Transit agencies could enter school charter trip arena

Language in a draft transportation bill considered by the Senate Banking Committee would allow most U.S. transit authorities to provide charter bus service to schools. This would allow transit agencies to compete against private school bus operators as well as motorcoach operators for school charter trips. Under a provision in the transportation bill, a transit system that operates 4,000 or fewer vehicles in fixed-route peak-hour service "may provide incidental charter bus transportation directly to local governments and social service entities with limited resources." If the provision is not amended, private bus operators fear that transit agencies could provide these school trips at prices well below their own.