urbanMSP

New buses!





Source: @drewbkerr

I prefer the cushy T seats on the current articulateds. Yeah, a pain to maintain but at least they're a nod toward the dignity of the fancy suburban coaches.

same crappy seats. (edit: what david said)

How do they deliver those? Just drive them on their own power from the factory?

These are New Flyer, so made in St. Cloud or Crookston right? You'll often see brand new New Flyer buses for different agencies caravaning down I-94. I've seen Chicago CTA, New York MTA, etc.

Next Week's Met Council Transportation Committee Meeting has a presentation about Metro Transit's upcoming Mobile App, due to launch this summer:
http://metrocouncil.org/Council-Meeting ... e-App.aspx

Interestingly, one of the major features will be mobile ticketing. There is a link in the presesntation showing how it works for SF Muni:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dZBlFdQAh80&

I do wonder how they will ensure that people don't simply wait to see if fare enforcement shows up on Metro Lines and aBRT before purchasing a ticket. It looks like bus drivers will only visually check the tickets when boarding buses. Since it will be an animated screen, I assume that would be hard to fake.

Next Week's Met Council Transportation Committee Meeting has a presentation about Metro Transit's upcoming Mobile App, due to launch this summer:
http://metrocouncil.org/Council-Meeting ... e-App.aspx

Interestingly, one of the major features will be mobile ticketing. There is a link in the presesntation showing how it works for SF Muni:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dZBlFdQAh80&

I do wonder how they will ensure that people don't simply wait to see if fare enforcement shows up on Metro Lines and aBRT before purchasing a ticket. It looks like bus drivers will only visually check the tickets when boarding buses. Since it will be an animated screen, I assume that would be hard to fake.

I'm looking forward to that! Hopefully if it's widely adopted (and works), it could significantly speed up boarding on all buses, rather than just aBRT and LRT lines. As far as enforcement, I don't know. I think they're more concerned with improving service than ease of enforcement.

A recent F&C article about the mobile app also mentions that MT will be creating its first bike-and-ride facility. Anyone with access to the article have more details?

Would anyone know if any of the archives in the area would have records of transit maps and schedules for the area?

Metro Transit is beginning to install the new generation of Go-To Readers on buses.

That's awesome! Which route where you riding when you saw this? Was there something wrong with the old card readers, that prompted them to install new ones?

I believe it was on Route 22.

I remember reading Transportation Committee meeting notes saying that the original readers were designed to last something like four or five years and they've managed to get eight out of them, so it's just time now to get new equipment. Plus, the new ones are NFC-ready.

Sorry, I'm too lazy to find the document that has the info.

Do the current Go-To cards work with the new readers? I'm curious because the card that I have is 3 years old and I'm thinking about buying a new one.

Do the current Go-To cards work with the new readers? I'm curious because the card that I have is 3 years old and I'm thinking about buying a new one.[/quote]

They do work with the new readers.

Metro Transit is beginning to install the new generation of Go-To Readers on buses.

That's awesome! Which route where you riding when you saw this? Was there something wrong with the old card readers, that prompted them to install new ones?

I believe it was on Route 22.

I remember reading Transportation Committee meeting notes saying that the original readers were designed to last something like four or five years and they've managed to get eight out of them, so it's just time now to get new equipment. Plus, the new ones are NFC-ready.

Sorry, I'm too lazy to find the document that has the info.

Just quoting the picture again. Thought everyone would want to see it ONE MORE TIME.

<SNIP!>

Just quoting the picture again. Thought everyone would want to see it ONE MORE TIME.

Thanks a lot everyone! With all that picture quoting, it's not a new thing anymore


Also, too! Regarding new buses mentioned earlier (I'll refrain from quoting the post), I saw what looked like a new style New Flyer 40' bus the other day in Metro Transit's standard livery. Was it just one of the 2 demo advanced hybrid buses, but no longer in the blue color scheme, or did Metro Transit get more of these? It was running on an express route, instead of the usual 10/18 etc that the hybrids are usually on.

I just really appreciate that someone snapped this. Snapchat transit!

Metro Transit is building a bike storage facility at 38th St. Station. It will provide secure storage for 53 bikes. Cool!

Can someone give me a rundown of how this is supposed to be used? Like, what's the point when you can bring your bike on the train?

Can someone give me a rundown of how this is supposed to be used? Like, what's the point when you can bring your bike on the train?

Personally, if I lived in the general area and worked downtown I'd much rather store my bike at the station rather than bring it with me to the office and store it there.