible that some progress has been made on this grant since it's awarding.

[ChicagoNova]

Again, definitely not either of the two.

1. Unless you are assuming they were getting off to go to the CTA Mahal at 567 W. Lake,* they would have exited at 79th.

2. I just said that Pace let the procurement for from 9 to 416 buses go to the bid opening. While Nova might have bid, any demo would be too late, compared to ElDorado and NABI, who have already had their demos here (although Pace wasn't looking for a Metro 45C, I'm sure NABI will take business for 40LFWs, should Pace go in that direction).

I suppose that all the New Flyers heading in the opposite direction, with WMATA and OC Transpo livery, were destined here too.** Maybe it is somehow cheaper for Nova to transport buses assembled in Plattsburg to its western customers through here, although I tend to doubt that, too.

_________

*Like some hybrid. But they probably wouldn't have needed two for that purpose.

**Just like the CTA Tattler assumes that everyone who goes to residential colleges here, including Northwestern and U of C, either has a car or needs a U Pass. Too darn much provincialism.

I just thought about this. Nova also manufactures hybrid buses. I wonder if those buses that were spotted on the Dan Ryan the other day were hybrid.

[Busjack]

Maybe for CTA/PACE yes or no.... but demo buses, good possibility as they are all white. If they were meant for a transit agency, they would've been painted to the Transit Agencies' specifications before being sent to their new destination.

Again, not necessarily the case. If you look at some Canadian sites, they usually get their buses blank and have the local bus servicer apply the decals. On the other hand, CTA specs say how the buses are to be painted, down to the decals inside the bus.

The procurement is opened, but not yet awarded, and you said we might hear something in the next 15-45 days. Enough time for PACE Brass to look at two demo buses and maybe go on a short test drive(this probably would take only a day or two)....

Only if they want to violate the provision in the specs that it be the lowest bidder. Then they certainly would get a lawsuit.

That spec was out since mid January. If Nova wanted to do a demonstration before the bid deadline, they had 8 months to do it.

Since you don't know, why are you continually clutching at straws?

[artthouwill]

Had the pleasure of seeing another brand new all white Nova heading NB on the Dan Ryan Expressway near Roosevelt this morning. Unfortunately for me, I was heading southbound. Unlike last week when I saw three, this time I only saw one.

[ChicagoNova]

Had the pleasure of seeing another brand new all white Nova heading NB on the Dan Ryan Expressway near Roosevelt this morning. Unfortunately for me, I was heading southbound. Unlike last week when I saw three, this time I only saw one.

Now that's 4 Novas.

[artthouwill]

I spotted one more this morning. From what I could tell, this did not appear to be a hybrid, at least there were no roof pods. I could not find any news on Nova's website indicating any new deliveries or options. And these were all 40ft. buses.

[ChicagoNova]

I spotted one more this morning. From what I could tell, this did not appear to be a hybrid, at least there were no roof pods. I could not find any news on Nova's website indicating any new deliveries or options. And these were all 40ft. buses.

& I haven't heard about CTA saying they're going to purchase new buses since the last New Flyer DE60LF came here to Chicago. Now this is 5.

[pace2322]

You guys are seeing the new Free Enterprise brt Gilligs number 29723 to 29725.. Not Novas..

[artthouwill]

You guys are seeing the new Free Enterprise brt Gilligs number 29723 to 29725.. Not Novas..

I suppose that is possible. Unfortunately Gillig does not have a press release page. But I did find that Gillig has a safety recall.

://www-odi.nhtsa.dot.gov/recalls/results.cfm?rcl_id=11V446000&searchtype=quicksearch&summary=true&refurl=rss

[See Tea Eh]

Every bus manufacturer has safety recalls on occasion. I doubt that really means all that much.

[Kevin]

Saw one of these signed "Intercampus" heading north on LSD today. Looked like a Gillig BRT, not a Nova.

[MRCTA]

If Nova is returning to the US, then soon, MAN will return to the US. It is their destiny.

Do you know what MAN means? Those were some good buses!

[Busjack]

Looked like a Gillig BRT, not a Nova.

Also apparently two of them are in a Nissan ad. 3 door models.

[geneking7320]

I hope I'm in the right thread .

Recently I have seen what appears to be a Gillig BRT hybrid on Lake Shore Drive.

I always see the driver's side of the bus which is white with no markings. Additionally, I can never get a look at the headsign. Is this likely the same bus as mentioned in the above posts?