The Federal Transit Administration (FTA) is proposing amendments to its bus testing regulation. FTA states that “the proposed changes will improve the efficiency of the testing program for stakeholders, enhance the value of bus testing reports for consumers, and assist in removing outdated test reports”. FTA and other stakeholders have gained experience since the most recent Bus Testing Program final rule, which was published in 2016 (81 FR 50367). That final rule initiated the assignment of scores and pass/fail ratings to tested buses, as required by the Moving Ahead for Progress in the 21st Century Act (MAP-21; Pub. L. 121-141), as well as administrative changes. The announced potential rule changes propose to build on this experience by modifying certain existing FTA Bus Testing Program procedures and policies to make them more effective, efficient, and clear. Some of the changes that FTA is proposing would increase the rigor of testing to address gaps, while others would “relax certain program requirements to reduce the regulatory burden without weakening the overall effectiveness of the FTA Bus Testing Program”. FTA is also seeking to increase flexibility within the Bus Testing Program to accommodate changes in bus technology that could require modification of some testing protocols. Comments on this proposed rule must be received on or before August 25, 2026. FTA will consider comments received after that date to the extent practicable.

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