35ft buses for DART?

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35ft buses for DART?; How come DART is getting new 35ft buses?
Topic Started: Oct 5 2009, 08:31 AM (312 Views)
Nabi60SFW9620	Oct 5 2009, 08:31 AM Post #1
Foamer Posts: 2,128 Group: Members Member #10 Joined: February 21, 2005	Ive noticed pics of DART getting new 35ft buses. How come they are 35ft and not either 30ft or 40ft? Will they be running out of Wilmington or Dover/Rehobeth?



Van2006ko	Oct 5 2009, 09:35 AM Post #2
Foamer Posts: 2,528 Group: Admin Member #1 Joined: February 16, 2005	According to Geraldo, they're seven (7) 35 Gillig low floor-hybrids that were delivered and are to be used for both Dover and Wilmington. Fleet numbers are: 161-167



Septa_kid	Oct 5 2009, 09:41 AM Post #3
flxie!!!! Posts: 2,039 Group: Members Member #2,467 Joined: March 31, 2008	makes sense... 30 foot low floors can't hold that much...



Nabi60SFW9620	Oct 5 2009, 10:15 AM Post #4
Foamer Posts: 2,128 Group: Members Member #10 Joined: February 21, 2005	As long as they are used on routes that run with 30fts and not routes that run with 40fts that isnt an issue. Most of the Wilmington base runs with 40fts and replacing them with 35fts isnt a good idea.



Tritransit Area	Oct 5 2009, 10:28 AM Post #5
Transit Enthusiast Posts: 2,242 Group: Admin Member #4 Joined: February 17, 2005	Frankly, I think that a lot of Wilmington's routes can get away with 35 footers. I was wondering why they never had them in the first place.



ctrabs74	Oct 5 2009, 11:44 AM Post #6
Advanced Transit Fan Posts: 710 Group: Members Member #7 Joined: February 20, 2005	As best as I can recall, the 30-ft Gillig low floors do hold 26, and that includes three seats above the curb-side front wheelwell. As to why 35-ft buses, I'm wondering if Gillig doesn't make a 30-ft hybrid.



Tritransit Area	Oct 5 2009, 02:09 PM Post #7
Transit Enthusiast Posts: 2,242 Group: Admin Member #4 Joined: February 17, 2005	Gillig does offer hybrids in the 29 foot length. I honestly just think that with increased ridership lately, the need for 35 foot buses exists now. Dover no longer has "high capacity" Gillig Phantoms to use, and are in the process of getting rid of the Champions



Nabi60SFW9620	Oct 5 2009, 08:20 PM Post #8
Foamer Posts: 2,128 Group: Members Member #10 Joined: February 21, 2005	Plus low floor buses have a smaller seating capacity. So it is possible some 30ft high floors may be replaced with 35ft Low Floors. Look at Harrisburg CAT. They were suppose to mostly be a 35ft TA but with low floors having fewer seats then high floors they decided to start purchasing 40fts as their main purchase so seating capacities can stay the same. And with gas prices at $4 a gallon last summer leading the country into a recession many gave up driving and started catching Mass Transit. And that can explain the increase in DART Ridership. And mall routes. They get the highest ridership. And 30fts are not always enough for them. But the important thing is. DART will always continue to purchase 40fts as their main purchase for Wilmington.



Septa_kid	Oct 5 2009, 08:47 PM Post #9
flxie!!!! Posts: 2,039 Group: Members Member #2,467 Joined: March 31, 2008	Nabi60SFW9620 Oct 5 2009, 08:20 PM And with gas prices at $4 a gallon last summer (stops paying attention) WHAT THE????? if i was driving, i'd want to switch to riding mass transit too... that's ridiculous!



