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MOTORCOACH LEGISLATION prescribe regulations that address roof strength and crush resistance, and fur- ther directs U.S. DOT to consider anti- ejection safety countermeasures (win- dow glazing), rollover crash avoidance, tire pressure monitoring systems and tire performance standards. "It is good that MAP-21 has fi nally given a defi ned timetable for some of the 'Big Issues, ' including seat belts and roof strength," says Stancil. "We have been discussing these issues for many years, and our industry is ready to move forward and show our custom- ers and passengers that we support im- proved safety standards." Finally, MAP-21 directs the U.S. DOT to ensure research programs are carried out concurrently and grants authority for it to combine rulemakings into a single rulemaking encompassing all aspects. Considerations must include whether each added aspect contributes to safety; benefi ts of the seat belt rule- making; and avoiding duplicative ben- efi ts, costs and countermeasures. "I am always in favor of regulations that will truly make our industry saf- er, as long as the regulation was well thought out, properly implemented and will truly make a positive impact on the issues that drove the need for the regulation to begin with," says Wigley. "I am not a manufacturer, but think they are already aware of these pending issues and have been working on them already, so a two-year win- dow seems appropriate." Other safety measures include de- veloping standards for fi re prevention and mitigation and the establishment of the National Drug and Alcohol Test Results Clearinghouse. PUBLIC-PRIVATE PARTNERSHIPS MAP-21 does not change the Char- ter Service rule or school bus protec- tions. What it does do is require public and private entities to work together to solve transportation issues around the nation in numerous ways. The bill directs the Federal Tran- sit Administration (FTA) to provide technical assistance to public transit, upon their request, on practices and methods to best utilize private providers of public transportation and educate public transit on laws and regulations that impact private providers of public transportation. "From our vantage point, it opens up some great oppor- tunities for us to work closely with the public sector to ad- dress some of these transpor- tation challenges around the country," says Parra. "It really gets the private sector much more engaged." After one year of enhance- ment, the Government Accountability Offi ce is When will it be done? T • Electronic fi ling of Medical Examination Certifi cate - October 2017 • Establish, operate and maintain clearinghouse for drug/alcohol violations - October 2014 • EOBRS - October 2013 • Interior impact protection - October 2015 • National Registry of Medical examiners - October 2013 • Requirements for disclosure of safety ratings - October 2013 directed to prepare a compre- hensive report on the effect of contracting out public trans- portation operations and administrative functions on cost, availability and level of service; effi ciency and quality of service; and other considerations. The bill also dictates that public transits cannot deny reasonable ac- cess for a private intercity or charter transportation operator to federally funded public transportation facili- ties, including intermodal facilities, park-and-ride lots, and bus-only highway lanes. Transits may consider capacity requirements and the extent to which access would be detrimental to existing public transportation ser- vices, however. "For the fi rst time, the motorcoach industry has a seat at the table in re- gard to transportation planning, which is one of the things we've pushed for," says ABA's Hart. "Basically, when trans- portation facilities, depots and pas- senger facilities were being discussed or built, the motorcoach industry was never part of the mix. At best we'd get called after the facility was built. MAP- 21 changes that." Both the folks at UMA and ABA be- 72 < mETRO mAGAZINE SEPTEMBER • OCTOBER 2012 • Rulemaking considering mandating state inspections - October 2015 • Seatbelts - October 2016 • Tire pressure monitoring - October 2015 he new MAP-21 requires several federal agencies under the U.S. Department of Transportation to issue rulemakings on everything from seat belts to drug and alcohol testing. Here's a look at when those rulemakings are required to be completed. • Collision avoidance systems - October 2015 • Compartmentalization safety countermeasures - October 2015 lieve these changes to the transit title of MAP-21 will have huge implications on the industry, with the ball now be- ing in operators' court to take action. "We are telling [our members] that they, as business owners, have to be more aware of what's going on in transportation, both at the federal lev- el and the state and local level," says Hart. "If you are now given a seat at the table in the building of transportation facilities, you have to take advantage of that opportunity." Parra adds that beginning to build those relationships now will pay huge dividends in the future. "It would be much better if every- one agreed this is the way to go and started working together, as opposed to having it forced down the throats of those in the transit [industry]," he says. "[The motorcoach industry] has to begin building that relationship now with the transits, so that when the rulemaking is completed, [working to- gether] will just be an extension of an existing relationship." metro-magazine.com