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.

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.

Metropolis Connector To Begin July 4th, SPL BRT To Begin July 20th

Metropolis, BR

Metropolis Connector's Trolley on Display At The Interfair During The Auto Show.

DashTransit Service has a lot for the Metropolis Commuter to be happy about this summer. Fast new bus service directly from Metropolis to South Portland Airport and the upgraded 61 line now known as Metropolis Connector are set to begin really soon and contract positions are filling. July 4th is currently the aim for Metropolis Connector, July 20th for SPL. All in all both line expected to be in service by end of the July month.

New BRT service will start from Bay of Silence Bus Terminal.

Bus Rapid Transit? Try Trolley Rapid Transit for Metropolis Connector

Metropolis, BR. June 27th 204

Metropolis Connector will be the US's first ever Trolley Rapid Transit Line (TRT)

The 61's haphazard path around Metropolis Island has always seem to be a faster way to tour the city then taking normal trolley lines or even just the 65 elevated who just about covers most of the island but at the same time it needs improvement. Metropolis Transit and DashTransit Service as well as The State of Bridgerissa are coming together this summer to bring faster and more reliable service to the 61 Line in the form of Metropolis Connector.

It has been outline headways will increase as well service hours and branch to House Park. That's only the surface. Among bringing 15 Min service to off-peak hours, and increasing rush hour service to every 6 minutes, there are also more changes to come.

Rebuilt as of 2010-2011, PCC Trolley will run on the Metropolis Connector.

• Renaming both directions of the 61 to recognizable colors. 61 Blue Loop runs Counter-Clockwise, 61 Light Blue Loop will run Clockwise. 61 Red Loop will run to House Park via Ballerman Blvd.
• 61 Red Loop will run only Fridays,Saturdays,Sundays & Major Holidays Only. 15 minute headways all times. 
• New Automatic Announcements that will call out sights instead of street corners. Transfers will still be announced. 
• All new equipment. Either a brand new Siemens S70 Trolley or a 2011 Rebuilt PCC Trolley. 
• Cleaner environment that will be maintained by DashTransit Service

Metropolis Transit proudly calls it a Trolley Rapid Transit Line. Why? It stops farther apart the normal trolleys and will only stop near landmarks. It will bring people off the crowded 65 elevated which is running full trains almost at all times. It will run like water during rush hour. It will move and attract more tourist to ditch cabs and ride the trolley. Furthermore, it will connect all of the attractions Metropolis has to offer in one convenient ride.

Route 61 To Be Renamed, The Metropolis Connector.

Route 61 Trolley at Sandbar Street

Metropolis, BR. May 19th 2014.

DashTransit Service and Metropolis Transit has announced the official name of the upgraded Route 61 to "The Metropolis Connector" which will bring 15 minute headways to all trolleys. Also in a curve ball move, Metropolis Transit announced there will be a branch line that will go to House Park using the former 47 tracks on Ballerman Blvd. This will bring back trolley service to Ballerman Bl during Fridays, Saturdays & Sunday to serve the Berkey Kola Museum, Museum of Metropolis Art, and Stallion Park.

The service will be split into 3. Inner Loop 61 trolleys will be renamed Blue Loop, Outer 61s the Light Blue Loop and the reactivated 47 trolley line the Red Loop. The Blue & Light Blue Loops will run 7 days a week stating 6 AM to 11:30 PM at 15 Minute intervals all day while the Red Loop will run only Friday, Saturday & Sunday 9 AM to 6:30 PM also at 15 minute intervals. During rush hour and peak-Saturday hours, some Blue Loop trolleys can short-turn and become Light Blue Loop Trolleys at Waves-Bl of Bays if bunching occurs.

More Details To Come...

Metropolis Transit & DTS Talk Changes To 61 Trolley

Metropolis, BR. May 1st 2014.

One of Metropolis Transit's newest trolley cars on the 61 City Circle Line

Joint contracts with Metropolis Transit never seem to work out in their favor. Since the joint Boga IBOA contract in the 70s to the DeMott Tower Shuttle (since been discontinued) of the late 90s, most joint contract operations came to abrupt and disappointing ends but it is stopping the company to try again. Last year the 61 trolley returned to service after being shut down for a year during the repaving and rebuilding of Sandbar & Central Aves that the 61 trolley runs on. Metropolis Transit currently runs the 61 line with 30 minute headways outside of rush hour which are frankly ticking off the tourist who rely on the trolley to sight-see since the Deck Bus Company and Purple Lines went out of business in 2009. Today Metropolis Transit announced upgrades to both the 61 schedule and branding which will include splicing ownership of the line with DashTransit Service (DTS).

Siemens trolley passing FOSAL Park. 

Preliminary named "The Downtowner" the 61 trolley could either lose it's 61 name completely or be known as two separate loops that will operate just as the 61 does today but running on it's own fare system, rules, and appearance. The 61 trolley's headways will be improved as the service will no longer be operated by TWU 269 but instead will use contracted operators from DTS who will be thoroughly trained on the trolleys. Metropolis Transit said, it will be painted differently then a normal trolley, possibly using a combination of Metropolis's and DTS's schemes or an all-together new one. Fare will begin at a dollar, with transfer to other lines being charged a full $2 with the $1 fare. Service is set to begin Memorial Day. The Downtower name is subject to change.