MBTA Buses & Infrastructure

HelloBostonHi said:
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Diesel buses running under wires has become the new norm on the Silver Line now. Only the SL1 is still using the old dual modes regularly as the luggage rack equipped "extended range hybrids" (aka diesels) were last to arrive but are on site now in testing.

I do wonder if the buses now having bike racks means bikes are now allowed...
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This is one of the five battery electric buses being used on the silver line as part of the pilot program. It runs on battery power in the transitway. There is a small diesel generator on board these, as is standard in most BEB's.

Bus Electrification | Projects | MBTA

Official website of the MBTA -- schedules, maps, and fare information for Greater Boston's public transportation system, including subway, commuter rail, bus routes, and boat lines.
www.mbta.com www.mbta.com
 
BosMaineiac said:
This is one of the five battery electric buses being used on the silver line as part of the pilot program. It runs on battery power in the transitway. There is a small diesel generator on board these, as is standard in most BEB's.

Bus Electrification | Projects | MBTA

Official website of the MBTA -- schedules, maps, and fare information for Greater Boston's public transportation system, including subway, commuter rail, bus routes, and boat lines.
www.mbta.com www.mbta.com
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Incorrect, it's a photo of bus 1323, an XDE60 extended range hybrid diesel bus. The pilot BEBs were 1295-1299, the pilot was deemed a failure because they didn't have the range to meet operational needs so in 2020 the MBTA ordered 45 of these new diesel hybrids, based on the pilot bus 1294, a hybrid.

These are the new diesel hybrids: https://pantographapp.com/newengland/vehicles/10003/1300-1344

These are the 5 BEBs you're referring to: https://pantographapp.com/newengland/vehicles/10003/1295-1299

The pilot BEBs still run a few trips a day, but it's nothing compared to the hundreds being run by the new hybrids now. The MBTA has kept rather quiet about it because the decision to get rid of the wires and put out non-electric buses was unpopular.
 
HelloBostonHi said:
Incorrect, it's a photo of bus 1323, an XDE60 extended range hybrid diesel bus. The pilot BEBs were 1295-1299, the pilot was deemed a failure because they didn't have the range to meet operational needs so in 2020 the MBTA ordered 45 of these new diesel hybrids, based on the pilot bus 1294, a hybrid.

These are the new diesel hybrids: https://pantographapp.com/newengland/vehicles/10003/1300-1344

These are the 5 BEBs you're referring to: https://pantographapp.com/newengland/vehicles/10003/1295-1299

The pilot BEBs still run a few trips a day, but it's nothing compared to the hundreds being run by the new hybrids now. The MBTA has kept rather quiet about it because the decision to get rid of the wires and put out non-electric buses was unpopular.
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I stand corrected, I wasn't aware of that. Granted I couldn't make out the bus number in the photo.

Are the XDE60's capable of running on sole battery power in the transitway? I was under the impression diesels couldn't operate through that due to ventilation requirements.
 
BosMaineiac said:
I stand corrected, I wasn't aware of that. Granted I couldn't make out the bus number in the photo.

Are the XDE60's capable of running on sole battery power in the transitway? I was under the impression diesels couldn't operate through that due to ventilation requirements.
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They have a slightly larger battery pack
 
This is several months late, but I made a spreadsheet detailing the Bus Network Redesign (BNRD)'s proposed changes by bus route. The spreadsheet only compares the final draft in November to the status quo (in other words, ignores the initial draft in May).

Here's a link to the spreadsheet:
docs.google.com

MBTA Bus Network Redesign Changes by Route

docs.google.com docs.google.com

Let me know if there are any errors or omissions!
 
Teban54 said:
This is several months late, but I made a spreadsheet detailing the Bus Network Redesign (BNRD)'s proposed changes by bus route. The spreadsheet only compares the final draft in November to the status quo (in other words, ignores the initial draft in May).

Here's a link to the spreadsheet:
docs.google.com

MBTA Bus Network Redesign Changes by Route

docs.google.com docs.google.com

Let me know if there are any errors or omissions!
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Amazing. How would you feel about me linking to this spreadsheet on my Useful Things page?

As a small little usability thing: do you think you could freeze Row 4 (the one with the headings) so that it stays in place as you scroll? (It may be easier to do if you relocate your explanatory note at the top into a new tab at the front of the workbook, and thereby move the headings into the top row.)
 
Riverside said:
Amazing. How would you feel about me linking to this spreadsheet on my Useful Things page?

As a small little usability thing: do you think you could freeze Row 4 (the one with the headings) so that it stays in place as you scroll? (It may be easier to do if you relocate your explanatory note at the top into a new tab at the front of the workbook, and thereby move the headings into the top row.)
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Just made the change! And sure, feel free to link the spreadsheet in your blog :D
 
Teban54 said:
This is several months late, but I made a spreadsheet detailing the Bus Network Redesign (BNRD)'s proposed changes by bus route. The spreadsheet only compares the final draft in November to the status quo (in other words, ignores the initial draft in May).

Here's a link to the spreadsheet:
docs.google.com

MBTA Bus Network Redesign Changes by Route

docs.google.com docs.google.com

Let me know if there are any errors or omissions!
Click to expand...

