|
Pittsburgh Transit Blog
|
|
Topic Started: Aug 27 2009, 06:50 PM (21,964 Views)
|
|
Tritransit Area
|
Jan 18 2011, 10:50 PM
Post #231
|
- Posts:
- 4,524
- Group:
- Admin
- Member
- #4
- Joined:
- 17-February 05
|
- septa105R5
- Jan 18 2011, 03:04 PM
- Tritransit Area
- Jan 18 2011, 10:19 AM
Ah that's interesting. I did find it rather bizarre that outside of rush hours, PAT would use regular transit buses on the same routes they would run their Metroliners and Suburban artics! I guess suburban styled Gillig LFs would be good (albeit boring) for Port Authority Transit.
It would also be great if they order NABI 416 fitted with suburban interior to best suited their commuter operation which is cheaper than using motorcoach. It would be nice to bring in that sort of variety, but I think PAT is trying to lower the amount of manufacturers it purchases buses from.
|
|
|
| |
|
Nabi60SFW9620
|
Jan 19 2011, 08:52 AM
Post #232
|
- Posts:
- 2,975
- Group:
- Premium Members
- Member
- #10
- Joined:
- 21-February 05
|
- Tritransit Area
- Jan 18 2011, 10:49 PM
- Nabi60SFW9620
- Jan 18 2011, 02:54 PM
Hopefully PAT will have good service the last weekend in April as I will be up there that weekend. Im going to book my trip on Priceline tomorrow.
The service changes take effect March 27 unfortunately. The service may still be good, but if you are trying to catch some runs on the services that will be cut, you better make your trip sooner. I'm dabbling with the idea of an emergency trip out to Pittsburgh. I'll never forgive myself for missing the Allentown trains the last time I was there if I don't get to ride and photograph one or two. Since Ill be driving to Pittsburgh I shouldnt be too effected but during my trip I do plan to ride a few of PATs buses and maybe the T while in downtown during the day. I may squeeze in some of the malls if I have time but Ill drive to them.
|
|
|
| |
|
Tritransit Area
|
Jan 19 2011, 09:44 AM
Post #233
|
- Posts:
- 4,524
- Group:
- Admin
- Member
- #4
- Joined:
- 17-February 05
|
- Nabi60SFW9620
- Jan 19 2011, 08:52 AM
- Tritransit Area
- Jan 18 2011, 10:49 PM
- Nabi60SFW9620
- Jan 18 2011, 02:54 PM
Hopefully PAT will have good service the last weekend in April as I will be up there that weekend. Im going to book my trip on Priceline tomorrow.
The service changes take effect March 27 unfortunately. The service may still be good, but if you are trying to catch some runs on the services that will be cut, you better make your trip sooner. I'm dabbling with the idea of an emergency trip out to Pittsburgh. I'll never forgive myself for missing the Allentown trains the last time I was there if I don't get to ride and photograph one or two.
Since Ill be driving to Pittsburgh I shouldnt be too effected but during my trip I do plan to ride a few of PATs buses and maybe the T while in downtown during the day. I may squeeze in some of the malls if I have time but Ill drive to them. If you don't care about riding the services that will be eliminated, then the service changes shouldn't affect your visit at all....
|
|
|
| |
|
Nabi60SFW9620
|
Jan 19 2011, 11:49 AM
Post #234
|
- Posts:
- 2,975
- Group:
- Premium Members
- Member
- #10
- Joined:
- 21-February 05
|
- septa105R5
- Jan 18 2011, 03:04 PM
- Tritransit Area
- Jan 18 2011, 10:19 AM
Ah that's interesting. I did find it rather bizarre that outside of rush hours, PAT would use regular transit buses on the same routes they would run their Metroliners and Suburban artics! I guess suburban styled Gillig LFs would be good (albeit boring) for Port Authority Transit.
It would also be great if they order NABI 416 fitted with suburban interior to best suited their commuter operation which is cheaper than using motorcoach. Chances are if PAT decides to replace the Metroliners with Suburban style transit buses it will more likely be Gillig Advantages similar to the transits except 1 door and a Suburban interior configuration. But at this point theres no telling what will replace the Neoplan AN345s. Either Gillig LFs with suburban interiors or MCI D4500CTs. It depends on PATs mood when that time comes.
|
|
|
| |
|
Jayayess1190
|
Jan 20 2011, 10:54 AM
Post #235
|
- Posts:
- 1,911
- Group:
- Premium Members
- Member
- #42
- Joined:
- 02-September 05
|
Farebox issues fixed; Port Authority begins rolling out smart cards
- Quote:
-
Port Authority officials said they have solved technical problems with new fareboxes and are moving ahead with conversion to smart cards -- permanent plastic cards with embedded computer chips that riders will use to pay their fares. The authority suspended installation of the new fareboxes twice last year because currency was jamming them. Cash will continue to be accepted when the smart cards debut. The new fareboxes tend to reject worn-out or mangled bills, as do most modern vending machines. But boxes installed on buses at the Collier garage were jamming on all types of currency. "That's all been taken care of," said Tim Bach, the authority's project manager, at a meeting of the Performance Oversight Committee on Wednesday. A combination of design and manufacturing flaws was responsible, he said. Installation on buses running out of Collier and Ross garages has been completed, and buses at the West Mifflin and East Liberty garages are on schedule for retrofitting by the end of March. Farebox installation on Light Rail Transit vehicles is scheduled to be completed by mid-April. The new fareboxes have an orange target panel that riders will tap with their smart cards. The system will automatically deduct the appropriate fare from the card. Users will be able to replenish the value of the cards at machines in the Downtown subway, at the authority's Downtown service center or online. The authority unveiled the brand name of the new cards at the meeting: ConnectCards. Small-scale testing has begun and that will expand this year with testing by University of Pittsburgh students. The authority also is preparing a campaign starting in April to educate riders about the new system. Distribution of ConnectCards is scheduled to begin in July with a full launch of the new system now scheduled for March 2012.
