PVTA Fleet Focus - Part 2: New Flyers, Proterras, and more!

PVTA Fleet Focus - Part 2: New Flyers, Proterras, and more!

  May 27, 2020    Kareem W

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Picking up from where I Ieft off from Part 1, in this post I’ll be looking the vehicles the PVTA ordered post-2010, which includes buses made by New Flyer and Proterra. The shuttle buses and RTS’ of the fleet will also be included in this.

New Flyer XD40

Sleek and Sophisticated

Fleet Number	Year	Operator	Engine	Transmission
1810 - 1819	2011	SATCo	Cummins ISL9	Allison B400R
7801 - 7802		VATCo
1821 - 1826	2012	SATCo
7811 - 7815		VATCo
1830 - 1837	2014	SATCo
1840 - 1849	2015

For this set of reviews, I’ll order things a little bit differently and start off the with the New Flyer XD40’s. These are the standard 40-foot transit buses of the New Flyer Xcelsior line. The PVTA started receiving these back in 2011, and they were introduced with the current paint scheme which I call the “Xcelsior Arcs”. The XD40’s gradually replaced the remaining RTS High Floors in the fleet up until they were relegated to UMass Transit’s charter buses in 2016. Now, the XD40’s work alongside the Gillig Low Floor 40’ buses, providing service to the majority of fixed routes.

Where they can be found

In the Springfield area, these buses can be found on pretty much every route, but they’re more often run on core and high-ridership routes. The XD40’s based in Northampton are almost always used on the B43 and B48.

My opinion of them

Rating: 7/10

I gave these a decent rating, but I have some grievances to air about the PVTA’s Xcelsior buses. Starting off with what’s good about them, I love the interior design of the Xcelsiors. It’s modern and feels comfortable, and it’s nice that the Xcelsiors don’t rattle as much as the Gilligs. 

Now onto what I don’t like:

1.    The windows. For the Xcelsiors, the PVTA decided to go with frameless windows that don’t open, which makes the bus look sleek from the outside, but not so much on the inside. These windows feel plasticky and flimsy, and they get permanently faded and dirty over time.

2.    Hot Xcelsiors! There have been countless times when I’m riding an Xcelsior and its hot and stuffy inside, especially on a packed G1, B43, or campus shuttle in the winter. On Gilligs, this can be relieved by opening windows, but there is no such option for the New Flyers. The worst case I’ve experienced was the one time the air-conditioning of an Xcelsior wasn’t working well, and that was by far the hottest bus I’ve ever been on.

3.    Leaky roof. The Xcelsiors have roofs that tend to leak, particularly at the rear of the bus and around the roof vent. On rainy days, when riding Gilligs I only have to worry about water pooling at the bottom of windows, but on Xcelsiors I have to worry about water dripping from above!

These problems are not unique to the XD40’s. Any bus in the Xcelsior line can have these issues. The Xcelsiors win over the Gilligs in terms of looks, but both have their share of issues.

New Flyer XD35

The little Xcelsior that could

Fleet Number	Year	Operator	Engine	Transmission
1701	2011	SATCo	Cummins ISL9	Allison B400R
3306 - 3310		UMTS
3311 - 3315	2014
1710 - 1714	2015	SATCo
1715 - 1716	2020

These 35-foot buses are the smallest in the New Flyer Xcelsior line and can be directly compared to the Gillig Low Floor 35’s.

Where they can be found

In the Springfield area, these buses can be found on pretty much the same routes at the Gillig Low Floor 35’ buses, meaning the radial routes, town connectors, and crosstown routes. The New Flyer XD35’s based with UMass Transit are almost always used on the UMass Campus Shuttles, but they also appear on Routes 36 and 39.

My opinion of them

Rating: 7/10

Because these are the smallest of the Xcelsior buses, I view them the same way I view the Gillig Low Floor 29’ buses; they’re tiny but also have the power of their larger counterparts.

New Flyer XDE40

The Hybrids

Fleet #	Year	Operator	Engine	Transmission
1801 - 1805	2011	SATCo	Cummins ISB6.7	BAE Systems HybriDrive
3301 - 3305		UMTS
3316 - 3319	2020

The XDE40’s are the hybrid-electric versions of the Xcelsior 40-foot bus. These buses are better for the environment because they produce less emissions and are more fuel efficient than standard diesel buses. What distinguishes the XDE40’s from the XD40’s is an electric motor running in parallel with the diesel engine, the transmission, and the “⚡ HYBRID – ELECTRIC POWERED ⚡” decals on the side of the bus.

