DashTransit Announces New Paint Job And Service Changes

Bay of Silence, BR. July 30th 2014.

The New Darker Look To DashTransit Service and the New X32 to Los Santos, SA.

This morning, DaShawn J. Collins, the president of DashTransit Service, announced a major change in the company's image and service patterns. The bright yellow and orange buses will soon see a much darker but more stylish paint job in their futures. The first bus was unveiled in Los Santos at LSX Airport early this morning wearing the the new "Blue Wave" Scheme as well as sporting a new logo. The logo is cleverly designed T inside a D and the name moved towards the back of the bus but the bus didn't just get painted to look fancy. The service is bumping up.

Another view of the new look of DTS. 

New service to Los Santos will be provided via the new X32 Express line that will run south down Christine Expressway Non-Stop and then running local along Rt 36 to the San Andreas state border at Blaine County and then express again to Los Santos. It will beging the same day as CERT on August 4th and scedules are already in printing. The Philadelphia's Rt 76 Line of DTS will be discontinued on August 1st so TideCard will no longer be accepted on those buses from now until the end of service. DTS urges riders to ride the PHLASH instead. All service changes will be finished by August 4th. The bus repaints will happen over a course of a year.

Metropolis Connector Red Loop & CERT Set To Begin August 4th Admit Delays

Christine County, BR. July 26th, 2014.

Vintage Philadelphia Trolley On the new Metropolis Connector Tracks at House Park.

The Metropolis Connector Red Loop & the SPL-BRT now named C.E.R.T. has been delayed quietly from it's July 20th opening date because of "lack of branding" for the vehicles that will use each line. Delays in decals for Metropolis Connector and the now named Christine Expressway Rapid Transit or C.E.R.T. line have set both projects back two weeks. The delays also cascaded onto training scheduled for each line so operators need to be trained on both lines for the next two weeks. Other changes to fleet is the PCC cars that will be used for Red Loop. Instead of borrowing 5 of the 77 Rebuilt PCCs from Metropolis Transit, they will use museum quality Restored PCC cars from the Geneva Height Museum. This includes 4 PCC cars from Philadelphia, PA and one restored Metropolis Surface car.

DashTransit's CERT Branded bused. 

Word To The Wise: Pay Your Fare!

Metropolis, BR. July 18th 2014

Metropolis Transit's fare table. 

Recently, ridership levels are at it's highest on certain lines but that doesn't come with it's share of troubles. More people are trying to get free ride on some of the buses and trolleys in Metropolis and it has the Metropolis Transit Police Department busy. Police Chief, Jane Bloor pointed out that people are not buying tickets at the trolley stops and when the fare inspectors step on board almost 80% of the time they're caught. The question to ask is, what about that other 20%? "They're taking advantage of system," she says, "They're riding for free and it's costing the system money." Since May, Metropolis Transit has hired more Fare Inspector Officers to ride trolleys and inspect fares yet somehow the numbers are still not adding. It's not just trolleys either, Bloor blames the spike in joyrides on people walking in the back door of a bus to avoid paying the fare in front of the driver and with two backdoors on each bendable bus, the problem can double.

MTPD is figuring out ways to combat the problem of back door riders by using plain clothed policemen. The budget for hiring new officers is almost completely exercised. This also dashed hopes for a commercial that will warn of the consequences for not paying the fare. Luckly, Metropolis Transit will provide some money to roll out campaign tentatively named, "Don't You Dare! Pay Your Fare!" The campaign is set to roll out in mid August. No further details have been released.

Certain Service Cuts To Metropolis Transit Will Take Effect

Metropolis, BR July 16, 2014.

Route 82 Will Reduce Service to Waves-Meadow starting Septemeber.

Riders will notice a change soon in certain bus & trolley routes around Metropolis. Less service and renaming certain routes will take effect in September in order to help bring more service to areas that need it. Limited resources and the delayed Siemens S70 order is not turning to well with people who rely on the service in certain areas. Also, ridership is dropping on certain lines while others are gaining riders and the amount of service needs to reduced in one are to serve another. Currently certain lines faces service gaps up to 45 Minutes to an hour due to not enough equipment being available. Schedules will be adjusted to go along with the changes.

