2/23/2021
MEMBER NEWS
Free MCI Learning Opportunities
PBA member MCI,  would like to share the many ways your team can stay connected to the industry and stay up to date with the latest learning opportunities.  MCI Academy's online library of 550 FREE courses directed at technicians, drivers and operator staff, you can encourage your team to improve their skills wherever they're located right now.  

Prevost Introduces Block of Hours, an Industry-Leading Service Program
PBA member, Prevost recently introduced Block of Hours, a brand new program allowing operators with any sized fleet to reserve a regularly scheduled time slot in a Prevost service center for service from preventive maintenance to unexpected stops.  

UPCOMING EVENTS
PBA 2021 Annual Meeting
October 24-27, 2021
Wind Creek 
Bethlehem, PA

PBA 2022 Marketplace
March 22, 2022 
The Liberty Arena
Williamsport, PA

PBA 2022 Annual Meeting
June 2022
State College, PA
PBA Paycheck Protection Program 2.0 Webinar Recap
On February 16th, PBA hosted a webinar with Tracy Fickett, of PBA member BUSBooks, facilitating.  Tracy gave an overview of how PPP 2.0 differs from the original PPP, an overview of the process, forgiveness tidbits, and answered questions.  If you missed it, here is the presentation.  Thank you, Tracy!
Help PBA Fight Against Tolls in Pennsylvania
On February 18, 2021, PennDOT announced the nine bridges they plan to target for potential tolling as recommended by the state's Public-Private Transportation Partnership (P3) Board. PBA strongly encourages its members to comment on the bridges that will affect their business the most.  We wrote a letter opposing this.  If you missed the Member Alert yesterday, please click here to access it.  We need your help!  Thank you!
Reminder!  FTA's Charter Service Registry
As a follow-up to our last note on this, we are reminding you to register for the FTA's Charter Service Registry.  If you are not registered, you cannot use the charter service regulation to prevent a public transit from taking a charter or file a complaint. The regulation is there for your protection.  Register your company today!  
Operator-Only Survey Help Us, Help You!
In case you missed it, we sent a survey to our motorcoach operator members.  If you haven't already, please take a few minutes to complete this survey. After you hit submit, you will receive an on-screen confirmation page.  Thank you!
2021 Annual Meeting - REGISTRATION OPENING SOON!

Travel Supplier & Associate Members: Sponsorship Opportunities are available NOW!

PBA Travel Suppliers - Are You Open for Business? 
We sent travel supplier members emails asking to complete a short survey form to let us know the status of being "open for business".  We are sharing this information so our operator members know who is open for trip planning.  We also asked for contact updates for our database.  Missed the memo?  Here's a link to complete the form.  Updated results are available to download and view.   #letsgetrolling!
Hazardous Weather Conditions Information
We update our PBA Facebook, with detailed PennDOT CMV restrictions during hazardous weather conditions, as well as our Twitter account.  Make sure you like and follow us on these social media channels!  Click on the links above or below at the bottom of the newsletter.
Members!  Share Your News With Us! 

Share with us your story, any special news, such as company anniversaries, etc. by sending an email to director@pabus.org
 
