ABA Advocates for Cleaner, Smarter Transportation Policy at NYC Public Hearing
ABA stands with Academy Bus in promoting policies that balance environmental protection with real-world passenger needs
The American Bus Association (ABA) submitted the following statement at the October 29, 2025 New York City Department of Environmental Protection public hearing regarding Academy Bus Lines’ request for a variance under Section 24-163 of the NYC Pollution Control Code. ABA’s Senior Vice President of Public Affairs & Government Relations, Callie Hoyt, delivered testimony urging the Department to adopt a balanced, science-based approach to idling enforcement that protects the environment while recognizing the operational realities of passenger safety and accessibility.
Public Hearing Statement
Callie Hoyt, Senior Vice President, Public Affairs & Government Relations
American Bus Association
Re: Academy Bus Lines’ Request for a Variance Under Section 24-163 of the NYC Pollution Control Code
Good morning, Commissioner Aggarwala and members of the Department of Environmental Protection.
My name is Callie Hoyt, and I serve as Senior Vice President of Public Affairs and Government Relations for the American Bus Association. I appreciate the opportunity to speak with you today.
I want to begin by emphasizing that motorcoaches are part of the solution—not part of the problem. A single motorcoach can take as many as 35 cars off city streets, easing congestion and improving air quality. It is, in fact, the most sustainable form of mass transportation in the United States.
Our industry takes great pride in its record of moving people efficiently, reducing emissions, and investing in technologies that support a cleaner and more sustainable future.
Now, let me be clear: the motorcoach industry does not support unlimited idling. We support reasonable, science-based limits that reflect real-world operating conditions. The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency has already developed a framework that strikes the right balance—one that protects the environment while recognizing the operational and safety realities of passenger transportation.
That balance must also take into account the health, safety, and comfort of our passengers—including seniors, individuals with medical conditions, student groups, and daily commuters. Maintaining safe cabin air quality and temperature isn’t a luxury—it’s a necessity. And for many passengers who rely on wheelchair lifts or other accessibility features, the ability to idle for limited periods is essential to ensuring they can board and travel safely.
It’s important to note that transit and school buses are already exempt from New York City’s idling restrictions. Yet motorcoaches often serve the same riders—students, commuters, and visitors. We’re simply asking for parity under the law.
Modern motorcoaches are also not the vehicles of decades past. Today’s fleets use advanced emissions-control systems and Clean Idle technology, cutting nitrogen oxide emissions by 98 percent and particulate matter by 50 percent since the year 2000. These innovations dramatically reduce the environmental impact of necessary idling during layovers, at terminals, or while loading passengers.
Beyond environmental benefits, the motorcoach industry delivers enormous economic value to New York. Working together with companies like Academy Bus, in New York our industry generates $13 billion in annual economic activity, supports 59,000 jobs, pays $4.4 billion in wages, and contributes $2.5 billion in state and local tax revenue every year.
Academy Bus, and the many other motorcoach operators who keep New York moving, are vital partners in both sustainability and economic growth.
For all of these reasons, the American Bus Association strongly supports Academy Bus Lines’ variance request under Section 24-163. We urge the Department to approve this variance and modernize enforcement so that responsible operators are not unfairly penalized under an outdated framework. As alternative and low-emission technologies continue to develop, we also encourage the DEP to allow our industry to be a partner in researching, testing, and understanding how innovative technologies can be incorporated into private motorcoach fleets as they emerge. By working collaboratively, the DEP and the industry can ensure that regulatory goals are met while supporting practical, science-based pathways toward cleaner and more efficient transportation.
Thank you for your time and consideration—and for your continued commitment to solutions that protect both our environment and the essential mobility of New Yorkers and visitors alike.