Certains will increase in service while others will decrease. No full line cuts.

Lines to be affected:

Route 32F: To be renamed the 32 Express

Route 36: Service will run every 20 Minutes instead of 10 during Midday & Evenings.

Route 48: Sunday service will be eliminated due to low ridership. Riders urged to take D1 Dark Bus to Rt 47 Elevated. Monday to Saturday service remains unaffected. 

Route 52G: To be renamed Route G. 

Route 58: Sunday service will end at Christine Mallplex instead of Woodbridge-Eastwick. Monday to Saturday service remains unaffected.

Route 59: Service will run every 30 Minutes instead of every 15 on Saturdays and Sundays. 

Route 63Q: To be renamed the 63 Express. Service will run every 20 minutes instead of ever 15 on Saturdays & Sundays. 

Route 74A: To be renamed the 74 Express

Route 82: Service to Waves-Meadow will be eliminated on Middays. Only Rush hour trolleys will goes to Waves. Riders urged to take Rt 43 to Bay of Silence. 

Route 94: Service to JGSU Bus Center will run every 20 minutes instead of every 15 during Saturday, Sundays & Late Nights. 

Route D: Service to Greta-Ballerman will be eliminated on Saturday & Sundays due to low ridership. Riders urge to take Rt 47 Elevated. 

Kawasaki To Ironically Rebuild Aging Kawasaki Trolley Fleet

Metropolis, BR. July 14th 2014.

Kawasaki will rebuild trolley they previous made themselves.

In a bit of a laughing irony, Kawasaki Heavy Industries has won the contract to rebuild Metropolis's aging trolley fleet that they had previously built themselves in the 1980s. Favoritism was not factor though in this case, they just happen to be the cheapest guys who can do the job. In a two month bidding period they proposed to rebuild the 155 Trolley Cars at $3.9 Million a piece which may seem a tad pricey but quiet cheap compared to others who bid on the contract. Kawasaki was lowest bidder among Siemens, CAF and FERB. The rebuilding will commence starting the end of 2014 and will continue until 2019 the earliest. The long period of time is due to the fact that only 5 to 10 trolley will be sent out at a time in order to not make the system go into fleet shortage. At the same time, the Siemens trolley cars will be continuing their delivery so their might be a balance to work with.

Kawasaki Trolley on the Rt 82 Line. 

Metropolis Transit's rebuilt trolley will feature new motors, new brakes that reuse and restore the energy it uses, faster speeds, upgraded LED signs, upgraded paint scheme, and updated windows and doors. This will also remove the trolley pole that is currently uses to collect power and upgrade to pantograph power collectors for more reliable service. The incandescent lights in the car will be replaced with LED as well and upgraded wall colors. The first upgraded trolley is set to hit rails March 2015. The upgraded trolley will last until 2025.

Metropolis Connector's First Week Is A Success. Ridership Levels High.

Metropolis, BR. July 13th 2014.

Metropolis Connector Trumps Ridership Levels.

Metropolis is feeling blue but not the blue you'd expect. The Light Blue & Blue Loops of the Metropolis Connector who replaced the less frequent 61 trolley opened to record ridership levels. Metropolis Connector was not expecting the record surge of passengers on the line but the dollar fares seem to attract riders and tourist alike. There also no such thing as the last Connector of the night, the bat service the line receives is staggering as well. "It actually took people off the the 61 for once" said Metropolis Transit G.M. Nicholette Casey, "I'm more surprised people are getting out at night. This city is full of bats who come out at night and need to get around." She also thanked the president of DashTransit Service, DaShawn J. Collins for joining forces to make it happen.

The Red Loop, a line that will run from Downtown Square to House Park via the former 47 tracks will go into service on July 20th, 2014. The same day as the new DashTransit BRT Line to South Portland Airport opens. Crews are prepping the line for the trolley revival including installing new "island" on Ballerman Bl for passengers to safely wait for trolleys. The current fleet of long Siemens cars will continue to service the Blue Loops while the Red will use the vintage-bodied PCC Cars that were rebuilt just a few years ago. Metropolis Connector is branded as the first Trolley Rapid Transit line in America with headway of every 7 Minutes during rush hour, every 10 during midday and evening, and every 20 during the late night hours. The Red Loop will have round the clock 15 minute service.