|
|
|
| |
|
Jayayess1190
|
Jan 20 2011, 10:58 AM
Post #236
|
- Posts:
- 1,911
- Group:
- Premium Members
- Member
- #42
- Joined:
- 02-September 05
|
North Shore Connector hits another mark: Stanwix Street to reopen
- Quote:
-
The North Shore Connector subway extension project will reach another milestone on Friday night when Stanwix Street reopens in Gateway Center.
That will end a series of street closings that began in July 2007, when the authority began digging a pit for construction of twin tunnels under the Allegheny River.
"It'll be a welcome change for anyone who has to drive through there," said spokesman Jim Ritchie.
Keith Wargo, project director for the subway extension, said some temporary lane restrictions might be needed as finishing work is done on the new Gateway Center station.
The section of Stanwix Street from Liberty to Penn avenues is expected to reopen after Friday evening's rush hour, restoring normal traffic patterns throughout the construction area.
Authority officials announced Wednesday that they have shaved another $5.4 million off the connector's budget, reducing it to $523.4 million, despite a $2.7 million settlement of a dispute with a contractor over unexpected subsurface conditions found during tunnel boring.
The budget has fallen by nearly $30 million since May 2009, after an earlier series of cost escalations stemming from runaway inflation in the construction industry had left doubt about the authority's ability to complete the 1.2-mile extension.
The project is 87 percent complete and on target to open for service in March 2012, Mr. Wargo said. It is mostly financed with federal and state funds.
|
|
|
| |
|
Nabi60SFW9620
|
Jan 20 2011, 11:30 AM
Post #237
|
- Posts:
- 2,975
- Group:
- Premium Members
- Member
- #10
- Joined:
- 21-February 05
|
Since I have a week and a half of vacation time accumulated and I earn 4-5 hours per pay period Im thinking. I know I plan to take the last Friday of April off as well as the first Monday-Tuesday in May due to my 26th birthday. So Im thinking I may stay in Pittsburgh until that Tuesday when I make the trip. Im technically going Friday-Sunday but I may consider staying longer depending on how much the hotel will cost per night.
|
|
|
| |
|
Tritransit Area
|
Jan 21 2011, 10:25 AM
Post #238
|
- Posts:
- 4,524
- Group:
- Admin
- Member
- #4
- Joined:
- 17-February 05
|
- Jayayess1190
- Jan 20 2011, 10:54 AM
Farebox issues fixed; Port Authority begins rolling out smart cards- Quote:
-
Port Authority officials said they have solved technical problems with new fareboxes and are moving ahead with conversion to smart cards -- permanent plastic cards with embedded computer chips that riders will use to pay their fares. The authority suspended installation of the new fareboxes twice last year because currency was jamming them. Cash will continue to be accepted when the smart cards debut. The new fareboxes tend to reject worn-out or mangled bills, as do most modern vending machines. But boxes installed on buses at the Collier garage were jamming on all types of currency. "That's all been taken care of," said Tim Bach, the authority's project manager, at a meeting of the Performance Oversight Committee on Wednesday. A combination of design and manufacturing flaws was responsible, he said. Installation on buses running out of Collier and Ross garages has been completed, and buses at the West Mifflin and East Liberty garages are on schedule for retrofitting by the end of March. Farebox installation on Light Rail Transit vehicles is scheduled to be completed by mid-April. The new fareboxes have an orange target panel that riders will tap with their smart cards. The system will automatically deduct the appropriate fare from the card. Users will be able to replenish the value of the cards at machines in the Downtown subway, at the authority's Downtown service center or online. The authority unveiled the brand name of the new cards at the meeting: ConnectCards. Small-scale testing has begun and that will expand this year with testing by University of Pittsburgh students. The authority also is preparing a campaign starting in April to educate riders about the new system. Distribution of ConnectCards is scheduled to begin in July with a full launch of the new system now scheduled for March 2012.
Are there plans to integrate passes into the card as well?
|
|
|
| |
|
Jayayess1190
|
Jan 21 2011, 01:11 PM
Post #239
|
- Posts:
- 1,911
- Group:
- Premium Members
- Member
- #42
- Joined:
- 02-September 05
|
- Tritransit Area
- Jan 21 2011, 10:25 AM
Are there plans to integrate passes into the card as well? I don't know.
|
|
|
| |
|
Jayayess1190
|
Jan 24 2011, 01:36 PM
Post #240
|
- Posts:
- 1,911
- Group:
- Premium Members
- Member
- #42
- Joined:
- 02-September 05
|
County council hearing on Pittsburgh-area transit
- Quote:
-
Worried that the public is losing trust in the Port Authority's ability to provide reliable bus and light-rail service, Allegheny County Council has scheduled a hearing on the mass-transit agency's operations.
Council's government reform committee will meet at 5 p.m. Wednesday with representatives from the Port Authority and the union that represents its drivers and mechanics.
"My goal is to restore confidence in the public that this system is going to be reliable," council President Rich Fitzgerald said. "We want people to know that when they go to catch a bus or the T, it will be on time and will get them to their destinations on time."
|
|
|
| |
| 1 user reading this topic (1 Guest and 0 Anonymous)
|