Bus Testing Forms Get a Minor Bureaucratic Tune-Up
Published Date: 12/16/2025
Notice
Summary
The Federal Transit Administration wants to keep collecting info for its Bus Testing Program without making any changes. This affects bus makers and transit agencies who rely on these tests to ensure safe, reliable buses. If you have thoughts, send them in by February 17, 2026—no extra costs or new rules, just a smooth extension!
Analyzed Economic Effects
3 provisions identified: 0 benefits, 3 costs, 0 mixed.
New bus models must be tested
If you make or buy buses with Federal Transit Administration (FTA) funds, 49 U.S.C. 5318(a) requires that every new bus model be tested and receive a passing score for maintainability, reliability, safety, performance (including braking), structural integrity, fuel economy, emissions, and noise before it can be purchased with federal funds. The FTA estimates this information collection involves 60 respondents and a total annual burden of 2,131 hours and is requesting comments by February 17, 2026.
One active test center collects fees
There is one active Bus Testing Center operated by the Thomas D. Larson Pennsylvania Transportation Institute (LTI) that operates the facility and establishes and collects fees for vehicle testing. As a bus manufacturer, you must use the testing facility (LTI) and pay its established fees to have a model tested before that model can become eligible for FTA funding.
Recipients must certify and retain reports
Under 49 CFR 665.7, recipients of FTA funds must certify that a bus model has been tested, that it received a passing score, and that the recipient has a copy of the applicable Bus Testing Report(s) before final acceptance of any buses of that model. The FTA also strongly encourages recipients to review relevant Bus Testing Report(s) prior to final acceptance or selection.
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