METRO Magazine Logo
MenuMENU
SearchSEARCH

Park this dilemma in the staging area

Tour bus congestion presents problems in D.C., other sightseeing hotspots.

by Steve Hirano, Editor
February 1, 2004
3 min to read


The bread-and-butter charter and tour work into Washington, D.C., that keeps many motorcoach operators in the black, or at least out of the red, is being jeopardized by a plan to “manage“ tour bus congestion in the nation‘s capital. The object of concern is a 100-page report called the Tour Bus Management Initiative. It’s sponsored by the U.S. Department of Transportation for five organizations, including the D.C. Department of Transportation, the Downtown D.C. Business Improvement District and the National Capital Planning Commission. Prepared by the Volpe National Transportation Systems Center, the report concedes that tourism is vital to the D.C. economy and that tour buses serve as many as one-third of the visitors to the area’s historical and cultural attractions, but it adds that the benefits related to tour bus operations “come at a significant cost.” What costs might those be? According to the report, tour buses create traffic congestion and consume large amounts of parking supplies and emit diesel fumes. In addition, because they’re long and tall, tour buses obscure the views for tourists and residents alike. They also bring millions of dollars into the local economy. The tourist trap Therein lies the dilemma. How do you minimize the negative impact of tour buses but, at the same time, protect the economic interests of the city and the motorcoach operators who deliver the tourists? This is an especially pertinent question for D.C., which has seen its tourist appeal diminished in the wake of the Sept. 11, 2001, attacks. One strategy mentioned in the report is to require tour operators to transport their groups to one of several staging areas. From those points, the tour groups could either walk or ride downtown circulator buses, perhaps operated by the local transit agency, to the attractions. Unfortunately, this plan has several drawbacks. It would compromise the convenience that tour buses currently offer (i.e., door-to-door service). In addition, it would make it more difficult for tour groups to stay together while traveling from the staging areas to the attractions. This is especially important when dealing with security-conscious seniors and student groups. As you might expect, this downtown circulator plan has not gone over well with coach operators. How other cities cope This dilemma isn’t exclusive to the D.C. area. Tour bus management is an ongoing concern in several cities in North America. To its credit, the report offers “best practices” for 10 cities in the United States and Canada. Each city, of course, has its own distinctive challenges in regard to tour bus management. For example, Charleston, S.C., requires operators of buses 25 feet or longer to obtain a touring permit. This gives the city the ability to control the number of permits at any one time. In addition, the city restricts operation of large buses to two perimeter routes and designates drop-off and pick-up locations. In Baltimore, tour buses are required to load and unload passengers at designated on-street locations only. Illegally parked buses are fined $77 per citation. However, coaches can park in lots that are centrally located to the main tourist attractions. In Boston, meanwhile, the city transportation department issued a parking map that identifies locations for tour bus drop-off/pick-up and for layover parking. It also designates bus routes and includes detailed information on tour bus regulations. There are reasonable alternatives to the peripheral parking strategy. Transportation officials in D.C. should look closely at what’s being done in other cities before taking any rash actions. The challenges facing the tour and charter bus industry are plenty without this additional burden.

Topics:Management
Subscribe to Our Newsletter

More Management

NJ TRANSIT's new Multilevel III commuter railcar manufactured by Alstom
Technologyby StaffApril 14, 2026

Alstom Delivers First Multilevel III NJ TRANSIT Commuter Railcar

The delivery marks the first car in a 374‑vehicle order and begins the arrival of a new generation of higher‑capacity, more reliable, and more comfortable trains for one of the country’s busiest commuter rail systems.

Read More →
New Cincinnati Metro bus stop sign with large route numbers and clear layout at a city intersection, part of a systemwide signage upgrade initiative.
Managementby News/Media ReleaseApril 13, 2026

Cincinnati Metro Begins Countywide Bus Stop Sign Upgrade

Metro launches a 24-month project to replace 3,700 bus stop signs, introducing improved visibility, QR-enabled rider info, and expanded amenities across Hamilton County.

Read More →
A BART train on the tracks.
Railby StaffApril 13, 2026

San Francisco's BART Breaks Multiple Records for Post-Pandemic Ridership in March

BART recorded 5,403,140 exits in March, making it the highest monthly ridership since the pandemic and surpassing the previous high set in October 2025 (5,346,890 exits).

Read More →
Ad Loading...
Rod Diridon Sr. speaking at a podium wearing a brown blazer.
Managementby StaffApril 13, 2026

Transit Leader Rod Diridon Sr., ‘Father of Modern Transit’ in Silicon Valley, Dies at 87

See how the longtime public servant and transportation visionary helped shape Bay Area transit systems and championed rail development nationwide.

Read More →
FlixBus vehicles in a parking garage.
ManagementApril 13, 2026

Intercity Bus Industry Outlook: A Mix of Apprehension & Optimism

Industry leaders see both promise and peril ahead as intercity bus travel rebounds, but unpredictable market forces threaten to reshape the sector.

Read More →
Ribbon cutting photo celebrating SEPTA's new Ardmore Station
Railby StaffApril 13, 2026

Philadelphia's SEPTA Celebrates New Ardmore Station

The station was rebuilt as part of SEPTA’s Station Accessibility Program, making it fully ADA accessible with new elevators, ramps, and high-level platforms.

Read More →
Ad Loading...
Passengers in crowded SEPTA station
Managementby StaffApril 10, 2026

SEPTA Releases Proposed $2.7B Fiscal Year 2027 Budget

The plan represents an increase of just 1.9% over the current year, and includes investments in new buses, more full-length fare gates, and other enhancements for customers.

Read More →
Two Metra locomotives on rail tracks.
Railby StaffApril 10, 2026

Metra Reaches New 10-Year Agreement with BNSF

The announcement highlights the long-standing partnership between the Class I railroad and the commuter rail system, dating back to Metra's creation in 1983.

Read More →
Cover Photo for Bus Tech Talk
ManagementApril 9, 2026

Bus Tech Talk: AC Transit’s Cecil Blandon on Leadership, Mentorship, and a Career in Transit

In Part 1, Blandon shares his journey from the U.S. Marines to a leadership role in public transit, along with insights on mentorship and professional growth within the industry.

Read More →
Ad Loading...
METRO Buyer's Guide art
Managementby Staff and News ReportsApril 8, 2026

Last Chance: Be A Part of METRO's Annual Buyer’s Guide

The revamped Buyer’s Guide will reach METRO’s audience of more than 17,000 print and digital subscribers, providing suppliers with year-round visibility in front of transit agency leaders, motorcoach operators, and industry decision-makers across North America.

Read More →