Nabi60SFW9620	Oct 6 2009, 06:27 AM Post #10
Foamer Posts: 2,128 Group: Members Member #10 Joined: February 21, 2005	Im glad gas prices didnt go that high this summer. I never even thought they would go below $2 ever again. I thought the winter prices would be $3 a gallon and summer prices $4 a gallon. But prices were only $2.50 a gallon in many areas throughout the summer this year. Some prices were at $2.80 a gallon in DC and Philly. But $4 a gallon. That was ridiculous. And the scare of them hitting $5 or $6 a gallon by Labor Day last year really caused people to reduce on spending. And retail prices go up as the result to high gas prices. Which is one of the main reasons 10% of the US got laid off. I thought I would be among those struggling to seek employment September of last year. But luckily no lay offs have occured for MD state workers.



Tritransit Area	Oct 6 2009, 07:28 AM Post #11
Transit Enthusiast Posts: 2,242 Group: Admin Member #4 Joined: February 17, 2005	Septa_kid Oct 5 2009, 08:47 PM Nabi60SFW9620 Oct 5 2009, 08:20 PM And with gas prices at $4 a gallon last summer (stops paying attention) WHAT THE????? if i was driving, i'd want to switch to riding mass transit too... that's ridiculous! I saw $4.23 a gallon...but with a job that needs a car, I just had to suck it up... :( Thankfully, now gas is only about $2.31 a gallon in Bensalem



Nabi60SFW9620	Oct 6 2009, 09:04 AM Post #12
Foamer Posts: 2,128 Group: Members Member #10 Joined: February 21, 2005	It did suck for those whos jobs involve driving. And even for those who travel long distance who have no choice but to drive to work. If gas prices got that expensive this summer Id be riding the Rabbit Express to work instead of drive. But luckily that never happened. And to get back on subject. 30ft Low Floors probably have the same seating amount as Cutaways. And I would not be surprised if Rabbit Transit only purchased 35fts as their main purchase since they no longer have the option to purchase high floor buses. And DART. Thats probably why they purchased 35ft buses. Due to a shortage of seats on the 30ft Low Floor.



Septa_kid	Oct 6 2009, 09:51 AM Post #13
flxie!!!! Posts: 2,039 Group: Members Member #2,467 Joined: March 31, 2008	I'm starting to get second thoughts about getting my own car... because now that i think about it, about 5-10 years ago, gas was less than 1.50 a gallon.. now it's rediculous!



Tritransit Area	Oct 7 2009, 01:02 PM Post #14
Transit Enthusiast Posts: 2,242 Group: Admin Member #4 Joined: February 17, 2005	Septa_kid Oct 6 2009, 09:51 AM I'm starting to get second thoughts about getting my own car... because now that i think about it, about 5-10 years ago, gas was less than 1.50 a gallon.. now it's rediculous! If you want my opinion, don't get a car unless you need it. The gas is only a small part of the expense. It's the insurance that can pack a whollop, especially for young male drivers, and especially if you live in the city. Also, if you don't buy the most reliable car from a good dealer, the maintenance cost is a huge burden. For me, I just got the car because I need it to do my job (and the 2.5 hr commute each way was killing me). Of course, the fun part about it is that I have the tremendous expense of having to pay tolls for my commute (the turnpike is the only reasonable way for me to get to the office from home), having to fill up TWICE a week since I drive so much to commute, to do my job, and to take my mother to work, and of course the light preventative maintenance (thankfully my car has been very good to me so I don't have any major, expensive issues). I wish I lived in an area with good transit service where it was reasonably easy to get to/from work. It'd cut my mileage down significantly and give me better peace of mind!



Tritransit Area	Oct 7 2009, 01:03 PM Post #15
Transit Enthusiast Posts: 2,242 Group: Admin Member #4 Joined: February 17, 2005	Nabi60SFW9620 Oct 6 2009, 09:04 AM And I would not be surprised if Rabbit Transit only purchased 35fts as their main purchase since they no longer have the option to purchase high floor buses. Huh? Rabbit Transit already has a substantial fleet of 35 foot buses...



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