MTA RTS Retirement Ceremony & Final Months of RTS Buses in Active Service - 2018 to May 6, 2019

Here are various videos taken between 2018 and 2019, featuring the very last of MTA NYC Bus Nova Bus RTS-06 (T80206) buses running in active service. From 1981 under GMC until 1999 under Nova Bus, almost 4900 RTS buses were made for the MTA. The last RTS buses were gradually phased out starting in mid-2018, and the last units ran in late April 2019, marking 38 years of RTS buses on New York City streets. However, on May 6, 2019, a ceremonial retirement send-off involving unit 5241 and preserved unit 5249 was held.
Timestamps:
0:00 Final months of MTA NYC RTS buses
4:32 MTA NYC RTS bus retirement ceremony

[@niware80]

The RTS was the best bus model in NYCTA Surface history! Part of my childhood is gone 😔.

[@fw3nyc]

Glad to have driven them 2x during my 2yrs being a bus operator. The end of an era

[@LeeDfined]

I just switched to driving the city bus after 14.5 years with Greyhound. My agency just got rid of their last RTS right before I came making me so sad. When I think city transit I think RTS. My agency has Gilligs and Eldorados

[@csouth28]

OG that was operating 5249 was doing the damn thing with that performance.

[@rivera5b]

On the Bright side, The RTS bus will live on in history forever.

[@AutomotiveTaurus]

This is really a good bye present because, I just transferred out of Micheal J.Quill. #5249 is really the #1 RTS for history. This is also going to become my first time seeing a NYCT RTS with black trimming and black black. I have seen none with those since I came to USA in 2007. Thanks for giving credit to my depot everyone !!!

[@nyctenthusiast3507]

Thank you MJQ for this amazing gift!

[@baul104]

My city had already retired the remaining 2001-2002 NovaBus RTS 82VN in June of 2015 after the arrival of the 2015 NFI XD40s and XDE40s since the 2015 XD60s didn't arrive until July 2015 during the summer. My city even used to have the GMC RTS from 1978 to 1980 as well.

[@RTS4018]

Fantastic coverage. I will truly miss these.

[@kalelc1996]

Rest in peace RTSs. BTW if you don't mind can I use some clips from this video? I'll leave credit

[@mtattrain2]

Ah crap I just saw this, sure if you haven't finished your video yet.

[@antoniogoode4407]

I really miss the RTS bus it was a beautiful clean New York city Transit bus I feel that MTA should have kept it a little longer 😢 💔 💯💯💯

[@omt4293]

Definitely the best buses made. Wish they kept them around but they lasted a long time. Now you have the blue and yellow buses which are crap. The teenagers refuse the buses with the blue and the white 🤣🤣🤣

[@LeeDfined]

When I think city buses...I think RTS. The crazy part is I now drive local transit but my agency just sold their last RTS off.

[@ronniecathcart2484]

I'm ready for the RTS to make an appearance out in the open 2024

[@vickylu5683]

It so Sad The RTS is retiring :(

[@fernandoifill-ruiz3475]

It was so sad to see those RTS buses retiring 2 years ago in 2019 I grew up riding those buses.

[@luiszeferino1999]

Great Video I Love It

[@user-ln7of9gs4s]

An icon of NYC!

[@TorontoTransit3722]

Great video! But what happened to 5241?

[@mtattrain2]

Thanks! Unfortunately I hear it was scrapped.

[@the_earlybirf1170]

I still miss them

[@alexthemtaandr211weatherfa2]

R.I.P. rts 1981- may 6 2019.

[@chenbing6237]

Rip rapid transit series (rts) 1981-2019 (mta) 1977-2019 (rts)

[@QuarioQuario54321]

RIP RTS 1981-2019

[@Transit019]

Nice

[@transportationnetwork1324]

Noice upload. Oh wow lol I can see myself

[@trainluvr]

Rules The Streets

[@ElleBrOw]

Anyone here ever used the kneeler on an RTS & the horn blows? 😂

[@ManiacAD7]

They'll be missed

[@nyct5466]

my friend did it

[@nyct5466]

I’m nickolas

[@SleepyRaccoon]

I'm from NJ. These buses look... familiar.

[@mtattrain2]

mrnoobypoop NJ had similar models until 2016 or 2017 I believe.

[@kevinwong6588]

@@mtattrain2 NJT retired the 40' 1999 RTS by 2015 and 30's in 2013-15 (though some continued longer under private carriers).

[@alexhood9438]

666th subscriber!

[@nyct5466]

I WISH I’m nickolas

[@nyct5466]

I don’t wanna be dc :(

[@nyct5466]

get out of my mind

[@nyct5466]

pls