Metro News Release
For immediate release: July 10, 2008
Metro seeks to raise fees for charter bus service due to new federal regulations
Metro officials want to raise the fees for providing charter bus service and revise its policy for private bus companies that want to enter Metro bus bays.
The Metro Board today agreed that the agency should revise its policy governing private charter bus companies that want access to Metro property when they are providing shuttle bus service to events. The Board also agreed to hold public hearings on almost doubling the fees the agency charges companies for Metro shuttle buses service.
The changes come in the wake of new federal regulations, which prevent transit agencies from providing chartered buses if private companies are available to provide the service. The transit agency receives more than 100 requests every year for charter bus services and provides thousands of buses for major sporting events, presidential inaugurations and concerts venues, such as Wolf Trap.
“There will be additional costs associated with the influx of hundreds of private bus carriers on Metro property. We want to ensure Metro is not bearing those additional costs,” said Milo Victoria, assistant general manager of Metrobus operations. “We have to provide more personnel to manage the flow of traffic and people and watch for safety hazards. There also are liability concerns.”
Metro officials say only 17 of Metro’s 86 stations can handle private charter buses because the areas already are constrained by safety, congestion and size.
The Federal Transit Administration regulations also require that Metro go through a significant waiver process for the infrequent situations that require Metro to provide charter service. Metro is seeking to raise its charter service rates for those unusual instances. The rate could jump from $83 an hour to $159 an hour.
Metro officials will seek final approval to raise the charter rates after public hearings in the fall.
News release issued at 12:45 pm, July 10, 2008.