Led by Sens. Susan Collins (R-ME) and Jack Reed (D-RI), Senate supporters of the Coronavirus Economic Relief for Transportation Services Act wrote the incoming Secretary of the Treasury, Janet Yellen to ask for quick action to fund the program.  Read more...

The private bus and motorcoach, school bus and US flag passenger vessel industries collectively asks Congress for $40 billion in government assistance.  Read the letter.

Governor Tom Wolf outlined his agenda, in which he continues to prioritize ensuring that Pennsylvania businesses and workers have a path toward recovery following the COVID-19 pandemic, building on bipartisan progress by removing barriers to help everyday Pennsylvanians succeed, and demanding accountability through government reform.  Read more...

Gov. Tom Wolf is once again pushing for a higher minimum wage, a tax on natural gas drilling and the legalization of marijuana for recreational uses as top priorities in the coming year.   Read more...

Gov. Tom Wolf announced his proposal for a $37.8 billion budget that would direct significant amounts of money to education, workforce development and vulnerable population needs, and would be buoyed by an increase in the state's personal income tax.  Read more...

Gov. Tom Wolf's 2021-22 budget proposal contains the largest increase in education spending Pennsylvania has ever seen along with a sizable increase in the state's personal income tax rate.  Read more...

Bipartisanship accidentally broke out in Harrisburg when the Senate and House and Gov. Wolf worked to move a $912 million COVID-related relief package for businesses, individuals and school districts.  Read more...

Under the bill, $145 million is to be allocated proportionally to all 67 counties for grants to hotels, restaurants, bars and taverns.  Read more...

State senators pressed administration officials and vaccine providers for nearly four hours, asking them to explain why Pennsylvania is falling behind other states in administering doses of the COVID-19 vaccine.  Read more...

The Pennsylvania Department of Transportation (PennDOT) and the Pennsylvania Department of Military and Veterans Affairs (DMVA) announced that a new Pennsylvania law waives the requirement for Pennsylvania residents who are current and former military members and who operated a commercial vehicle as part of their duties, to take a Commercial Driver's License (CDL) Knowledge Test when applying for a CDL.  Read more...

On January 25, the Senate Transportation Committee held a public hearing to take testimony on a proposal by PennDOT to begin tolling designated bridges in Pennsylvania.  Read more...

View a compilation of potential tax credits and grants. To keep up to date with developments, members can reference the PA Department of Community and Economic Development website, which offers a list of current grants, loans and tax incentives.

The Pennsylvania Turnpike Commission (PTC) yesterday transferred $337.5 million to the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania to fulfill its legal obligation to provide supplemental transit funding for PennDOT under PA Act 44 of 2007.  Read more...

Pete Buttigieg urged his 55,000 employees to embrace "imaginative, bold, forward thinking" as the Transportation Department embarks on a vital mission to rebuild America's infrastructure and foster equality.  Read more...

State departments of transportation are set to receive funds totaling $9.8 billion as a result of emergency aid from the $900 billion COVID-19 relief measure passed late last year.  Read more...

President Biden signed an Executive Order promoting safety for domestic and international travel during this COVID-19 pandemic.  Read more...

U.S. Rep. Jimmy Panetta (D-CA-20) has reintroduced a bill that would grant bus manufacturers a tax credit for battery electric or hydrogen fuel-cell buses.  Read more...

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...

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) issued an Order on January 29, 2021, requiring the wearing of masks by travelers to prevent spread of the virus that causes COVID-19.  Read more...

FMCSA is conducting stakeholder calls to address questions and provide information on the new federal mask requirements. Joined by representatives from the CDC and TSA, Acting Administrator Joshi is reiterating the overarching goal of working together to help prevent the spread of COVID-19.  "This is about restoring confidence in our transportation system and saving lives. Let's get our workers and passengers masked up for their safety."  To learn more, visit https://www.transportation.gov/safety/mask-travel-guidance  For any additional questions, contact FMCSA at FMCSAMaskUp@dot.gov.

The guide is available to anyone, but carriers with an FMCSA Portal account have the added capability to create a customized version of the guide called "My Safety Planner" to save chapters and forms, and make highlights and notes about the content most relevant to their operations.  Read more...

Meera Joshi, a New York City transportation executive, has been appointed by President Joe Biden as deputy administrator of the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration.  Read more...

Unions and trade groups are seeking at least $112.8 billion in additional government assistance to rescue the struggling U.S. transport sector hit hard by the collapse in travel demand because of the COVID-19 pandemic, according to a Reuters review of funding requests.  Read more...

Up to one-third of people in some cities have stopped using public transport because of the COVID-19 pandemic. Whether they'll ever get back on board is impossible to predict.  Read more...

The market is currently ugly.... so, what do we do with idle buses? We can sell some to churches and schools, and turn a bunch into motorhomes... but over the years you've come to expect more from this column... so here's a list of 10 really bad uses for coaches.  Read more...