Major 720 Changes Proposed

[paulstorm]

Check out the proposed Westside sector changes for December.

metro.net/board/Items/2005/07_July/20050707OtherSectorWES_Item6.pdf

720: Restructure service to establish a Wilshire Metro Rapid and a new Whittier Metro Rapid *connected* by the Red Line.

Another words; no Rapid Bus service on Wilshire b/t Wilshire & Vermont and Union Station. Ouch...I kinda liked not having to always (tho I did on occasion) disembark then trek down to the Red Line to head to Union Station.

I suppose they are trying to improve efficiencies?

Check out the 4/304 changes as well. Stopping at Sepulveda. I am guessing/hoping the Rapid starting this December (which is absent from this notice) going down Santa Monica would go all the way to the beach.

[rayinla]

Not really a "change" (but why start another thread when you don't have to) but has anyone else noticed a decided decline in the number of articulated buses serving Rapid 720 in the last week? First caught it on Saturday but a number of the trips are being serviced by the old Rapid buses. And the Rapid Express I caught this morning was one of the much older "high-floor" locals.

Are the articulated buses experiencing higher rates of wear and tear (the older ones are starting to look like s**t) or are they pulling buses off the 720 to service other lines?

[rayinla]

Just rode a 720 bus that has had the middle and rear doors retrofitted: instead of popping inward when they open, they slide open flush with the exterior of the bus.