StarMetro
 | |
|---|---|
 BRT Low Floor in StarMetro colors | |
| Headquarters | Tallahassee, Florida |
| Service area | Tallahassee, Florida |
| Service type | Bus |
| Hubs | 1 |
| Operator | City of Tallahassee |
| Website | starmetro |
StarMetro is the city-owned and operated bus service for Tallahassee, Florida, and was previously known as TalTran.
Fleet
Active Fleet
| Year | Builder and model name |
Photo | Length (feet) |
Width (inches) |
Numbers | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2001 | Gillig Advantage G18B102N4 |
35 ft (10.67 m) | 102 in (2.59 m) | 0101-0109 | ||
| 2003 | Gillig Advantage G18B102N4 |
35 ft (10.67 m) | 102 in (2.59 m) | 0301-0302 | ||
| 2005 | Gillig Advantage G29B102N4 |
35 ft (10.67 m) | 102 in (2.59 m) | 0501-0509 | ||
| 2006 | Gillig BRT G29E102R2 |
|
31 ft (9.45 m) | 102 in (2.59 m) | 0601-0605 | |
| 2007 | Gillig BRT G29E102R2 |
31 ft (9.45 m) | 102 in (2.59 m) | 0701 | ||
| 2007 | Gillig BRT G29D102N4 (0702-0706), G27D102N4 (0707-0710) |
 |
41 ft (12.50 m) | 102 in (2.59 m) | 0702-0710 | |
| 2008 | Champion Defender |
36.1 ft (11.00 m) | 95 in (2.41 m) | 0801-0804 | These vans are featured in a unique Florida State color scheme and shuttle passengers from and within FSU. | |
| 2009 | Gillig BRT G27B102N4 |
37 ft (11.28 m) | 102 in (2.59 m) | 0901, 0903 | Both buses are featured in a unique Florida State color scheme and shuttle passengers from and within FSU. | |
| 2009 | Gillig BRT G27B102N4 |
37 ft (11.28 m) | 102 in (2.59 m) | 0902, 0904-0908 | ||
| 2009 | Champion Challenger |
23 ft (7.01 m) | 95 in (2.41 m) | 2901-2914 | These vans are only used for StarMetro's Dial-A-Ride service, which utilizes door-to-door service designed for senior citizens and the disabled, who may not be able to get to a standard bus stop. Dial-A-Ride features separate, smaller, multi-passenger vans equipped with handicap access and side mounted wheelchair lifts. | |
| 2010 | Gillig BRT G27D102N4 |
41 ft (12.50 m) | 102 in (2.59 m) | 1001-1012 | ||
| 2011 | Gillig BRT G27B102N4 |
34.9 ft (10.64 m) | 102 in (2.59 m) | 1101-1103 | ||
| 2011 | Gillig BRT G27D102N4 |
41 ft (12.50 m) | 102 in (2.59 m) | 1104-1105 | ||
| 2012 | Proterra EcoRide BE35 |
34.9 ft (10.64 m) | Unknown | 1201-1203 Proposed numbers |
These buses will be in service on April 2012.[1] |
Promotional Fleet
| Year | Photo | Numbers | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2005 |  |
0555 | The "Big Dipper" is a miniature vehicle resembling a bus and operated by one StarMetro employee. Custom built by the StarMetro maintenance shop from used bus parts, the "Big Dipper" is used in Tallahassee's parades at Winter Festival and Springtime Tallahassee. |
Retired Fleet
| Year | Builder and model name | Length (feet) |
Width (inches) |
Numbers | Retired | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1976 | General Motors Corporation New Look (T6H-4523A) |
35 ft (10.67 m) | 96 in (2.44 m) | 7601-7623 | ||
| 1982 | Blue Bird City Bird |
30 ft (9.14 m) | 96 in (2.44 m) | 8201-8205 | ||
| 1984 | General Motors Corporation RTS-04 (T80-604) |
40 ft (12.19 m) | 96 in (2.44 m) | 8401-8404 | ||
| 1984 | General Motors Corporation RTS-04 (T70-604) |
35 ft (10.67 m) | 96 in (2.44 m) | 8405-8411 | ||
| 1992 | Transportation Manufacturing Corporation RTS-06 (T70-606) |
35 ft (10.67 m) | 96 in (2.44 m) | 9201-9207 | ||
| 1993 | Orion Bus Industries 02.501 |
25.92 ft (7.90 m) | 96 in (2.44 m) | 9301-9305 | ||
| 1994 | Transportation Manufacturing Corporation RTS-06 (T70-606) |
35 ft (10.67 m) | 96 in (2.44 m) | 9401-9425 | ||
| 1994 | New Flyer Industries D40LF |
40 ft (12.19 m) | 102 in (2.59 m) | 9426-9432 | These buses were ex-Metropolitan Atlanta Rapid Transit Agency units purchased in 2005. | |
| 1996 | NovaBus RTS-06 (T80-606) |
40 ft (12.19 m) | 96 in (2.44 m) | 9601-9609 | ||
| 2000 | Advanced Bus Industries TSV-30 |
30 ft (9.14 m) | 96 in (2.44 m) | Unknown (4 buses) |
These buses were ex-Central Ohio Transit Authority units. |
Routes
The StarMetro System map to the right shows the major streets and stops in Tallahassee that are commonly serviced by StarMetro. Routes and schedules change on holidays and weekends.