Where they can be found

In the Springfield-area, they can be found on core routes just like the XD40. UMass Transit’s XDE40’s can be found on all of Amherst’s routes, excluding the campus shuttles.

My opinion of them

Rating: 7.5/10

The diesel-electric power makes for smoother rides and the sound of the electric motor reminds me of the battery-electric Proterras in the fleet. In my opinion, the XDE40’s are a bit more appealing than the XD40’s. I wonder why the PVTA didn’t go with more hybrid-electric Xcelsiors.

New Flyer XDE60

Big Bendy

Fleet #	Year	Operator	Engine	Transmission
3401 - 3402	2013	UMTS	Cummins ISL9	Allison H 50 EP
7901 - 7902		VATCo

These 60-foot articulated buses are the largest in the Xcelsior line and the largest buses in the PVTA fleet. The PVTA put these million-dollar buses in service in 2013 to address the serious overcrowding issues on some routes in Amherst and Northampton. Even though they rest in the summer (aside from training), these buses are workhorses too, transporting passengers and party crowds well into the early morning hours. Just like the XDE40’s of the fleet, these buses are hybrid-electric.

Where they can be found

The XDE60’s are exclusively found on Routes 30, 31, and the B43 during college semesters. These routes have the most overcrowding issues due to the large number of students from the area’s colleges. Because there’s only four XDE60 buses in the fleet, standard 40-foot buses run on these routes too. The Springfield area will get articulated buses one day too, once the PVTA has the capital to acquire them. They’ll likely be placed on Springfield’s highest-ridership routes like the B7 and G1.

My opinion of them

Rating: 10/10

The XDE60’s are easily some of my favorite buses in the fleet. After all, who doesn’t like a bendy bus? They’re so good that I really don’t have much to say about them that isn’t obvious.

Proterra Catalyst FC (BE40)

Sparky, the Potato Bus, the Tesla Bus, the Electric Bois, the Electric Eels. Any more nicknames?

Fleet #	Year	Operator	Engine	Transmission
1410 - 1412	2016	SATCo	UQM HD220 Electric Motor	Eaton EEV-7202

The Proterra Catalysts are the PVTA’s newish battery-electric buses. Three of these zero-emission buses were introduced to the fleet in 2016 as a pilot for the PVTA’s use of electric buses. The Proterra Catalysts have a unique curvy design that makes them stand out, and the PVTA put a special black and white livery on them, complete with lightning bolts and “ELECTRIC BUS” in a futuristic font. These buses look straight from the future and they are the future; a general statewide goal is to have all buses sold in Massachusetts be electric powered by 2040. How achievable that goal is at the current rate is questionable, but its nice to see an initiative for cleaner transportation.

Where they can be found

The Proterra Catalysts are exclusively used on the P21E and the Downtown Springfield LOOP (1411, the bus used on the LOOP has its own livery featuring Springfield attractions). Occasionally, they also end up on Springfield school Trippers. The PVTA has ordered eight more Proterra buses, and they will be used on more routes once they are put into service. SATCo has the only garage that can accommodate electric buses, so the Proterras will only remain on Springfield area routes for the time being.

My opinion of them

Rating: 9/10

In terms of my fleet favorites, the Proterra Catalysts are right up there with the XDE60’s. These buses offer a quiet, smooth, and an environmentally pleasing ride compared to a standard diesel bus. Plus, the PVTA has done an excellent job making these buses look nice inside and out. My only complaints about the Proterras is that they don’t always operate perfectly. The bus or station chargers have issues from time to time. Also, when coming from a stop, these buses have a quick and jerky acceleration, which can make for an unpleasant experience if you’re standing. In general, the pros about the Proterra easily outweigh the occasional bad experience, and I can’t wait for more of them to hit the streets.

Shuttle and Cutaway Buses

The shuttles

This list only includes shuttle buses used on fixed routes, and not the van service fleet. Information I’m not sure about is marked with a “?”

Fleet #	Type	Year	Operator
1204 - 1207	CEQ Phoenix Type D	2015	HTS / VATCo
1208 - 1209		2018	HTS
5707	CEQ Phoenix Type E	2017	NEXT?
5574	Starcraft ST2910C	2011?	VATCo?

I didn’t see a point in giving each shuttle model its own review, so I’ve just lumped them all into one. These vehicles are used on the PVTA’s short list of “shuttle routes”. They’re essentially the standard paratransit and dial-a-ride vans modified for route service. Some of them have features of full-size buses like destination signs, a farebox, and bike racks. Others have none or only some of those features. All of them have an ADA lift at the rear.

