Negative Comments Outnumber
Positive by Nearly Four to One

CALGARY, Alberta (July 22, 2008) — Despite the fact that the public comment period is closed, National School Transportation Association members were urged to support in writing the Federal Transit Administration’s efforts to curb transit agencies engaged in illegal school bus service.

The American Public Transportation Association succeeded in igniting a grassroots campaign among transit agencies, public school districts and even parents to decry FTA’s proposal to end transit’s ability to offer additional, specialized routes solely for school transportation service. The U.S. District Court for Western New York ruled in January that an FTA complaint against the Rochester-Genesee Regional Transportation Authority was unfounded due to application of federal law and that the agency could continue offering modified route service.

While respecting the court’s decision, the FTA this spring issued the proposed policy putting all other transit agencies on notice that it would target any infringement on private school bus operations if those companies were willing and able to bid on the service. But in the ensuing public comment period, APTA was able to drum up about more than 250 comments opposing the policy and claiming that students across the nation would lose the ability to get to school. Only a handful supported the FTA and the school bus industry, pointing out that taxpayers are essentially paying twice for school transportation provided by transit agencies because of the heavy federal subsidies in place and that school buses are more efficient and are safer than transit.

“We’re really at a crossroads,” commented Becky Weber, a lobbyist with Washington, D.C.-based firm BSKH & Associates. “The post-Rochester world is just not friendly to the school bus. It’s all come down to economics.”

She added that the FTA is informally continuing to receive comments and is essentially “begging for cover.” Private school bus companies as well as public school districts can comment on Docket ID FTA-2008-0015 via fax to 202-493-2251 or by visiting www.regulations.gov. Weber also called for letters to be sent to local congressional representatives urging for support of the FTA’s policy.