A "Saturday" schedule consists of most (not all) of the weekday routes, typically with the earliest trip eliminated and/or the headway reduced.
A "Sunday" schedule consists of a completely separate system of 7 routes that is not as extensive as the weekday/Saturday routes. This Sunday route system is also run on weekday and Saturday nights (1900 to 2200).
Regular Routes
In 2011, StarMetro changed their services for a more speedy service. Now every 3–5 minutes, there will be a bus at every stop, by giving different routes for buses. Routes now include:
- Azalea Commonwealth, Tennessee St., Mahan Dr., Fallschase
- Big Bend Monroe St. from Fred George to Paul Russell Roads
- Canopy Tennessee St. between TCC and Magnolia Dr., Governor's Square Mall
- Dogwood Thomasville Rd. to Innovation Park
- Evergreen Commonwealth Area, Tharpe St. and Park Ave.
- Forest Huntington Oaks, Mission Rd., Appleyard Dr., Jackson Bluff Rd.
- Gulf Ridge Rd., Tallahassee Memorial Hospital, Macon Community
- Live Oak Innovation Park, Orange Ave., Blair Stone Rd., Apalachee Pkwy.
- Moss Frenchtown, Bond Community, South City
- Red Hills Village Square, Capital Circle NE and SE, CCOC
- San Luis Commonwealth Area, Tallahassee Mall, TMH, CRMC
- Tall Timbers TCC, FSU, Downtown, Koger Center, CCOC
Enhanced services
- Bike-On-Bus is a free bike rack system which allows up to two people on a first come, first serve basis, to load their bikes onto bike racks fixed to front of the buses
- Spirit Express transports sports fans from the Tallahassee-Leon County Civic Center to Doak Campbell Stadium and back. Children under 12 ride for free.
- Bus charters are available with StarMetro.
- Community Transportation Coordinator. Transportation services for citizens throughout Leon County are available. Riders must qualify through Medicaid, Developmental Disabilities or the Transportation Disadvantaged program for transportation. This is door-to-door service with fares charged based on the sponsoring program.
Improvements/StarMetro Renaissance Project
From 2006-2009, StarMetro began a makeover including new routes, stations, and stops. One planned change is the addition of two new transfer stops. These stops will make it possible to travel across Tallahassee without changing buses at the downtown hub station. In addition, StarMetro is planning wireless internet and television in buses, GPS-enabled buses with live location maps over the Internet, solar-lighted stops with live location maps, and blinking lights at stops to let drivers know of waiting passengers. The C.K. Steele station includes renovation and installation of information kiosks. The new shuttle buses seats are mostly made of padded plastic and are arranged front-facing in rows and sideways against the walls, much like subway car layout. All models in use except the Dial-A-Ride shuttle vans exceed 4000 pounds, and therefore are not equipped with seat belts.
StarMetro is currently working on a complete route overhaul dubbed "Nova2010", which will reduce the current system to only 11 routes, of which only 4 will meet at the CK Steele Plaza. The routes will run at shorter intervals than the current routes while providing transfer points all over the city—no longer requiring all two-bus trips to transfer at the CK Steele Plaza. Some trips will require two transfers, but will still result in a more direct and faster trip than transferring at the Plaza. Nova2010 will not be implemented until the fall of 2010, so the route planning is still in its very early stages.
Proposed Service Cuts
During summer of 2007 plans were announced to discontinue bus service on routes 9 and 16 due to a massive budget deficit affecting most Floridian cities and counties.[citation needed] The cuts were proposed to take place in the fall of 2007, but never happened. These service cuts would have jeopardized the possibility of StarMetro being able to achieve the plans for expanded service outlined in the StarMetro Renaissance project.
References
External links
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