Where they can be found

These buses are only found on PVTA’s shuttle routes, which include the 39E, the Nashawannuck Express, the NSC Shuttle, the Ware/Palmer Express & Circulators, and the Wilbraham Shuttle. You will never find a full-size bus operating on these routes (except the 39E), and you will never find a shuttle bus operating on any other route.

My opinion of them

Rating: 2/10

Boy, do I dislike the shuttles. Yes, they have their place and purpose of serving communities and destinations where full-sized buses are not needed, but the novelty of riding them wears off quickly, and they become an annoyance. The most irritating thing about them is the grating sound of the ADA lift rattling away the whole ride.

Nova Bus RTS’

I have a confession to make. I’ve never ridden an RTS bus… I only really started becoming interested in transit just after the RTS’ were retired from fixed-route service in 2016. Apparently, UMass Transit’s last ones are awaiting to be parted out. If there’s any way I can get up close and inside one (when it’s safe to do so), I’d love to know.

And that concludes my review of every bus model in the fleet. Writing these was a lot of fun, as well as hearing from others and their opinions about certain buses.

As the PVTA's oldest Gilligs begin to reach their recommended lifespan, we will see the replacement of these as well as the further integration of electric buses, so the development of the fleet will sure be interesting in the coming years. I’ll keep the information in these posts updated, and I’ll discuss fleet developments in new posts when they arise.

Detailed fleet information was found from the CPTDB wiki, PVTA’s Transit Asset Management Plan, and personal experience.

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PVTA Fleet Focus - Part 1: Gillig Low Floors

PVTA Fleet Focus - Part 1: Gillig Low Floors

  May 07, 2020    Kareem W

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As much of a focus I put into bus routes, I think there’s a lot that can be said about the vehicles that operate on these routes too. After all, the vehicle is where you spend the most time in transit, and just the bus you get could make or break your experience.

In the PVTA, there are 10 unique bus models, made by 4 manufacturers. If you’re looking for vehicle variety, there isn’t much here. Here’s the most basic way I can explain which bus is which; the boxy buses are made by Gillig Corporation, the sleeker and typically newer buses are made by New Flyer Industries, and the electric buses are made by Proterra, Inc. There’s also some shuttle buses sprinkled in the PVTA fleet too. That’s all you really need to know if you have a lay person view of transit.

For Part 1 of this two-part post, I’ll start off with the buses made by Gillig, which make up a little more than half of the whole fleet.

Gillig Low Floor 29’

The baby bus

Details for transit nerds (like me)

Fleet Number	Year	Operator	Engine	Transmission
1401 - 1406	2006	SATCo	Cummins ISL	Allison B300R
1407, 7401 - 7403		VATCo

These buses are only 29 feet in length, making them the smallest full-sized buses in the fleet. Because of their short and stubby nature, I’ve nicknamed them the “baby buses”. Don’t be fooled though, these are some of the oldest active buses and it shows. They’ll probably be retired very soon.

Where they can be found

Because of how few of these buses there are, they can be hard to find. The only route where you’re guaranteed to find them is the R44, which uses them on weekdays. They also can be occasionally found on Springfield area express routes, like the P11, B12, P20E, and R29, and even less often on minor radial routes like the G5 and R14.

My opinion of them

Rating: 5/10

I’m not a fan of the PVTA’s older buses because of how badly they can be kept, but I’ll make an exception for these buses because their uniqueness. Just how tiny they appear makes them stand out and dare I say, “cute”. I consider riding the 29-foot Gilligs alright, and I will miss them once they’re gone.

Gillig Low Floor 35’

The middle child

Fleet #	Year	Operator	Engine	Transmission
1508 - 1517	2006	SATCo	Cummins ISL	Allison B400R
1550 - 1562	2008
7550		VATCo
1563 -1578	2010	SATCo
7551 - 7552		VATCo

These buses are the mid-size variant of Gillig line. I like to call them the "middle child" of the fleet. The nickname fits well since they’re not large and mighty like the 40-foot buses, but they’re also not cute or special like the 29-foot buses. There’s nothing special about them and the oldest of these buses are trashy and miserable.

Where they can be found

Unfortunately, because there are so many of them in Springfield, they can be found on many routes, particularly the radial routes and town connectors (think G5, R10, B23, and X92). They’re also very common on Springfield and Holyoke school trippers.

My opinion of them

Rating: 3/10

These end of being my least favorite fixed-route buses in the fleet. To me, they’re basic. Boring. Middle-of-the-road. Bland. Uninteresting. Mundane. Etc, etc.

