WASHINGTON A Congressionally-mandated commission thats looking at the future needs of the nation's surface transportation system was reminded last month of the important role the motorcoach industry plays in saving energy and reducing congestion.

American Bus Association President and CEO Peter J. Pantuso told the National Surface Transportation Policy and Revenue Commission that motorcoaches are the most energy-efficient and cost-effective way to move people and contribute to economic growth.

"Motorcoaches move nearly as many passengers each year as planes and more than trains," Pantuso told the commission. "We move more people in two weeks than Amtrak moves in one year.

"Coaches reduce congestion and pollution by taking more than 425 million cars off the road each year. Coaches provide the same congestion mitigation benefits as do transit buses in that we have the capacity to take up to 55 cars, per coach, off the road at one time."

Additionally, motorcoaches play a crucial role in reducing energy use and in helping America reduce its dependence on foreign sources of fuel, Pantuso said.

"Coaches are the most fuel-efficient and least energy intensive mode of commercial passenger transportation. Motorcoach passenger miles per gallon of fuel is highest, with 148 passenger miles per gallon, more than four times greater than air carrier and passenger car fuel efficiency," he added.

The hearing where Pantuso and upwards of 30 others spoke was one of a half-dozen being conducted by the National Surface Transportation Policy and Revenue Study Commission.

Congress created the commission as part of most-recent highway and public transportation legislation. Along with studying surface transportation needs for the next 30 years, the commission also is looking at alternatives to replacing the fuel tax as the principal revenue source to support the Highway Trust Fund.