Crackdown: 33 Bus Drivers Suspended, 2 Fired From Metropolis Transit

Metropolis, BR. June 30th 2015.

Drivers Caught Skipping Red Light Were Suspended or Fired Today.

As you anyone imagine, rush hour for Metropolis isn't as smooth as one would hope to be but a recent sting cracking down on bus drivers questioned how safe rush hour truly is. Hidden cameras on the bus and in the windshields have caught 38 different bus drivers violating state and road laws. Many those violations were red light related, though others include passing up passengers who are clearly visible with enough room to pick them up and speeding through residential areas. In one case, a driver got lost and terminated the 32 bus a mile off his route at 13th-Nedro Station after the driver embarrassed, admitted that he lost his way.  Now Metropolis Transit has cracked down on violating drivers and has suspended a whopping 33 drivers from active duty. Two drivers were dismissed immediately due to the amount of violations they racked up. One of them, operated a 63X bus past three red lights in row without stopping. Of the 33 suspended only 5 will continue to receive pay via light duty pending the investigation. Metropolis Transit release a statement saying, "We would love to expand on safety immensely and the move on behalf of the company to suspend the 33 operators in question while firing the 2 who clearly were guilty is the first step. We do not need accidents, near misses, and risking the safety of our passengers. Our passenger trust us to get them to point B without a incident, we are going to aim for that goal."

Metropolis Elevated Unveils New Scheme, Draws Inspiration From Australia.

Metropolis, BR. July 26th, 2015

New Paint Job For Elevated Subway Cars. 

Metropolis Transit unveiled a new paint job for the beloved Elevated Subway cars that circle Downtown's central business district. The current cars, built in 2005 by transportation giant Bombardier, are painted in the 1995 "Red Swoosh" Paint job that first appeared on the original 1964 Elevated cars from Maine. Metropolis Transit plans to phase out the "Red Swoosh" on the elevated subway lines as the current 2005 cars are due to be rebuilt in 2020 and brand new subway cars will replace the 1964 cars. 2020 couldn't come soon enough though for the company. Consultant, Cole Phillps from Melbourne, Australia along with company president. Nicholette Casey worked to introduce the new elevated scheme which was inspired by PTV livery most Melbourne transit vehicles are currently wearing including their Metro system. Elements from the current scheme the Woodland Subway cars wear also appear. 

The New Scheme is Based Off the one Melbourne, Australia's Metro System Wears. 

Metropolis Transit's new Aussie inspired scheme will only be applied to the current 2005 Bombardier elevated subway cars and will not show up on any of the older 64' el cars. The new Kawasaki built subway cars currently on order will also proudly wear this scheme. When asked if the scheme will appear on buses, Casey said, "Nope! We were inspired by Melbourne, were are not trying to copy it. Only Elevated trains will wear the paint scheme, buses will continue to wear the 'red swoosh' or will match the trolleys. The 'red swoosh' is a icon for Metropolis hence why the new trackless trolleys are being delivered with them. The Woodland Subway, both the 1984 Kawasaki built cars and 2007 built Alstom cars will not be repainted at this time.

Trees Avenue Subway Might End Up Going West.

Metropolis, BR. July 23rd 2015.

22 & 26 Line May Go to West Metropolis

The current Trees Avenue Subway construction is already turning heads and costing millions but it's not stopping Metropolis Transit to dream further. After canceling the proposed "Boga Terminal" who never had a proper spot within Downtown, Metropolis Transit told sources today that they are making a proposal with the state to study the possibility of tunneling under the Commuter Rail Tunnels into West Metropolis then running elevated over the commuter rail tracks to West Metropolis Railway Station with intermediate stops at 14th Street, 20th Street, 24th Street, 30th Street & 36th Street. This would add a total of 6 extra miles to the Trees Avenue Line extending the 22 & 26 Elevated Lines even further to West Metropolis. Of course the money for such a project would be in the billions and it's not something one lone transit company is looking to pay for. Further detail will be provided as more unfolds.

B.DoT Wants 3 of the 4 Trolley Crossings Removed Off N Line

Katelinn Neighborhood. Metropolis, BR

The N Trolley soon may go over Savanna St instead of crossing it at level.

Today, Nicholette Casey (president of Metropolis Transit), Felix Dorado (V.P. of B.DoT) & Mayor Simon Casey sat down at City Hall today to discuss the 2016-2017 Budget and Plans. A rather interesting issue was brought up that had the attention of both Metropolis Transit & the city. The number of street crossing accidents along the N Trolley has risen and very soon in 2018 a new rail link to Downtown Metropolis from Boga Island is suppose to cross the busy Ocean Avenue in order to get into the tunnel. This means the game has changed in terms of goals. Now faced with heavy recommendations from B.DoT has laid out, Metropolis Transit might consider two options. One option is adding bridges and tunnels along the N trolley line to improve speed, service, & safety. Three S's the public want to hear. Another is rebuilding Blue Beach station into an open trench to go under Ocean Avenue. This would removed a crossing that hasn't even seen one train yet. Both options would vastly improve service but would cost millions to undertake.

Blue Beach Lower Level might also be replaced.

With talks about $20 Million in total to just to the N Line, it no wonder MT's President, Nicholette Casey was reluctlant on moving forward with the plans. In a statement to TMC she stated "It's money I personally wish not to spend but have to. Right now the trolley system need new tracks and wires, there's a lot of work to be done on Trees Avenue and Casey Blvd's S2 station needs to be rebuilt. Crossings were the last thing on my mind. That was until I was shown the stats, people ARE dying at these crossings." Since 2011, 14 people alone were struck along the N corridor though only 6 of them were fatal. Most recently, a trolley pinned a car into a wire pole after it tried to beat the trolley at Savanna Street's crossing in the Katelinn section of Metropolis. 5 of the 6 fatal accidents in the past 4 years have been at this crossing because of the higher speeds the N trolley operates at. The speed limit prior to Savanna Street crossing was recently reduced from 45 MPH to 30 MPH in order to give trolleys more time to stop. It has not worked. 

Trees and heavy brush is blamed for Savanna St's notorious crossing. 

The current plan right now is to build a trolley bridge over Savanna Street while SW 48th & SW 49th Street crossing will be replaced by an open trench. There's even a hint of possible new station at SW 49th Street. It's been 11 years since the original SW 49th Street station was shut down due to low ridership. The population in the area has gone up, but even so as of right now Metropolis Transit and B.DoT are more focused on just removing the crossings, not adding new stations. Work on these crossing is expected to be completed by 2017 if chosen by November by the City Board. The N trolley will most likely be bussed during the construction of the new bridge and trenches. The 22/26 Elevated lines will most likely be uninterrupted by their construction.