COVID-19 UPDATES AND INDUSTRY NEWS
Governor Wolf Announces $145 Million in Hospitality Relief Funding 
Governor Tom Wolf announced that $145 million in funding will be distributed to all 67 Pennsylvania counties (click here for all counties funding amount) through the COVID-19 Hospitality Industry Recovery Program to help support the commonwealth's hospitality industry.  Read more...
PennDOT Announces Reopening of I-81 Rest Areas in Dauphin County
The Pennsylvania Department of Transportation (PennDOT) announced  that its rest areas off Interstate 81 (Grantville) in Dauphin County reopened effective yesterday, Monday, February 22, after being closed in October 2019 to reconstruct the facilities.  "We're pleased to open these facilities to the traveling public," said PennDOT Secretary Yassmin Gramian. "The improvements that we've made to this busy rest area location will help make people's travels a little more comfortable."
The improved facility includes 10 additional truck parking spaces, a tire filling station, a fenced pet relief area, a signalized bus drop off lane, and a PA State Police inspection lane. For additional information about traveling through Pennsylvania, visit www.penndot.gov and click on "Travel in PA."
Reminder from PANYNJ Regarding Applications 
As a follow-up to our recent Member Alert, we are reminding you the Port Authority of New York and New Jersey is now accepting applications for a license to operate at the Port Authority Bus Terminal (PABT) in New York. Applications are due on February 26, 2021.
Collins Seeks Treasury's Assistance in Distributing Relief to Transportation Industries 
A bipartisan effort led by U.S. Sen. Susan Collins (R-ME) seeks fast implementation by the U.S. Treasury Department of provisions in the recently enacted Coronavirus Response and Relief Supplemental Appropriations Act supporting the nation's bus, motorcoach, and passenger vessel industries.  Read more...
Transit, Motorcoach Associations Respond to Latest COVID Relief Bill  
The proposed budget reconciliation title from the House Transportation & Infrastructure Committee would provide the transit industry with $30 billion in emergency funding.  Read more...
'Time Is of the Essence' on COVID Relief: Secretary Pete Buttigieg 
"Each passing day the need for relief becomes more urgent -- ensuring that we have the resources to defeat this virus, but also to support American working families," Buttigieg said.  Read more...
Biden Administration Says Mandatory COVID-19 Testing for Domestic Travel Is an 'Active Conversation'  
"It's going to be guided by data, by science, by medicine, and by the input of the people who are actually going to have to carry this out," Transportation Secretary Pete Buttigieg said.  Read more...
Fully Vaccinated Americans Won't Need to Quarantine After COVID-19 Exposure  
Travel quarantine rules still apply regardless of whether a traveler has been vaccinated or not.  Read more...
US House Transportation Panel Delves Into COVID-19 Concerns  
The new year means a new session of Congress and the opportunity to achieve reforms across the federal landscape.  Read more...
OSHA: Guidance on Mitigating and Preventing the Spread of COVID-19 in the Workplace  
The U.S. Department of Labor announced that its Occupational Safety and Health Administration has issued stronger worker safety guidance to help employers and workers implement a coronavirus prevention program and better identify risks which could lead to exposure and contraction.  Read more...
Federal Reserve's Main Street Lending Program Spent Only 3 Percent
The Federal Reserve's Main Street Lending Program, which was designed to provide emergency support to midsize U.S. companies during the pandemic, lent out a total $17.5 billion - or just 3% of its potential capacity - according to data released Feb. 9 by the central bank.  Read more...
SBA and Lenders Take More Steps To Improve Paycheck Protection Program
The U.S. Small Business Administration and lenders are taking more strides to improve the Paycheck Protection Program (PPP) so that small businesses can access much needed PPP funds to persevere through the pandemic, recover, and build back better.  Read more...
SBA Takes Steps To Address PPP Validation Code Errors
The Small Business Administration (SBA) announced new policy changes to the Paycheck Protection Program (PPP) meant to address an ongoing issue loan applicants face regarding validation error codes.  Read more...
Why PPP Recipients Should Rethink Employee Retention Credit
The Employee Retention Credit - ERC tax credit - was not available to you in 2020 if you took Paycheck Protection Program money. It may be a different story in 2021.  Read more...
Video Briefing on Mask Mandate From TSA's David Cooper
To request clarification on any provisions of the Security Directive please email TSA-Surface@tsa.dhs.gov

