The AIG snafu was neither accidental nor unannounced, although those who attempted to warn of the impending disaster were publicly chastised by many L.A. transit advocates that have since come round to exhibiting some hindsight as if they were the only ones with any foresight. But the Metro SILO deal with AIG was done back when everyone thought nothing would ever happen, that real estate would perpetually expand, that they would always have multiple motor vehicles, that they would never have to ride the shame train. Now it is too late, and as more and more people struggle to hold on to their cars as homes (meaning they are living in them) and the CA unemployment rate rises almost exponentially (the only ones counted as "unemployed" are those who demean themselves and waste great amount of time standing in line at the welfare offices—and don't think Detroit cannot happen in L.A.) to 12% as admitted by the government, the shame train is being wrecked by years of collective neglect even as it has become a national issue.

Welcome aboard—now get out and push.

And yes, the Metro RTS fleet needs to go!

They're on the way out, though I'll be sad to see them go. The 1200s were the very last sets of buses the RTD bought. The 1200s also represent what had become the decline and now coma of the RTS line. L.A. played a huge part in killing off the bus, well before low-floor buses gained a market foothold.

Thanks. I knew it was something between 8 and 12.

And yes, the Metro RTS fleet needs to go!

One of the benfits of rail transit is the ability to keep rolling-stock in service for an average 40 years, unlike buses which rarely last more than 8 years.

FTA requires all buses purchased with its money to last 12 years. Most agencies, like Metro, tend to keep them around a few years longer than that.

New York retired their IRT "Redbird" cars in 2003 after having them in service since 1959 (and giving them a mid-life rebuild). There are still a number of R32's in service today, and they were delivered in 1964!

San Diego's origianl Duwag U2's are coming up on their 28th anniversary in service and have never had a rebuild. Boston's Red Line has cars dating from 1969 still in use with no replacement on the order books yet.

One of the benfits of rail transit is the ability to keep rolling-stock in service for an average 40 years, unlike buses which rarely last more than 8 years.

Now, if we want to have a discussion about the merits of the policy of trying to beat swords into plowshares in the 1970's by having Rohr and Boeing make transit vehicles when their experience was in building lightweight flying-machines, perhaps we need to page Noam Chomsky (or Pat Buchanan)?

P.S. Just for kicks, check out the builders plate on the next Northwest Airlines DC-9 you happen to fly on.