FIRST DDOT (SEMTA) "RTS" BUSES UNVEILED AT GMC TRUCK & COACH

A SNEAK-PEEK AT THE FIRST SEMTA/DDOT WHEELCHAIR-LIFT RTS BUSES

On May 2, 1978, the Southeastern Michigan Transportation Authority (SEMTA) and GMC Truck & Coach in Pontiac, MI held ceremonies to unveil to the media the first five SEMTA "Series 03" RTS-II coaches earmarked for the Detroit Department Of Transportation (DDOT).

Meanwhile, WXYZ-TV Channel 7 reporter Jack McCarthy went behind the scenes at the Pontiac facility to take a sneak-peek at the inner workings of a wheel-chair lift RTS still under construction. That story is featured in this video clip, and was broadcast on Channel 7 Action News on Tuesday, May 2, 1978.

Also visible in video are a fleet of sixty-six GMC "Series 01" RTS-IIs (#1000-1065) originally manufactured for AC Transit of Oakland, CA. The non-wheelchair lift buses were rejected by AC Transit because of a court dispute over wheelchair lifts. The buses were acquired later that year by the Santa Clara County Transit District of San Jose, CA.

(video posted as an educational reference 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

[BassmanII]

@Nabinut I wonder what happened to those RTS 01s?

[qwandiddy]

Grand Rapids, Michigan never received buses with Wheelchair lifts until late 1990-early 1991 when they received 1990 Model of Motor Coach Industries "Classic", also as a first buses with A/C Unit.

[Nabinut]

Very interestng video. It explains how Oakland never received RTS-01s and how Detroit made out a little better.