Industry associations submit letter supporting complaint and call for stronger Charter Rule enforcement
The American Bus Association (ABA) was joined by the United Motorcoach Association (UMA) in submitting a joint letter to the Federal Transit Administration (FTA) supporting the agency’s review of a charter service complaint involving transportation operations conducted during the 2026 NFL Draft in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania.
The June 3 letter was submitted in connection with Complaint #2026-03, filed by AC Coach Operations, Inc. against Pittsburgh Regional Transit (PRT). While ABA and UMA are not parties to the complaint, the associations emphasized their interest in ensuring the consistent, transparent, and fair application of the FTA Charter Service Rule and its associated notice and exception requirements under 49 CFR Part 604.
In the letter, ABA and UMA noted that multiple private motorcoach operators have raised concerns regarding special “Football Flyer” services operated by PRT during the NFL Draft and whether the appropriate notice and exception procedures were followed prior to those operations. The associations urged FTA to carefully review the facts and circumstances surrounding the complaint, as well as any applicable exemptions or exceptions under Part 604.
“The transparency and predictability of the notice process are important components of the charter service framework established by Congress,” ABA and UMA wrote, stressing the importance of maintaining clear boundaries between public transit operations and services that may otherwise be served by private charter providers.
“The transparency and predictability of the notice process are important components of the charter service framework established by Congress.”
According to research cited in the letter, the private motorcoach industry supports more than 75,000 jobs nationwide and plays a critical role in transporting passengers to major sporting events, conventions, tourism destinations, and community activities across the country. ABA and UMA emphasized that the Charter Service Rule was designed to protect opportunities for private operators to participate in transportation markets while ensuring appropriate use of federally funded transit resources.
ABA will continue to monitor the FTA’s review of this complaint and the broader charter service enforcement process. The association is also engaging with elected officials and congressional stakeholders as discussions begin on the next surface transportation authorization legislation.
As Congress develops the upcoming highway bill reauthorization, ABA is advocating for stronger enforcement provisions related to the FTA Charter Service Rule. The association believes that improving transparency, accountability, and compliance mechanisms will help ensure that private motorcoach operators receive the protections intended under federal law and that charter service regulations are applied consistently nationwide.
ABA will provide updates to members as the FTA review progresses and as federal transportation policy discussions advance in Congress.