To request clarification on any provisions of the Security Directive, please email TSA-Surface@tsa.dhs.gov.
49 US Roads Deemed Scenic by Feds Amid Rising Interest in Road Trips
The Federal Highway Administration recently announced 15 roads were designated as All-American Roads and 34 were designated as National Scenic Byways under the America's Byways collection.  Read more...
FMCSA Pre-Employment Screening Program (PSP)
The Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA) launched the Pre-Employment Screening Program (PSP) in 2010 to help motor carriers review drivers' crash and inspection records. Make use of this tool when considering your next hire.  Read more...
Canada's Land Border Crossing Rules Requiring Negative COVID Test Go Into Effect  
With exceptions for essential travelers, people driving into the country must provide proof of a negative COVID-19 PCR test taken in the U.S. within 72 hours.  Read more...
International Roadcheck Set for May 4-6 with Emphasis on Lighting and Hours of Service 
The Commercial Vehicle Safety Alliance (CVSA) has set May 4-6 as the dates for this year's International Roadcheck. Over that 72-hour period, commercial motor vehicle inspectors in jurisdictions throughout Canada, Mexico and the U.S. will conduct inspections on commercial motor vehicles and drivers.  Read more...
Front-line Transportation Workers 'Concerned' Over Lack of Vaccine Access 
"There's no reason for us to be dead last on this, right?," a TSA officer said.  Read more...
IMG Releases Digital 2021 Travel Resource Guide 
The International Motorcoach Group (IMG) released its updated digital 2021 Travel Resource Guide - an industry planning tool for all transportation contractors and planners.  Read more...
2021 Tourism Trends: Time To Increase D.E.I. 
This trend is one that the United States needs to focus on more than most countries. And that is the topic of diversity in our industry.  Read more...
New York Aims To Reopen Broadway, Large Venues, With Extensive COVID Testing 
New York plans to use extensive coronavirus testing as a way to reopen its ailing entertainment venues that have remained closed for months during the pandemic.  Read more...
Promising COVID-19 Vaccine News Has Some Itching To Travel Again 
Recent promising vaccine news has many people hoping to finally see the light at the end of the pandemic tunnel.  Read more...
Women in Buses Council Announces New Driver Recruitment and Retention Campaign 
The American Bus Association's Women in Buses Council has launched a new driver recruitment and retention campaign to help tackle the industry's driver shortage problem. The campaign is being developed and led by industry experts and members of ABA.  Read more...
Bus Stories and Lessons Stolen From Friends by David Millhouser 
So... 3 blindfolded guys are in a room with an elephant.  One grabs the trunk and tells the others that clearly an elephant is like a fire hose..  the second wraps his arms around a leg, and says that it's more like a big tree. The third pulls the tail, and is about to declare that the elephant is like a snake... when he gets kicked for tugging the tail.  Read more...
ICYMI- MEMBER ALERTS 
Member Alerts are sent out to our Members as needed.  Here are the alerts we sent out since last Go News below.  If you need a copy, please contact us:
  • Help PBA fight against Tolls in Pennsylvania
  • 2021 PBA Annual Meeting - Sponsorship Opportunities 
  • Last Chance to Register for Tomorrow's PPP Webinar & Commercial Vehicle Restrictions
ITEMS FOR SALE OR WANTED
Executive Coach, Fullington Trailways, Innovative Coach, Krapf Transportation, Mlaker Trailways, Trans-Bridge Lines and Wolf's Bus Lines have coaches and other items for sale now!
SUPPORT MOTORCOACH PAC

The Motorcoach PAC allows the Pennsylvania Bus Association to support legislators who work with us to promote, change or defeat legislation that impacts our industry. Contributing to Motorcoach PAC gives us a stronger voice in Harrisburg. Please consider giving $200, $300 or more.

Personal checks may be made payable and sent to:

Motorcoach PAC
200 North Third Street, Suite 1500
Harrisburg, PA 17101
 
Corporate funds are not permitted in any form. Unincorporated business checks are acceptable providing no owner or partner of the business is a corporation. Please contact Milliron & Goodman if you have any questions at (717) 232-5322. Political Action Committee donations are not tax deductible.

Download the solicitation form for more information.
PBA IS ACTIVE ON MULTIPLE SOCIAL MEDIA PLATFORMS 

Click on logo, then right click and save to display proudly on your website.

Stay Connected!  PBA maintains active Social Media Platforms.  In addition to the emailed communications we send to you, we actively share information to our Facebook and Twitter accounts and our new LinkedIn.  We encourage you to LIKE US, FOLLOW US and ENGAGE with us! #pabus