NYC has this in profusion, with local buses, limited-stop buses, local subways, express subway trains, commuter railroads, express commuter rail runs, Amtrak “locals”, and Amtrak expresses…..

NYC added them to tunnels every so often, but those were cut-and-cover (so, lift off the cover, widen, put the cover back on).

That might be interesting – if it were true. While the cost to take the link to some places outside the downtown core (i.e. Tukwila, Seatac) is .25 cheaper than the Metro peak fare, Metro remains fare-free in the downtown area (while you get charged $1.75 to ride the Link), Senior/Disabled fares are .25 more; youth fares TWICE AS MUCH as Metro’s .75, and you can still take an off-peak bus for a lower fare than link to/from similar locations along the Link line.

So – problem with your comment “Metro fare increases have made it cost more than link. . .in all places at Rush hour” is flat out untrue, and “some places at all hours” only partially so.

Speaking of the word “so” – um – - SO?

As to the MCI’s… those are charter/parlor style coaches built for longer runs… The are designed for long haul use and built with longevity in mind (the earlier model, the MC 9, was touted as the first million mile coach). The air ride beats even the rail ride in my book.

Most all charter/parlor coaches are challenged by the ADA issue of getting wheeled device to the level above the bins. Lifts generally are mid coach, or aft, and are stowed in the bin area below, which means fold out time to open the lift out to the sidewalk, then use, then refold. Even the old SF transit style (built in elevator midship) has limits (widths and weight). As wheeled devices get bigger, heavier and wider, its a real challenge for lift builders.

All that wasted space where luggage is supposed to go comes to mind.

True the mobility limited can’t really access the upper deck, but the same could be said for the rear seating area of a low floor coach.

I’ll agree with you about the MCI coaches, especially since they have a number of other problems that make them not really suitable for use as transit coaches.

At this point the best replacement would likely be some New Flyer 60′ coaches. I’m not sure if paying extra for the hybrid option makes sense for long routes on the freeway. Similarly I’m not sure if the BRT models as ordered for SWIFT or RapidRide have any real advantages over the standard LFA models.

Let me also say I don’t think 40′ LF coaches work well at all for ST Express service. The ones I’ve been on seem very cramped, uncomfortable and awkwardly laid out.

For that reason alone – I don’t believe that they – or the double-deckers – should be run at all, but again that’s my 20 year prior career as a nonprofit social worker speaking.

Remember: it takes 10 minutes to load me + another 10 minutes to unload me. That’s if the operator knows what they’re doing when it comes to the lift.

I’ve hated the MCIs ever since I first laid eyes on them