The Federal Transit Administration administers the federally funded mass transit program. Federal grantees are limited in how much and what kind of service they can provide to public schools. This section of the STN web site presents links to pertinent documents describing the permissible level of service.

School bus service typically does not fall under the jurisdiction of the FTA. Public transit systems may transport students so long as the service doesn't violate the so-called "tripper" regulations. An estimed 15% of all trips by public transit or about 900 million unlinked passenger trips annually are by students. Click here to visit the FTA web site.

• FTA Clarifies Tripper Service Regulations
• FTA / School Bus Operations

• Dear Colleague Letter from FTA Administrator Jenna Dorn [PDF]
  (Jan. 19, 2005)

• Pupil Transportation and School Buses: FTA Clarifies
  Tripper Service Regulations [PDF] (Jan. 19, 2005)

• Regulation: Title 49 USC Section 5323(f)
  General Provisions on Assistance

• Statute: Title 49 CFR Part 605 School Bus Operations
• 49 CFR 605.16 - Notice (revised Oct.1 2000)

• 49 CFR 605.15 Content of Agreement (revised Oct.1 2000)

• 49 CFR 605.19 Approval of School Bus Operations (revised Oct. 1, 2000)

• 49 CFR 605.11 Exemptions (revised Oct.1 2000)

• 49 CFR 605.20 Modification of Prior Agreement (revised Oct. 1, 2000)

• Notice of Proposed Rule Making: School Bus Operations, Amendments of Tripper Service Definition May 3, 1999, (text version of NPRM from GPO Access)