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The Dispatch wrote
COTA seeks $5.7 million grant for 6 extra-long hybrid buses
Friday, August 1, 2008
BY TIM DOULIN
Super-long, environmentally friendly buses powered by a combination of electricity and diesel are in the Central Ohio Transit Authority’s future. COTA is seeking $5.7 million through a federal grant to purchase six articulated hybrid buses.
Each bus is 62 feet long, bends in the middle and holds about 100 riders. It runs on electric batteries and switches over to a diesel engine. The buses don’t idle, Lhota said. Idling is a major source of pollution and fuel waste.
“Generally, particularly in congested Downtown areas, you are running on battery power, so you are not using the diesel engine as much as you would on a diesel bus,” he said.
The authority’s biggest buses are 40 feet long, the maximum allowed on Columbus streets. COTA is working with Columbus officials to change the city code to allow the longer buses.
I thought the part about Cleveland’s new buses was particularly interesting:
The Greater Cleveland Regional Transit Authority has purchased 21 articulated hybrid buses that will start running in late October.
Instead of curbside pickup like a regular bus, the articulated buses in Cleveland will pick up riders at “stations” on median strips about every 1,500 feet.
Well it doesn’t directly, I think I meant to end the sentence and not include because. Sorry about that.
Anyways low floor models may not line up with the curb correctly or run into other issues. A bus the same height of the standard buses could be used on local routes without any modifications. This relates more to using the buses on the local overcrowded routes rather than service hours. That is what that comment was relating too.
Considering you climb up a set of stairs to access the current fleet, low floor models will be better aligned to the curb and provide better access to many.
I saw a bus on Broad downtown one day with a driver struggling to get the access ramp to work to let a passenger on that was in a wheel chair.
I just heard that COTA did not get this grant, but will still be pursuing other forms of funding for these articulated buses.
I’m sure it won’t happen right off the bat, but I wonder if the new administration will make more federal dollars available for transit projects like this one.
I would look for a far more transit and rail friendly attitude from the Obama Administration. The Bush administration has been almost draconian in the way it has either cut funding or raised the bar so high to qualify that no one qualifies.
I’m sure it won’t happen right off the bat, but I wonder if the new administration will make more federal dollars available for transit projects like this one.
May I ask where you heard that from.
What percentage of COTA’s budget is paid by fares?
Maybe Sherman can build an articulated bus using two conversion vans?
I’m sure it won’t happen right off the bat, but I wonder if the new administration will make more federal dollars available for transit projects like this one.
:(
I wonder why the grant was denied?
Has anyone heard anything yet about a better idea for his Transportation Secretary?
A contact at COTA.
I don’t know.
It sounds like it was awarded to other Transit Authorities in other cities. I didn’t really get any other details passed along to me.
I don’t know.
19% of the operating budget was paid by fares in 2007
http://www.ntdprogram.gov/ntdprogram/pubs/profiles/2007/agency_profiles/5016.pdf
These sound interesting, and might be easier to implement than streetcars. I’m still a fan of streetcars, myself, though. I actually walk almost everywhere — even my doctors, insurance agents, etc. Buses are smelly and noisy — especially noisy. I have to stop my conversation each time a bus passes. Certainly, that wouldn’t be THE reason to have streetcars, but it’s an added factor to consider. My only exposure to modern streetcars was limited to our trip to Europe (which may be a very different experience than when they are implement here). Electric streetcars were so quite and pedestrian friendly. Walkable neighborhoods, with streetcars taking people to other walkable neighborhoods, just feels right. Unobtrusive. Quiet, no fumes. Overall, I support forms of public transportation, but the streetcar seems to provide consideration for the people not riding them, too…
Articulated buses would help with transportation-related issues.
Streetcars would help with development-related issues.
I think we have room for both, and they should both be added to our city’s public transit fleet, albeit for totally different reasons.
Streetcars would help with development-related issues.
I think we have room for both, and they should both be added to our city’s public transit fleet, albeit for totally different reasons.
I think you’re on to something, Walker. Do you mean to say that certain forms of transit, or transportation, can be used in different ways for different outcomes? :wink:
For example, I was sitting in a car at the top of a parking garage after a concert let out near the Palace. I thought to my self: there’s got to be a better way. It took 30 minutes to clear a parking garage with the help of several traffic cops.