This is great but FWIW this is also available on the T's project page - direct link here.
 
lainpimicaja said:
This is great but FWIW this is also available on the T's project page - direct link here.
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Well I didn't realize there's an updated version following the November proposal. I did know a version of this for the May proposal existed.

Still, I initially made the spreadsheet for myself mostly because I found the T's list unsatisfactory for a few reasons, at least for my own needs and curiosity, such as:
  • Each route being listed multiple times
  • Some of the descriptions are less ideal at highlighting the "crux" of the changes, especially for the combined and restructured routes (e.g. this part of route X and that part of route Y are combined to form the new route X)
 
737900er said:
The T finally issued their RFP for the BEBs with a base order of 45 (for Quincy) and options up to 360.

One interesting tidbit is an option for 100 buses with left doors (35 for North Cambridge and 65 more). I'm not sure if this has anything to do with the redesign, but I wouldn't be surprised if it does. The garages that would get buses under this order would likely be Quincy, North Cambridge, Arborway, and Fellsway. I can't see Quincy needing buses with left doors and North Cambridge would be full of left door, so there must be some idea at Arborway or Fellsway to use them. Certainly, many of the Harvard routes like T66, T77, T109, 75, 78, 86 could use those (although I have a hard time seeing some of those routes assigned to Arborway or Fellsway), so I imagine there are other ideas floating around to make use of them too.

mass.streetsblog.org

MBTA’s New Electric Bus Order Could Support More Center-Running Busways Regionwide

The T is shopping for new buses that would allow boarding on both sides of the vehicle, which could facilitate more center-running busways across the region. “It recongnizes the potential tha…
mass.streetsblog.org
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Piggybacking on this very old discussion on left door BEBs:

I just noticed that in the Remix map for Bus Network Redesign (BNRD), the T66, T71, T73 and 86 will loop at Cambridge Common:

1683561277018.png


This is not surprising for T71 and T73, as it essentially restores their traditional route when the trolleys were still running. Once BEBs with left doors enter service, this route will become feasible again and they can board at the lower busway. (Currently, they both board and drop off at the upper busway, then use surface roads via Dawes Island to Eliot Square and the layover point at Bennett Alley.)

What's more interesting is that the T66 and 86, which head south from Harvard, also make the loop. Currently, the 66's layover is at Dawes Island (turning from Peabody St to Mass Ave). Despite making the loop at Cambridge Common, the BNRD still has both routes board at the Dawes Island stop, instead of using the lower busway like the T71 and T73.

1683561698906.png

1683561744446.png


Given the 65 extra buses with left doors in the BEB order, I wonder if they might consider having the T66 and 86 use them, and enter the lower busway for boarding just like the T71 and T73. The possibility is there with the BNRD routing.

This is perhaps still very far-fetched, but I can't think of any other reasons for the 65 left-door buses at the moment.
 
Teban54 said:
Piggybacking on this very old discussion on left door BEBs:

I just noticed that in the Remix map for Bus Network Redesign (BNRD), the T66, T71, T73 and 86 will loop at Cambridge Common:

View attachment 37623

This is not surprising for T71 and T73, as it essentially restores their traditional route when the trolleys were still running. Once BEBs with left doors enter service, this route will become feasible again and they can board at the lower busway. (Currently, they both board and drop off at the upper busway, then use surface roads via Dawes Island to Eliot Square and the layover point at Bennett Alley.)

What's more interesting is that the T66 and 86, which head south from Harvard, also make the loop. Currently, the 66's layover is at Dawes Island (turning from Peabody St to Mass Ave). Despite making the loop at Cambridge Common, the BNRD still has both routes board at the Dawes Island stop, instead of using the lower busway like the T71 and T73.

View attachment 37624
View attachment 37625

Given the 65 extra buses with left doors in the BEB order, I wonder if they might consider having the T66 and 86 use them, and enter the lower busway for boarding just like the T71 and T73. The possibility is there with the BNRD routing.

This is perhaps still very far-fetched, but I can't think of any other reasons for the 65 left-door buses at the moment.
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I don't think there will be space at North Cambridge for any more than the 35 planned buses, so these would probably have to end up at Arborway. I don't see a need for them out of Quincy. I think they were looking at some bus lanes with island platforms in the Arborway district, but it wasn't really clear what options those are. (I suppose they could even do something similar on Mt Auburn with a reversible bus lane and platforms only on one side from Harvard Sq to Belmont St.)

All the buses that unload in the Harvard Lower Busway would also benefit from left doors.
 
[Momentary appreciation for just how cool it would be to have center-running bus lanes with level platforms for buses with left-hand doors. Regardless of whether it would actually be a good idea {though I think it would}, that just sounds like it would be such a cool thing to see.]
 
From the latest NETransit update retirements of the AN440LFs seem to be complete, only 5 Dual-Modes remain in service, and retirements of the D40LFs are starting.
 
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The focus of the video is electric cars and it doesn't mention Boston at all (and let's not derail into his bigger point), but through the whole video it weaves in the topic Battery Electric Busses and Trolleybusses. I can't help but remember the 71 and 73 line.


Barring a large miscalculation in the progress of the tech, we are helplessly watching a slow motion train crash that is all but certain to happen and yet nobody is stopping it. Some are even signing-off with enthusiasm vapidly espousing how Boston is leading the US by choosing cutting edge tech and etc.
 
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