Gillig Low Floor 40’

The workhorse

Fleet #	Year	Operator	Engine	Transmission
1618 - 1621	2006	SATCo	Cummins ISL	Allison B400R
3201 - 3204		UMTS
7604		VATCo
1630 - 1636	2007	SATCo
3211 - 3215		UMTS
7610		VATCo
1640 - 1649	2008	SATCo
3221 - 3228		UMTS
7660 - 7662	2009	VATCo
1650 - 1664	2010	SATCo

These buses are the largest Gillig buses available, and with 62 of them across all service areas, they are the mainstay of the PVTA fleet. Because of how square they are combined with their length, they appear “mighty” and can deceivingly look longer than 40 feet. These buses are workhorses, and if you’ve ridden the PVTA enough, you’ve probably ridden in many of these buses. I’ve racked up at least 345 trips on these.

Where they can be found

Literally on any and every fixed-bus route. Core routes, express routes, campus services, town connectors, all of em’. My guess is that every route has used a Gillig Low Floor 40’ more than once.

My opinion of them

Rating 6/10

Because of how much of a staple these buses are, its hard not to appreciate them. Sure, the oldest ones can feel very used and have LOUD and rattly engines (looking at you, 2006 builds), but newer ones can make for decent rides.

Gillig Low Floor 40’ (2018)

The tiger that changed its stripes

Fleet #	Year	Operator	Engine	Transmission
1670 - 1673	2018	SATCo	Cummins L9	Allison B400R

Wait, the Gillig Low Floor 40’ again? Yes, since these buses are the newest Gilligs and have many differences that separate them from the rest. The most noticeable feature is that they wear the PVTA’s post-2011 livery, and it fits it extremely well in my opinion. There’s also other smaller features like having the same seats as the New Flyers and a different window design (no more of those annoying sliding windows that always get stuck!).

Where they can be found

Since they’re only based at SATCo for now, they can only be found on Springfield-area routes. Some days it feels like they’re all running on the vehicle hungry P20, but most of the time they’re spread out evenly across all routes, allowing for a good chance of catching one.

My opinion of them

Rating: 8/10

When I first saw these buses, I was extremely surprised the PVTA ordered new Gilligs. I thought the PVTA was just going to stick with New Flyers and Proterras for the rest of time. Nope! Gillig must have made a good deal with these buses, and they appear to be a direct replacement for the oldest Gilligs (1618 - 1621). These buses are my favorite of all the Gilligs in the fleet and I’d even rather catch one of these than a regular New Flyer bus. I hope Northampton and Amherst eventually get some new Gilligs too.

Gillig Low Floor HEV 40’

The most unique bus in the fleet

Fleet #	Year	Operator	Engine	Transmission
1310	2005	SATCo	Cummins ISB	Allison Ep40

Put yourself in the place of a PVTA rider back in 2005. All the buses in the fleet are high-floor Nova Bus RTS’ from the 80’s and 90’s. You're waiting at your stop and suddenly, this new, quieter, low-floor bus pulls up with brightly colored LED destination signs and a new paint scheme. You’re looking at the future of the PVTA fleet. 

PVTA bus #1310 is the very first low floor Gillig that entered the fleet, and after 15 years, its still in service. It is the only hybrid-electric Gillig that the PVTA has, distinguished by the giant hump that's on top of the bus. While this bus is no longer unique for being a new Low Floor Gillig, it’s still unique for being the oldest active bus and the sole HEV Gillig in the fleet.

Where it can be found

Because of how old it is, this bus is rarely used on normal routes. Instead, it is almost exclusively used on Springfield’s school tripper routes. Very rarely, it can be found on Springfield’s core routes like the G1, B7, and P20 because of how many vehicles they need at a time.

My opinion of it

Rating: 7/10

Despite being the oldest active bus, the interior has been kept well, probably because of how little it’s used (it has about 100,000 less miles on it than the least used Gilligs of the same era). Because #1310 was a pilot bus, it has some small features that were tweaked on newer builds. For example, the set of seats right in front of the rear door have an excessive amount of legroom. This unique bus holds a special place in my heart, and I’ve ridden it as much as I can before its retired. They’ll probably keep #1310 kicking around on school trippers for a while longer though.

And that concludes part one. Yes, this was dominated by Gilligs, but they make up much of the fleet and I felt it necessary to point out each specific model. Part 2 will feature reviews of the New Flyers, electric Proterras, and shuttle buses.

Part 2 can be found here.

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