FIRST RTS-II COACH ARRIVED IN DETROIT 30-YEARS AGO

June 26, 2008, marked thirty continuous years of the RTS (Rapid Transit Series) Advanced Design Bus operating along the streets of Detroit, MI.

In early 1978, the Detroit Department of Transportation (D-DOT) surveyed its riders to gather their opinions regarding the quality of the city's bus service. Unfortunately, the survey results were not good. However, DDOT management took advantage of an opportunity to release the results of the survey to coincide with the launching of its new fleet of GMC "RTS-II" coaches.

During a press conference held at the west-side Coolidge Terminal, on Friday, June 23, 1978, DDOT unveiled its new bus fleet to the media. The department had anticipated that the new RTS fleet would drastically improve the quality of DDOT bus service.

This video compiles newsclips from three local newscasts (WJBK-TV2, WWJ-TV4 (now WDIV) and WXYZ-TV7) that covered the media event back in 1978.

GM's first newly designed transit bus since 1959 began service in Detroit on Monday, June 26, 1978. The DDOT #1300-series RTS's (#1300-1369) featured in this video were the first Model TH-8203 (second series - "Series 03") RTS-II coaches to be manufactured by GMC Truck & Coach.

(video posted for educational purposes only)

For more Detroit transit videos visit:
http://www.detroittransithistory.info/Video/VideoClips.html

Category:

Autos & Vehicles

Tags:

• Detroit
• D-DOT
• RTS
• GMC
• buses
• transit

[jamin108]

Why is the dot sucky

[hbc2nddetroit]

Well, if you really want to know check out my other vids in the "DDOT Service Issues" series, more of which will be posted sometime in the future.

[RTD8481]

Lazy management!

[qwandiddy]

I wish they still make them TODAY!!! 

[qwandiddy]

$96,000 Each??? DAMN These GMC RTS should've been still on Active to this day.

[BassmanII]

@Crowflug That was the 700 series RGRTA buses.

[Crowflug]

@ny2dal35 Another city that had the "Slope" models was Rochester, N.Y. operated by RTS (Regional Transit Service). I remember how futuristic they looked when they came out back in '79 when I was only 3 years old..LOL

[gmcbuses]

@gmcbuses The NFTA in Buffalo, along with New York City MTA, Detroits system from 1978, and up, when ever new buses wher bought 30% should of been RTS buses, other 70% should of been GMC New look buses made in Canada as they are the buses that are the most sturdiest. In 1978 buses made by Flexible wher bought for New York City"s MTA system. Very good buses. Why I"m saying this is in 1992 RTs buses purchased in Buffalo in 1982 wher starting to fall apart. They wher in service 13 years.

[gmcbuses]

At 4:07 of that video that bus driver was smoking. A source of probably customer complaints. Only 30% of those new buses should of been RTS models. Rest should of been GMC new look buses that should of been purchased in 1977 while GMC was still making them in the US, as they are more sturdier, With rebuilds can run up to 28 years old. It was probably GMC old look buses they replaced. Detroit was a city that suffered heavy during the exodus out of US nortthern citys in the late 60s, 70s.

[BassmanII]

Ahh yes. Thanks.

[hbc2nddetroit]

Thanks for the info. But according to GMC production list records posted online by Ohio Museum of Transp. (OMOT), the book RTS Buses by Evan T. McCausland, and Apr-May 1978 local newspaper clippings in my possession, the Detroit fleet (the first "102-inch wide" mass-produced RTSs) were delivered in May of 1978. The Buffalo, NY (NFTA) fleet (the very first 40-foot long "96-inch wide" RTSs) were delivered beginning in Nov. of 1978, six months later.

[BassmanII]

@hbc2nddetroit Just a note here, the very first order of RTS-03 buses went to none other than NFTA Metro-Buffalo, New York. The serial numbers of the NFTA RTS buses were 001-065 (fleet numbers 5001-5065)