Bus Testing Bureaucracy: Comment on the Forms
Published Date: 2/24/2026
Notice
Summary
The Federal Transit Administration is asking for public feedback on its Bus Testing Program paperwork by March 26, 2026. This affects bus manufacturers and testers who provide info to make sure buses are safe and reliable. The goal is to keep the process clear and easy while following government rules—no big cost changes, just smoother info collection.
Analyzed Economic Effects
1 provisions identified: 0 benefits, 1 costs, 0 mixed.
Mandatory Bus Model Testing and Fees
If you manufacture buses or buy buses with Federal Transit Administration (FTA) funds, new bus models must be tested before they can be purchased with federal funds. Tests must cover maintainability, reliability, safety (including braking), structural integrity, fuel economy, emissions, and noise; the single active Bus Testing Center (Thomas D. Larson Institute at Penn State) establishes and collects fees. FTA says there are about 60 respondents and an estimated total annual burden of 2,131 hours, and 49 CFR 665.7 requires recipients to certify a model passed and keep the Bus Testing Report before final acceptance.
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Key Dates
Department and Agencies
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