WASHINGTON - A potentially powerful new organization has been formed to push private-sector passenger transportation initiatives on Capitol Hill - the Coalition of Private Transportation Associations.
The ad hoc group quietly coalesced as the battle over the new six-year highway and mass transportation bill became more heated and focused in recent weeks.
The organization will be an important ally in the motorcoach and over-the-road bus industry fight to keep public transit agencies from expanding into the charter service business.
"This is significant in that it's the first time we have all come together to actually take the offensive against the transit groups, rather than continuing to play defense like we have trying to protect out charter business," said Victor Parra, president and CEO of the United Motorcoach Association.
UMA and the American Bus Association are members of the coalition that includes seven other national, regional and state associations. The other charter members are the:
· Alabama Motorcoach Association
· American Transit Services Council
· California Bus Association
· National School Transportation Association
· Taxicab, Limousine & Paratransit Association
· Taxicab Paratransit Association of Calif.
· Virginia Taxicab Association
The coalition says it represents more than 17,000 companies that provide intercity bus, charter bus, paratransit, school bus, taxicab, limousine, airport shuttle and non-emergency medical transportation services to more than 10 billion passengers annually.
A half-dozen provisions of the highway and public transit bill have been identified as "critical issues" the coalition has unanimously endorsed and is enthusiastically supporting.
No. 1 on the coalition hit parade is improved administration and enforcement of the charter service rules that prohibit transit agencies from providing charter bus service, and other protections against unfair competition from public transit services.
Also high on the coalition's priority list are:
· Labor protection provisions.
· Greater private-sector participation in public transit planning.
· Enhanced enforcement of rules covering private-sector participation in federal transit programs.
· Allowing private operators to be secondary recipients of federal transit grants.
In one of its first actions, the coalition thanked Sen. Richard Shelby, chairman of the Senate Banking, Housing and Urban Affairs Committee, for his efforts in pushing key private-sector provisions in the Senate version of the highway bill.