Flood Waters Shut Down The Broadway Trolley Subway On July 3rd

Metropolis, BR. July 4th 2014.

Flood Waters oversweep the Trolley Subway at Greta Way Portal on the night of July 3rd.

A wild line of thunderstorms trained over Metropolis dumping roughly 10.2 inches of rain water in matter of three hours. The downpours causes flash flooding around Metropolis's low laying areas including the entrances into the Broadway Trolley subway. At Greta Way Portal just west of Nevins Station had water piled up to 2 full feet of water that rushed down the Greta Way ramps and ponded onto the lower level of Greta-Broadway station (the lowest point of the tunnel). Trolley service through the tunnel was completely suspended starting at 10:02 PM last night after passengers fled Nevins & Greta stations when the surge of water came rushing in. Nobody was hurt last night in the flood waters.

No trolleys were in the tunnel other than a 5 trolley that was at it's loop underground and out of harms way. The water is rain water, so corrosion isn't a worry though some signals were damaged by the flood waters resulting in a overnight closure of the tunnel. The tunnel reopened at 5 AM but with delays and cancellations including Routing the 7 Line though 35th Street & Lindsay due to out signals. Nevins Station remains closed at this time. The 43 is extended to Morrisville because of the ramp closure. The Greta Way Portal will reopen later on today or tomorrow depending on when repair will be finished. Not the best way to celebrate the 4 of the July, that for sure.

10 Things You Need To Know About Metropolis Connector

Metropolis, BR. July 2nd, 2014.

DashTransit's Metropolis Connector set begin service on Friday July 4th.

With the 61 City Circle Trolley line of Metropolis Transit tipping it's hat off to the new Metropolis Connector TRT Line, it not hard to imagine what might come of this. Currently, the new service will replace the 61 trolley with a sightseer trolley with frequent headways and less stops labeling it "Trolley Rapid Transit". This also bring the age of color coded lines. The Blue & Light Blue Loops will take over the current 61 running pattern, as well as the new Red Loop from Downtown Metropolis to House Park set to begin July 20th. Here are the 10 will's and won'ts of Metropolis Connector:

A PCC-II Trolley being redecaled into Metropolis Connector.

• Metropolis Connector WILL run every 15 Minutes in off-hours, every 7 during rush hour. 
• Metropolis Connector WILL run weekends and overnights with 20 Minute headways. 
• Metropolis Connector WILL serve every major attraction in the city. 
• Metropolis Connector WILL run the newest trolleys in Metropolis. The PCC-II and Siemens S70 LRV.
• Metropolis Connector WILL have free transfers to Metropolis Transit Bus, Trolley, Subway or Elevated Railway. 
• Metropolis Connector WILL NOT be called the 61. The will be two loop in each direction. The Clockwise Light Blue Loop and Counter-Clockwise Blue Loop as well as the Red Loop opening in late July. 
• Metropolis Connector WILL NOT look like Metropolis Transit trolleys, they will have their own distinctive paint scheme. 
• Metropolis Connector WILL NOT accept TideCard Tickets or be on Metropolis Transit fare plan. One way with a transfer (upon request) will be only $1 Dollar . Transfers accepted from Metropolis Transit and DashTransit. 
• Metropolis Connector WILL NOT be anything like it's former 61 counterpart.
• Metropolis Connector WILL NOT disappoint you. 

Brand New Siemens S70 Trolleys decaled for Metropolis Connector.

The Connector is set to begin at 5:30 AM on July 4th, 2014. Schedules are already available at various trolley loops and information centers. There is also a special offer in the Metropolis Times for $45 Family Ticket for unlimited ride for the rest of the Summer (Labor Day). This offer is going rather fast for frequent commuters of today's 61 Line. The last 61 trolley will operate at 11:45 PM, July 3rd 2014.