Transit agencies urged to 'respect private operators'

Federal Transit Administrator Jenna Dorn is urging publicly-funded transit agencies to "respect the needs of private sector agencies to operate effectively in a competitive marketplace for services that do not receive subsidies." In a letter to all subsidized transit systems, Dorn emphasized the need to "work together to maintain the vitality and effectiveness of every component of our [transportation] system." She reminded transit managers that the FTA's predecessor agency, the Urban Mass Transportation Administration, issued rules about transit competition with private bus and motorcoach companies in 1987 which are still in effect. Along with the letter, Dorn sent a brochure explaining the rules and offering questions and answers for transit agencies. The FTA Website features the agency's charter rules at http://www.fta.dot.gov/library/legal/cbs.html.