Manhattan Transit Commission

Manhattan Transit Commission is a New York, NY-based group that simulates MTA NYCT, New Jersey Transit (Northern Division) and some proposed MBTA operations. This comes as TableSaltChan (now known as Cra3ycatzTV) himself lives in New York City and was willing to start a transit group based on his hometown.

All buses used by the group are NextTRANSPORT models and rail vehicles are built in-house.

Link to Group

Link to Twitter

Link to Discord

Version 1
The group started in January 2020 allied with TTA, as means to provide a high-quality New York-based group. The fleet started with NABI 40-LFWs and Orion VIIs, alongside R142As for their 8 line.

In February 2020, the group intended to open their Line 8 map but this was met with many issues, which led it to be postponed. The group also had a New Flyer XD40 wearing MTA's Cuomo livery put into service. In addition, trains used were the Subtransport WST 7 to provide interim service. New York-based buses would wear a pink version of MTA's liveries.

Throughout early 2020, the group's developers worked on a division based in Queens and one in Brooklyn, both at the same time. Both divisions were built to simulate the routes as in real life, although the latter opened by May 2020 as a trained drive map, although the developers intended to open it to the public so people could ride the buses. Also, Orion VII OG CNGs entered service. The Brooklyn map became the group's flagship at this point.

On May 29, 2020, MTC released photos of its newest R142 build, which included fully animated features, less parts and compatibility with partial automation (known as CBTC). These were to replace the WST 7 trains.

In June 2020, MTC planned to operate NICE services (similar to what Nassau Transportation Authority had planned) but this did not come to fruition. However, the group did put Orion V CNGs in the Brooklyn Division and they entered service as the oldest buses in the fleet. Later in the month, MTC put 2020 NovaBUS LFSes in service, numbered as the 2000 series. These buses were again run in the Brooklyn Division. One unit, an Orion VII OG diesel also entered service the same month (which was converted from a hybrid).

In July 2020, NovaBUS LFS Hybrids entered service. While not initially wanted by the system, with Brake_Handle wanting the LFS Hybrids replaced with 3rd generation LFSes, this did not happen. The NABI 40-LFWs also returned to service after being refurbished. The group also put 2017 New Flyer XD40s in service with TTA specifications.

On July 14, 2020, the group announced that their largest map, which included most of Brooklyn, Queens and part of Manhattan was open to the public with various routes connecting all areas. The group optimized it to accommodate people who could not afford gaming computers alongside modelling the vast majority of MTA's fleet by this time, which included MCI D4500s for express routes.

To coincide with MTA's reinstating of fares, MTC stated their fares were double that of MTA's to make a joke. In addition, they also made a joke that subway fares would be $21.37 (comparable to intercity bus/train fares) starting August 5, 2020.

In late July 2020, the first version of the New Flyer XD60s entered service. These buses were built to MTA specifications and were mainly used on Queens and Brooklyn routes. However, the group did not get NovaBUS LFSAs.

In August 2020, the group began expanding into New Jersey after getting NABI 40-SFW units. These buses did not operate on the New York map but rather in a separate Newark-Liberty Division. Numbered as the 12xx (2012 models), they became the sole fleet until the introduction of the New Flyer XDE60s.

In September and October 2020, the group made progress on subway operations, using a mix of WST-7 and R142A sets. These trains were put in service on routes 5, 8, 9, 10, 11 and 12.

The group went on hiatus in October 2020 and shut down operations in November 2020, leaving hundreds of employees out of work.

Version 2
In November 2020, MTC announced it would be reopening under new management, following many scandals at other groups affiliated (or formerly) with nextTRANSPORT. This was also after cra3yCatsTV resigned from being owner of the group. The original MTC "giant map" and the NJT map also remained.

In November 2020, MTC opened its Bronx map and began interlined operations with The Bee-Line System, making it possible to travel between Westchester County and the Bronx in one game.

In December 2020, buses from the original map were brought to the Newark-Liberty map as extras. These buses were given window cards (as in NJT practice when the destination displays do not work). In addition, some of the buses in the original map were updated with new displays to add realism.

In January 2021, the group planned to put older subway models in service. The group also received upgraded New Flyer XD40s for the Bronx and Newark-Liberty divisions.

With this change, MTC mainly began focusing on simulating New Jersey Transit operations (as there are few groups that simulate this now), particularly in the northern part of the state around New York City. This particularly became amplified following its purchase of NABI 40C-SFWs and it also changed its fleet numbering to match NJT's current fleet numbering system on all of its buses, including those assigned to its New York City divisions. In June 2021, they also began a partnership with Eastern Pacific Transit Authority.

In July 2021, MTC received suburban-specification New Flyer XD60s used by NJT, which were spread out between Newark-Liberty, Bronx and Gun Hill maps. Around this time, the group also planned to add the Newark Light Rail to its map.

In August 2021, the group put Neoplan AN459s into service alongside its New Flyer XD60s. These buses are solely used in the Newark-Liberty division unlike the XD60s. These are ex-New Jersey Transit buses that were replaced in real life by the XD60s.

As of September 2021, the group is now adding the "GO Bus" limited branding to some of its NABI units.

As of October 2021, Gunhill Division is now a Freedrive to Bus Operators. MTC also did a lag test with its biggest bus in this game, by spawning 70 XD60s in the Gun Hill division which did not lag at all (although it caused many people's FPS to be reduced).

Throughout late 2021 and into early 2022, MTC has been working on its subway system, with prototypical 10-car sets on its 8 Line being shown in a 2022 release. In addition, the Gun Hill Division has received a wider variety of buses, particularly Orion VII CNGs, NovaBUS LFS HEVs and New Flyer XD60s to complement the existing NovaBUS LFS fleet.

As of February 2022. NTA gave MTC their Queensington Division for their own use. MTC is currently in the process of revamping the game for modern times, alongside with some of the routes being changed and new routes/varients being added. They are expected to revamp some of their buses to the former NTA wooden interior which will be exclusively available for Queensington Division.

As of March 2022. MTC began the process on expanding the 11th Avenue Lines, beginning the R62A, which is currently only accessible to Train/Dual Operators who are beta testers and higher. The 10 Line is also completed in 11th Avenue, running from Dyre Avenue to World Trade Center, this is also the only line where train operators have to operate in a loop station. Journal Square(8/9 Lines) has a loop track for trains to turn around. However, it’s considered non revenue track. No passengers are allowed to be inside the train while it’s on the loop track. Gun Hill Division is no longer a Freedrive due to people playing it more than Newark Liberty (More people just wanted to drive the artics) and is now again used for runs temporarily until they revamp the map.

In April 2022. The Bee-Line System (Roblox) merges operations with MTC. All former Bee-Line System operations are acquired by MTC.

Trivia

 * MTC's profile picture on Twitter is a cartoon character.
 * While this group is heavily affiliated with nextTRANSPORT, it has had custom models built for the agency. It is also the only group on Roblox (after the closing of both pre-2017 NJT-based groups) to simulate New Jersey Transit operations.
 * Although MTC has operated MTA NYCT specification (3 door) New Flyer XD60s, it now uses New Jersey Transit-specification XD60s on its New York maps as nextTRANSPORT has not built an updated 3-door version of this model.