Muni double-decker buses hit the streets of San Francisco today.
Dec 12, 2007 3:00 AM (102 days ago) by Brent Begin, The Examiner
SAN FRANCISCO (Map, News) - A Municipal Transportation Agency double-decker bus hits the streets of The City today, but with only one bus servicing select routes, it may be tough to catch a ride.
According to Muni, a Great Britain-based manufacturer is giving one double-decker bus to The City for the trial, which is set to end Jan. 8. City officials said there are no plans to buy a fleet of the buses, which would cost over $800,000 each.
Muni spokesman Alan Siegel said that, at 14 feet tall with 330 horsepower, the double-decker bus could go almost anywhere the current buses go. Steep hills and overhead power lines aren’t expected to be a problem, Siegel said, but overgrown trees and tunnel clearance would bar access to some routes.
According to Muni, the Broadway tunnel would be off-limits for the double-decker and 28-19th Avenue would pose problems because of low-hanging trees on Park Presidio Boulevard.
A similar bus in Snohomish County, Wash., goes into and out of Seattle twice a day. Community Transit spokesman Martin Munguia said their “Double Tall” bus is extremely popular as a long-distance commuter bus, but in an urban area it could pose problems.
“It’s really not the best for local service because the people up top take a long time to go downstairs,” Munguia said. “It tends to take up a lot of time at the bus stops.”
Manguia also said clearing overhead lights, trees, bridges and tunnels was a major issue in Seattle, “You really have to be careful and run test runs.”
According to Muni, “dwell time” will be monitored by checking a passenger counter. There is no disabled access to the top floor and safety issues will be monitored by video. A “select number” of drivers have been trained to drive the vehicle.
But Muni officials said there are no long-term plans for the buses, even though they provide several advantages. The double-decker bus can seat at least 26 more people than the long, articulated buses while requiring 30 percent less space on streets, bus stops and in maintenance yards.
“It would have been foolish not to see how these things work on the streets of The City,” Siegel said.
Transportation
Tuesday, April 1, 2008
San Francisco Adds Double Decker Bus
Snohomish adds 23 double-decker buses
Tuesday, April 1, 2008 - Page updated at 12:00 AM
Seattle Times transportation reporter
Community Transit plans to buy 23 double-decker buses to carry growing numbers of riders from Snohomish County to their jobs in Seattle, the agency announced Monday.
The Everett-based agency has one double-decker bus now.
The purchase is expected to cost $18 million, and the buses would be delivered in two years. At nearly $800,000 per bus, the double-deckers cost more than a typical bus. But with 70 seats plus standing room, three double-deckers can carry as many people as four typical articulated buses, saving on fuel and repairs, said transit agency spokesman Tom Pearce.
Transit-board members are seeking an $8 million federal grant to help cover the purchase, and final approval is expected in May.
Ridership on Community Transit increased last year by 10 percent, to a total 11 million trips. Of its 64 routes, 30 go into Seattle.
Community Transit is the second agency in the U.S. to buy modern, two-level buses, said Pearce. Las Vegas launched a double-decker service in 2005. Double-decker buses are used extensively in London and Hong Kong.
Mike Lindblom: 206-515-5631 or mlindblom@seattletimes.com
