LANDOVER, Md. The National Football League Washington Redskins have backed away from using private motorcoach operators to handle their parking lot shuttle service this year.

But, unlike what many might suspect, it is not because the team cut a new deal with the areas public transit agency, Washington Metropolitan Area Transit Authority.

Instead, the Redskins built a 3,000-car parking lot a short walk from the teams FedEx Field, just outside of Washington D.C., and wont be using any type of bus service.

"Were not thrilled about it, but what can we do," said Connie Buck of Eyre Bus and Travel, one of several area companies that operated the shuttles for the team last year.

The Redskins turned to the private motorcoach market last year after Washington Metro said it no longer could provide shuttle service for the team because of the new federal charter rule that prohibits tax-supported bus operations from competing with private businesses.

The shuttle service last season was managed by Event Transportation Service, which hired several operators to bring in the 60 coaches that were needed to work the teams home football games.

Karl Swanson, a team vice president, said the private service worked well, but the new parking lot negates the need for it to continue.

Additionally, he said the team has abandoned the use of several parking lots further away from the stadium that required shuttle bus service in favor of the new lot and other parking areas closer to the stadium.

"All parking lots operated by us are within easy walking distance of the stadium," he noted.

The team also considered using private carriers last year to replace public buses that carried passengers from the Landover Metro rail stop to the football stadium, but said it rejected the idea because the cost was too high.

Instead of providing the buses, the team directed fans to the Metro stop at Morgan Boulevard, which is closer, but still a little more than a mile away.