ABA Advocates for Motorcoach Industry in Highway Bill Reauthorization
The American Bus Association (ABA) is actively engaging with lawmakers as Congress begins work on the next highway bill reauthorization. Recently, ABA’s government relations team met with staff from the House Transportation and Infrastructure (T&I) Committee to outline key priorities for the motorcoach industry, reinforcing the essential role of private motorcoaches in the nation’s transportation network.
ABA emphasized several key policy priorities in a formal letter to House T&I leadership. Chief among them is expanding and improving the Intercity Bus Program 5311(f) to better serve rural communities by increasing funding for terminal access and route miles while removing restrictive loss requirements on operational subsidies. ABA also urged policymakers to ensure that private motorcoach operators receive fair treatment compared to public transit systems, advocating for equal access to congestion mitigation programs such as tolling exemptions and bus-only lanes.
Additionally, ABA highlighted the importance of preserving the fuel tax rebate for motorcoach operators while securing long-term funding for the Highway Trust Fund. The association also called for stronger enforcement of Federal Transit Administration (FTA) charter bus regulations to prevent unfair competition from publicly subsidized transit agencies.
On the safety front, ABA supports maintaining current insurance liability limits to prevent undue financial burdens on operators while focusing on practical, data-driven safety policies. The association also seeks to simplify motorcoach registration and operational processes, streamline commercial driver’s license (CDL) testing, and ensure consistent enforcement of size and weight exemptions.
ABA will continue working with the House T&I and Senate Environment and Public Works (EPW) Committees as negotiations progress on the successor to the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act (IIJA), which expires in September 2026. By advocating for these priorities, ABA aims to strengthen the motorcoach industry’s role in providing safe, efficient, and accessible transportation options for millions of Americans.
