Metro Magazine

MAY 2013

Magazine serving the bus and rail transit & motorcoach operations since 1904

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publisher's perspective Congress must address bus problems in MAP-21 t here are many things to like in the new MAP-21 surface transportation authorization bill. For bus operators and their suppliers, however, there is a lot of unfnished business. As I will explain in a moment, some of it needs to be addressed in upcoming regulations that will implement parts of the new law. Others, though, will have to be fxed in the next bill. Altoona testing to be changed MAP-21 included major changes to the bus testing requirements performed at the center in Altoona, Pa. Te current tests are an accelerated whole-bus aging test run on the track there, including recording fuel mileage and any minor or major structural and component failures as well as noting the vehicle weight and other physical features. In other words, the test publishes results in a report for every new bus model or major modifcation. It has not been accurate to say a bus "passed" or "failed" an Altoona test because it wasn't a pass/fail test. Te new law changes this. It requires a pass/fail method and orders the Federal Transit Administration (FTA) to develop, with industry input, a revised testing protocol. Sources tell us that the FTA is so busy implementing the many other new changes required by MAP-21 that they will likely not get to this one for a while. Tis does not mean the industry should be complacent, however. Bus discretionary program eliminated Perhaps an even more important change is the elimination of the Bus and Bus Facilities Discretionary Program. Initially, most in the industry were OK with this change, as long as the consolidation of this program into the formula programs had enough money to address needs. But the new amounts are signifcantly short of what is needed and also fail to address the need for rare procurement needs, such as a maintenance or passenger facility or a signifcant bus order. It remains to be seen just how much damage this change will cause to bus operators and their suppliers, but it will likely be signifcant. Stay engaged Tis is where we all come into the picture. Both the agencies and supply side need to engage FTA ofcials and members of Congress to address these and other upcoming bus-related issues. Te time for a new authorization bill is just around the corner. Te American Public Transportation Association's new authorization task force is taking up this charge, but whether you are a member of it or not, you need to make your voice heard as we craft our positions for the next bill. 92 < mETRO mAGAZINE MAY 2013 Frank Di Giacomo, Publisher frank.digiacomo@ metro-magazine.com Both agencies and the supply side need to engage FTA ofcials and members of Congress to address ... upcoming busrelated issues. metro-magazine.com

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